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BESS Lithium-Ion Battery Installation & Commissioning SWMS

Grid-scale battery energy storage installation — DC arc-flash, thermal runaway management, fire suppression integration, commissioning grid-tie. AS/NZS 5139 + NSW BESS Code of Practice. Megawatt-class projects.

⚖️WHS Regulation 2025 & Codes of Practice — legally binding from 1 July 2026 (s26A)
👷Reviewed by certified occupational health and safety professionals
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SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.

Installation and commissioning of grid-scale lithium-ion Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), including DC string connection, fire suppression integration, and grid-tie commissioning. Megawatt-class DC arc-flash energy and thermal runaway risk trigger HRCW under WHS Regulation 2025 and require compliance with AS/NZS 5139 and the NSW BESS Code of Practice.

Hazards identified

3 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

DC arc-flash during string connection or commissioningHIGH

Fatal burns, blast injury, blindness

Thermal runaway and toxic gas release from cellsHIGH

Fire, explosion, HF gas inhalation fatality

Crawler crane lift of battery enclosures near energised plantHIGH

Crush injury, contact with live conductors

Control measures

Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.

  1. 1Isolate, lock-out and verify dead at zero volts before any DC string work; arc-rated PPE Cat 4 minimum.
  2. 2Continuous gas/thermal monitoring with exclusion zone and emergency vent activation per AS/NZS 5139 Section 5.
  3. 3Licensed dogger directs crane lifts; 3m exclusion from live OHL; wind cut-out 10m/s.

Applicable Codes of Practice

AS/NZS 5139:2019 Battery Systems⚖ Legally binding · 1 Jul 2026

Mandatory design, install and commissioning standard for BESS.

NSW BESS Code of Practice 2024⚖ Legally binding · 1 Jul 2026

Grid-scale lithium installation, fire safety and emergency response.

High-Risk Construction Work triggered

11
Work on or near energised electrical installations

DC string voltages exceed 1500V; commissioning involves live grid-tie switching.

15
Powered mobile plant

Crawler crane lifts multi-tonne battery enclosures into position on site.

Legal consequence

SWMS mandatory before work starts; PCBU fines to $495,000 (WHS Reg 2025).

What you receive

  • ✓Editable DOCX SWMS template
  • ✓State-specific WHS legislation schedule
  • ✓Project hazard register
  • ✓Worker sign-on register

Related legislation

  • WHS Act 2011 & WHS Regulation 2025
  • AS/NZS 3000:2018 Wiring Rules
  • Electricity Supply (Safety and Network Management) Regulation 2014
What's in this SWMS

Document details

Regulation
WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) + state equivalents; AS/NZS 5139 (battery systems); GWO Basic Safety Training standards; AS/NZS 3000 wiring rules
HRCW Category
HRCW — see HRCW Cat. 1 (fall >2m — turbine climb, blade work), Cat. 11 (energised electrical — DC arc-flash, OHL), Cat. 15 (powered mobile plant — crawler crane)
Hazards Identified
13 hazards with controls
Format
Editable DOCX (Microsoft Word)
Author
Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)
Delivery
Instant download after payment