When electrical work is high risk construction work
Work on or near energised electrical installations or services is high risk construction work under the model WHS Regulations and requires a SWMS. The trigger applies to work on or near energised installations and services, regardless of voltage.
Electrical work also carries hazards that require documented risk controls even outside the high risk construction work definition. A SWMS for electrical work should identify the specific tasks, the installations involved, the isolation points, and the controls for shock, arc flash, and test instruments.
Key electrical hazards
Electric shock is the most recognised hazard, but arc flash can cause serious burns and other injuries even without direct contact. Other hazards include incorrect test instrument selection, working on circuits that are not isolated, and residual voltage in capacitors or cables after disconnection.
The SWMS should address how the work is planned, how the installation is identified, and how the presence or absence of voltage is verified. It should also cover the use of insulated tools, protective equipment, and the role of a second person for certain tasks.
Isolation and lockout-tagout
Where it is reasonably practicable, electrical work should be done de-energised. The installation should be isolated, locked out, and tagged, and then tested for dead before work begins. The SWMS should describe the isolation points, the lockout-tagout process, and how the absence of voltage is confirmed.
Energised work should only be carried out where it is not reasonably practicable to isolate, and only by competent persons with appropriate controls. The SWMS should set out the justification for energised work, the controls in place, and the competencies required.
Competency and planning
Electrical work generally requires an electrical licence, and the SWMS should list the licences and competencies needed for the work. The document should cover how the installation is identified, how isolation is verified, and how insulated tools and PPE are selected for the task.
Templates provide a useful starting point, but the installation, environment, and scope vary. The PCBU must review and adapt the SWMS for the specific electrical work before it is used.