This paper gives an overview of environmental health and safety (EHS) issues related to photovoltaic (PV) technologies, and strategies for reducing EHS risks. These strategies include layers of prevention and mitigation in six sequential steps. Prevention layers are related to safer technologies, processes, and materials; safer use of materials; preventing accident-initiating events; preventing or minimizing releases, and preventing human exposures. The mitigation options include secondary confinement, emergency scrubbers and absorption units. As the PV industry approaches these issues and mitigation strategies in a vigilant, systematic way, the risk to industry, workers, and the public will be minimized.