Hazard management and control costs in large-scale production of amorphous silicon photovoltaic cells

Technical Report · Wed Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:6599981

Lee, J C; Moskowitz, P D

In large-scale production of a-Si thin-film photovoltaic cells, materials used during routine operation may present potential health and safety hazards to workers as well as to the public. The most significant hazard to public health arises from the toxic gaseous effluents from the deposition of the cells' active layer. Highly efficient control technologies for these gases are available and, their estimated costs, per unit output, are small compared with the expected production cost of a-Si photovoltaic cells. Waste liquids from washing and gas control equipment, which can be treated before discharge or disposed of in secure landfills at relatively low cost, are less hazardous. The main risk to the health and safety of workers at the production facilities is related to extensive handling of toxic gas feedstocks and dopant gases during production. Other risks may arise from physical hazards, such as radio-frequency radiation and lasers, from the process equipment. These risks can be reduced by both administrative and engineering controls requiring relatively small capital investments. 13 refs., 2 figs., 3 tabs.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 6599981
• Report Number(s): BNL-39610; ON: DE87009139
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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