EV Charging Site Plumbing Coordination SWMS
Safe work method statement for plumbing coordination works on electric vehicle charging station installations including stormwater drainage, conduit penetrations, and working near live electrical infrastructure.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
EV charging site plumbing covers plumbing and civil-plumbing work at electric vehicle charging sites — installing and maintaining the water, drainage and associated services at EV charging stations, and the trenching and civil work for the site, in an environment with high-power electrical charging infrastructure. The plumbing work is conventional, but the EV charging setting brings the proximity to high-power electrical infrastructure, the trenching near electrical cabling, drainage and stormwater management for the site, and coordination with the charging operation. This document is written on the basis that EV charging site plumbing is carried out by a licensed plumber with the electrical-proximity, excavation, drainage and site controls in place.
EV charging site plumbing is carried out to the relevant parts of AS/NZS 3500, with drainage and stormwater to AS/NZS 3500.3, and the trenching and civil work controlled near the high-power electrical cabling. The proximity to the high-power electrical charging infrastructure, the trenching near electrical services, and the site drainage are heightened considerations. This document coordinates the electrical-proximity, excavation, drainage and site controls so the EV charging site plumbing is carried out safely.
Hazards identified
9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Electrocution and energy hazards near the high-power electrical infrastructure
Electrocution from striking the high-power electrical cabling
Excavation collapse and service strikes during the site work
Flooding and drainage issues where the site drainage is inadequate
Contamination of the drinking water from backflow at the site
Injury from vehicles and the charging operation around the work
Infection from sanitary and drainage work at the site
Stored-energy and service hazards during the work
Trips and access hazards for the public around the work
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Administrative: recognise the proximity to the high-power electrical charging infrastructure and apply the electrical-safety controls and safe approach distances, with electrical work and isolation by the appropriate licensed electrical personnel.
- 2Engineering: locate, prove and protect the electrical cabling and other services before trenching, and control the excavation to the excavation Code of Practice, with a SWMS where it reaches the regulated depth.
- 3Engineering: install and maintain the site drainage and stormwater to AS/NZS 3500.3, managing the site drainage and stormwater.
- 4Engineering: provide and confirm backflow protection on the drinking water supply at the site.
- 5Administrative: separate the public and vehicles from the work and coordinate with the charging operation.
- 6Administrative: manage the biological hazard with hygiene controls, washing facilities, gloves and protective clothing, and prohibition of eating, drinking and smoking until decontaminated.
- 7Engineering: manage stored energy and services during the work, and control trips and access for the public.
- 8Administrative: ensure the work is carried out and certified by an appropriately licensed plumber or gasfitter under the relevant state or territory plumbing and gasfitting licensing scheme, with the relevant competencies and a compliance certificate issued where required.
- 9Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001) where the work is construction work, with the plumbing, gasfitting, confined space and any other competencies required for the work.
- 10Administrative: conduct a pre-start toolbox talk covering the day's work, identified hazards, isolations, required PPE and emergency procedures, and record attendance in the consultation section.
- 11Administrative: consult workers and any health and safety representatives on the work and its risks, record the consultation, and keep this document available at the workplace.
- 12PPE: eye protection to AS/NZS 1337.1, hearing protection where required, gloves appropriate to the task, high-visibility clothing, and Class I or Class II safety footwear with protective toecap to AS/NZS 2210.3.
- 13Administrative: review and update this SWMS whenever the work scope changes, after any incident or near miss, when a worker or health and safety representative raises a concern, when new hazards are identified, or at minimum every 12 months.
Applicable Codes of Practice
The stormwater drainage standard for the stormwater and drainage work.
The water services standard for the water supply, backflow protection and connection.
Electrical safety and isolation for any electrical work, carried out by a licensed electrician.
Trenching and excavation controls including support against collapse, ground assessment and existing services.
The risk management process and hierarchy of controls applied to the hazards of the work.
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
EV charging site plumbing is carried out near high-power electrical infrastructure and cabling, bringing the work within this high risk construction work category and requiring a SWMS where it applies.
Trenching for the site services can be deeper than 1.5 metres, which is high risk construction work requiring a SWMS before the work commences.
EV charging site plumbing is licensed plumbing work that, in the circumstances described, is high risk construction work — work carried out on or near energised electrical installations or services, and work in or near a shaft or trench with an excavated depth greater than 1.5 metres — so a SWMS must be prepared before the work commences, kept readily accessible, reviewed as necessary, and given to the principal contractor if one is appointed. The work is carried out to the relevant AS/NZS 3500 plumbing and drainage standards and the excavation Code of Practice, with the electrical-proximity, cable-location, excavation and site-drainage controls applied. A cable strike on the high-power electrical infrastructure, an excavation collapse or a service strike can cause electrocution, burial or serious injury, and breaches of the electrical and plumbing legislation and the primary duty of care under the model WHS Act are actively enforced, with offence categories running from failure-to-comply through to reckless conduct, and the most serious breaches carrying imprisonment for individuals. Body-corporate maxima are substantial and indexed; the current maximum follows the prevailing schedule of the responsible regulator.
Who this is for
- →Licensed plumbers working at EV charging sites.
- →Plumbing and civil contractors installing EV charging site services.
- →EV charging infrastructure installers and operators.
- →Energy and infrastructure PCBUs commissioning EV charging sites.
- →PCBU safety managers and supervisors coordinating the electrical-proximity, excavation and drainage controls.
What you receive
- ✓Editable Microsoft Word document (.docx) fully compatible with Microsoft Word 2016 and newer, Google Docs, and LibreOffice Writer.
- ✓Title page with editable fields for PCBU name, ABN, site address, project name, principal contractor details, and document revision date.
- ✓Hazard register with the ev charging site plumbing hazards — each with a documented consequence, inherent risk rating on a 5x5 likelihood-consequence matrix, hierarchy-of-control measures, and residual risk rating.
- ✓EV charging site plumbing prompts referencing AS/NZS 3500.3, an electrical-proximity and cable-location section, an excavation and trenching section, and a site-drainage and public-safety record.
- ✓Licensing, competency and permit prompts for the relevant plumbing, gasfitting, confined space and specialist work, and a respiratory protection selection and fit-test record per AS/NZS 1715 where relevant.
- ✓Worker consultation record per the model WHS Act consultation duty and a worker sign-on register (blank, expandable).
- ✓Applicable legislation and Codes of Practice schedule pre-populated for the model WHS jurisdiction with a state-variance reference table covering the harmonised states, plus Victoria.
- ✓Emergency procedure template and a revision log.
Worked example
A licensed plumber is engaged to carry out plumbing and civil-plumbing work at an EV charging site. The proximity to the high-power electrical charging infrastructure is recognised and the electrical-safety controls and safe approach distances applied, with electrical work and isolation by the appropriate licensed electrical personnel. The electrical cabling and other services are located, proved and protected before trenching, and the excavation controlled to the excavation Code of Practice, with a SWMS where it reaches the regulated depth. The site drainage and stormwater are installed and maintained to AS/NZS 3500.3, managing the site drainage. Backflow protection on the drinking water supply is provided and confirmed. The public and vehicles are separated from the work and the work coordinated with the charging operation. The biological hazard is managed, stored energy and services managed during the work, and trips and access controlled for the public. The work is completed safely, and the records retained.
Related legislation
- Model Work Health and Safety Act — primary duty of care; the duty to consult workers; the reckless-conduct offence; and notifiable-incident provisions, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
- Model Work Health and Safety Regulations — Section 291 high risk construction work and the SWMS preparation and review duties, and the confined space, excavation and electrical provisions where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
- The relevant plumbing and drainage standards AS/NZS 3500 (Parts 0–5), AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 for gas, the AS 4032 valve standards, and the hazardous chemicals and electrical requirements, are called up by the state and territory plumbing, gas and safety legislation, together with the relevant network utility, healthcare and site requirements.
- Plumbing and gasfitting work is licensed under each state and territory's plumbing and gasfitting licensing scheme, with the relevant competencies for the specialist work, and compliance certification required for notifiable work; electrical work is carried out by a licensed electrician.
- Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017, with the high risk construction work, confined space and electrical provisions applying in place of the model instruments.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main hazard at EV charging site plumbing?
The main hazard is the proximity to the high-power electrical charging infrastructure and cabling, with the risk of electrocution, and the trenching near the electrical cabling. The electrical-safety controls and safe approach distances are applied, and the electrical cabling located and protected before trenching, with electrical work by appropriate licensed electrical personnel.
How is the electrical cabling protected during trenching?
The electrical cabling and other services are located, proved and protected before trenching using plans, location and potholing, and the excavation controlled to the excavation Code of Practice, with a SWMS where it reaches the regulated depth. Locating and protecting the high-power electrical cabling before trenching prevents a cable strike.
What drainage applies at an EV charging site?
The site drainage and stormwater are installed and maintained to AS/NZS 3500.3, managing the site drainage and stormwater. Adequate site drainage and stormwater management prevents flooding and drainage issues at the charging site.
How is the public kept safe at the site?
The public and vehicles are separated from the work and the work coordinated with the charging operation, with trips and access controlled for the public. Separating the public and vehicles from the work protects them around the EV charging site, which is an occupied public environment with vehicles.
Who carries out EV charging site plumbing?
EV charging site plumbing is licensed plumbing work carried out by a licensed plumber to the relevant parts of AS/NZS 3500, with the electrical-proximity, excavation, drainage and site controls and electrical work by appropriate licensed electrical personnel. The conventional plumbing and civil work is carried out with the heightened controls of the high-power electrical environment.