Power Pole Installation & Removal SWMS

Power pole installation and removal on Australian distribution networks combines several of the highest-risk activities recognised under the WHS Regulation 2025. Crews routinely work within metres of energised low and high voltage conductors, operate mobile cranes and EWPs on uneven verges, excavate butt-holes near buried services, and tension ground stays under load. The work is classified as High Risk Construction Work under section 291 because it involves both work on or near energised overhead powerlines and crane lifts, each independently triggering the requirement for a documented SWMS before work commences. A SWMS is mandatory under section 299 of the WHS Regulation 2025 and must be prepared in consultation with workers, kept on site, and reviewed if controls fail or conditions change. This SWMS template addresses ASP authorisation levels, electrical clearance distances under the relevant network operator code, lift plan integration, and the controls required to protect linesmen, riggers, and the public during pole change-outs.

Hazards identified

7 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

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

1. 1Elimination — Where feasible, eliminate live work by arranging a planned network outage and access permit with the DNSP before any pole top or conductor handling commences.
2. 2Elimination — Remove old pole as a complete unit with conductors transferred to the new pole prior to extraction to eliminate aerial dismantling at height.
3. 3Substitution — Substitute manual stay tensioning with hydraulic stay-release tools that controllably discharge stored energy before any cable cutting or anchor disconnection.
4. 4Substitution — Substitute hand digging near services with vacuum excavation for the top 1.2 m of the butt-hole where buried utilities are indicated on DBYD plans.
5. 5Engineering — Engineering controls include insulated tiger tails or line covers on adjacent conductors, certified crane lift plan, ground-bearing mats under outriggers, and shoring of excavations over 1.5 m per AS 2865.
6. 6Engineering — Maintain minimum approach distances per the network operator's code and ENA NENS 04, using a dedicated safety observer with radio to monitor crane boom proximity.
7. 7Administrative — ASP Level 1 authorisation verified, access permit and switching sheet sighted at pre-start, SWMS signed by all workers, and lift study briefed by the crane supervisor.
8. 8Administrative — Implement traffic management plan compliant with AS 1742.3, exclusion zones marked with bunting, spotter assigned, and emergency rescue plan rehearsed including pole-top rescue drill.
9. 9PPE — Arc-rated clothing to AS/NZS 4836 matched to calculated incident energy, Class 00 or 0 insulating gloves with leather protectors, hard hat with chinstrap, and AS/NZS 1800 helmet.
10. 10PPE — Fall arrest harness to AS/NZS 1891.1 with twin lanyards for pole-top work, dielectric footwear to AS/NZS 2210.3, hi-vis to AS/NZS 4602.1, and impact-rated eye protection.

Applicable Codes of Practice

High-Risk Construction Work triggered

Worked example

A two-person ASP Level 1 crew is replacing a termite-damaged 12.5 m hardwood pole on a semi-rural distribution feeder, supported by a 25-tonne mobile crane and a traffic management subcontractor. At the pre-start tailgate, the crew leader opens this SWMS on a tablet alongside the network operator's access permit and the crane lift study. They walk through the hazards page, confirming the planned outage covers the LV mains but the parallel HV spur 4 metres above remains live — triggering the minimum approach distance control and assignment of the offsider as dedicated safety observer with handheld radio. The controls section drives the sequence: vacuum excavation of the top metre, then auger to depth; tiger tails fitted to the HV phases before the crane boom enters the corridor; hydraulic stay-release tool used to detension the existing stay before cutting. Each worker signs the SWMS sign-on register, including the crane operator and dogger. Mid-task, wind gusts increase beyond the lift plan's 35 km/h threshold. The crew leader pauses work, reopens the SWMS, documents the change in conditions on the review log, and waits for the gust front to pass before resuming. The signed document is retained for two years per WHS Reg s299, and uploaded to the principal contractor's compliance portal that evening.

Related legislation

• WHS Act 2011 (model)
• WHS Regulation 2025
• AS 2550 — Cranes, hoists and winches; AS 1418 series

Frequently asked questions