OH Consultant
Construction›SWMS

Electrical Work SWMS

Electrical contact remains one of the top five causes of workplace death in Australian construction, with incidents often resulting from work on or near energised installations without adequate isolation. The WHS Regulation 2025 classifies work on or near energised electrical installations as high risk construction work requiring a SWMS. This template covers lock-out tag-out procedures, test-for-dead protocols, arc flash protection, and underground cable identification mapped to the binding Electrical Risks Code of Practice effective 1 July 2026.

$35 AUD✓ Instant Download Available

SWMS variants reference your state's WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.

Legal Requirements

regulation

WHS Regulation 2025 Part 4.4 — High Risk Construction Work

hrcw category

Work on or near energised electrical installations

code of practice

Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace (binding 1 July 2026 under Section 26A)

section 26a binding

Yes — effective 1 July 2026. Non-compliance is admissible as evidence of breach.

hrwl required

Electrical licence required per state electrical safety legislation

Hazards

HazardConsequenceLikelihood
Electrocution from direct contact with live conductorsDeath, cardiac arrest, severe burnsPossible
Arc flash from short circuit or switching faultFatal burns, blast injuries, blindnessUnlikely
Stored energy discharge from capacitors, batteries, or UPS systemsElectrocution, burnsPossible
Underground or in-wall cable strike during drilling, cutting, or excavationElectrocution, explosion, firePossible
Inadvertent re-energisation during maintenance or modificationElectrocution of isolated workerPossible

Controls (Hierarchy of Controls)

Eliminate live work by de-energising and isolating circuits before any electrical work commences
Implement lock-out tag-out (LOTO) procedures with personal locks and danger tags for each worker
Test for dead at the point of work using a calibrated voltage tester — test before and after
Conduct arc flash hazard assessment and provide arc-rated PPE where live work cannot be avoided
Obtain DBYD plans and use cable locators before any excavation or penetration work
Verify electrical licence currency for all electrical workers before work commences
Maintain safe approach distances to overhead and underground powerlines per state authority requirements

Recent Prosecutions

TQM Design & Build Pty Ltd$20,000

Worker exposed to fall risk during overhead cable installation. Inadequate planning for work at height during electrical installation, no fall protection provided.

2024 — SafeWork NSW v TQM Design & Build Pty Ltd [2024]

What Your SWMS Must Include

✓LOTO procedure with isolation point identification, lock registry, and re-energisation protocol
✓Test-for-dead procedure including voltage tester calibration and prove-test-prove methodology
✓Electrical licence verification records for all electrical workers
✓Arc flash PPE selection based on incident energy calculations where live work is unavoidable
✓Emergency response procedure for electrical contact including CPR and defibrillator locations

Need a compliant Electrical Work SWMS?

Our WHS consultants develop electrical SWMS with LOTO procedures and arc flash assessments that satisfy regulator expectations and electrical safety legislation.

Contact Us