Getting Ahead with Electrical Safety in the Workplace

What is Electrical Safety?

Electrical safety is a set of practices that protect people and equipment from electrical hazards, including the prevention of shock, fire, and explosion. Getting ahead with electrical safety in the workplace starts with understanding these fundamentals before risks escalate into incidents.

Many potential dangers exist when working with electricity. Jobs such as electrical engineering, construction, and maintenance all come with a certain amount of risk.

The model Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace Code of Practice defines electrical work as:

• Connecting and disconnecting electricity supply wiring to electrical equipment from equipment.
• Installing, removing, adding, testing, replacing, repairing, altering, or maintaining electrical equipment.

Risks associated with electricity are significant and can be fatal. Furthermore, electrical incidents can cause property damage, financial losses, and interruption to operations. Individuals working with or around electricity must complete training in electrical safety.

Electrical Hazards in the Workplace

An electrical hazard can occur when someone comes into contact with electricity. It can happen if a worker touches something directly connected to electricity or something that allows current to flow through them.

Leading electrical hazards include:

• Exposed live parts - any electrically live parts that workers can touch, including exposed leads, unguarded machinery, power lines, and electrical wiring.
• Equipment faults - can happen when equipment is damaged or not maintained properly, creating sparks or heat that can lead to fires.
• Fire or explosion - happens where potential exists for an electric spark to ignite a flammable or explosive atmosphere.

Electrical risk rises in harsh conditions, such as:

• Wet surroundings
• Areas with flammable liquids, gases, or vapours
• Poorly ventilated areas
• Cramped spaces

Duty Holders in Managing Electrical Risks

Duty holders bear responsibility for health and safety in the workplace. They include:

• People conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs)
• Designers, manufacturers, importers, and suppliers of plant, substances or structures, employers, and principal contractors
• Safety officers

A PCBU must ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers and other people. When managing electrical risk, the goal remains elimination wherever possible. If elimination isn't achievable, minimising exposure becomes the priority.

Beyond employer duties and those of other persons controlling workplaces, workers and other persons at the site also carry responsibilities under the WHS Act. These obligations require reasonable care for personal health and safety at work, alongside care not to adversely affect other persons' wellbeing.

Duty holders may also face additional legal obligations under Commonwealth, state, or territory electrical safety legislation. For example, businesses may need an electrical safety management plan or an electrical licence.

Ways to Manage Electrical Risks

From 2019 to 2020, twelve electrical deaths were recorded from twelve incidents across Australia and New Zealand, equivalent to 0.39 deaths per million people (DMP). Eight of the twelve deaths occurred in Australia, while the remaining four occurred in New Zealand.

Electrical fatalities have decreased over the past 20 years, with average DMP figures dropping from 1.79 in 2000-2001 to 0.34, meaning deaths are reducing by 0.07 annually.

Rigid management of electrical risk has played a large part in decreasing fatalities. The Model Code of Practice: Managing Electrical Hazards in the Workplace identifies the following process as best practice for minimising electrical risk on-site:

1. Implementing the Risk Management Process

Any business knows that risk is inherent in even the simplest operations. Mitigating this risk relies on implementing a structured management process, which typically consists of the following steps:

Identify Hazards

Regulations seek to protect workers from harm by mandating hazard identification within the work environment. These directives require employers to find and assess potential risks to workers, including risks arising from:

• Physical work environment
• Equipment and materials
• Work tasks and processes

Assess Risks

After identifying hazards, assessing the associated risk becomes essential. This assessment should consider the following:

• The nature of the hazard
• The severity of harm it could cause
• The likelihood of occurrence
• The frequency of exposure to hazards

Eliminate Risks

After identifying and assessing risk, the next step involves eliminating or minimising exposure. Options may involve:

• Changing the process
• Substituting hazardous materials with less dangerous alternatives
• Providing personal protective equipment

Control Risks

Some hazards aren't removable, but you can control them regardless. When managing exposure, identifying the most effective measures reasonably practicable in given circumstances matters most.

Review Control Measures

The final step in the risk management process involves reviewing control measures already in place to confirm effectiveness. Check for necessary changes on a regular basis.

2. Consulting Workers and Duty Holders About Safety

Managing electrical risk should happen in collaboration with others. Consultation, according to WHS Regulations, occurs via PCBU action in two ways:

• Consulting workers - includes consulting employees, contractors and subcontractors on health and safety matters. This covers people working for the PCBU on a temporary or casual basis.
• Consulting other duty holders - the PCBU must consult, cooperate and coordinate activities with all persons holding a health and safety duty, so far as reasonably practicable.

3. Training and Supervising Workers

Training helps ensure workers possess the knowledge and skills necessary to work safely with electricity. Examples of relevant activities include:

• Induction training
• Work-specific training
• Supervisor and management training
• Refresher training
• First-aid training
• Emergency response training

4. Applying the Hierarchy of Control Measures

The hierarchy of controls is a system helping identify the most effective measures reasonably practicable given specific circumstances. Eliminating a hazard at its source remains the most effective approach and must be the first aim.

Suppose eliminating hazards and risk associated with electricity proves impossible. In that case, minimise exposure using one or more of the following:

• Substitution - use extra-low voltage electrical equipment such as a battery-operated tool
• Isolation - disconnect or isolate electrical equipment from the power source
• Engineering controls - use physical barriers, insulations, enclosures or ventilation to control exposure to electricity
• Administrative controls - develop and implement policies, procedures, and work practices to minimise exposure to electricity
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) - use PPE such as hard hats, gloves, safety footwear, arc flash suits, and respiratory protection to shield workers from exposure

5. Conducting Inspections and Testing of Electrical Equipment

Model regulations mandate inspection and testing of electrical equipment. While visual inspection helps identify potential electrical risk, regular testing of electrical equipment remains essential for ensuring workplace safety. Inspections and testing can:

• Detect faults and deterioration that may not be immediately apparent
• Help ensure electrical equipment meets standards and remains fit for purpose

Testing frequency depends on the following:

• The type of electrical equipment
• How often it gets used
• Its operating environment
• Its history of faults or damage

6. Creating a Safe System of Work for Unsafe Electrical Equipment and Electrical Installations

A PCBU bears responsibility for ensuring that unsafe electrical equipment at the workplace gets disconnected from its power supply. This includes:

• Checking the physical condition of electrical equipment before use, including limiting lead and plug connections
• Taking equipment out of service where signs point to safety concerns, such as damage or faulty connections

7. Ensuring That Competent Persons Carry Out Inspections and Testing of Electrical Equipment

Regular inspections and testing of electrical installations remain essential for workplace safety. A competent person should conduct these inspections and tests.

A competent person, according to AS/NZS 3760:2010, is:

• A licensed electrician or registered electrical inspector
• A person who has completed a structured training course involving visual inspection and pass-fail testing

Safety Documentation for Managing Electrical Risks

Several documents assist with managing electrical risk in the workplace, available at SafetyDocs. These include:

Electrical Risk Assessment Checklist

Electrical risk assessments help identify potential electrical hazards and risk in the workplace. Use the electrical safety checklist to assess risk associated with the following:

• Electrical equipment
• Electrical installations
• Work activities
• Working near overhead power lines

Electrical Inspection Checklist

Inspecting electrical equipment and installations proves essential for managing electricity risk in the workplace. Use the electrical inspection checklist to check:

• Electrical equipment
• Electrical installations
• Overhead powerlines
• Switchboards

Electrical Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)

Working with or near electricity can be dangerous and always carries some risk, no matter how low the voltage runs. It's considered a high-risk construction activity, so an electrical SWMS is required before starting any work.

Check out these SWMS options for electrical safety:

• Electrical Demolition Safe Work Method Statement
• Electrical New Installation Safe Work Method Statement
• Electrical Renovations Safe Work Method Statement
• Electrical Temporary Connections Safe Work Method Statement

Businesses handling multiple project types can also explore our Electrical-HVAC-Solar Safety Packages for a broader suite of SWMS documents and compliance tools.

Electrical Emergency Response Plans

Emergency response plans provide a framework for responding to an electrical incident in the workplace. Plans should be specific to the workplace and account for the type of electrical hazards present.

Plans typically include the following:

• Evacuating the building or area
• Shutting down all non-essential electrical equipment
• Isolating electrical equipment that is safe to touch
• Providing first aid during emergencies

Electrician's Safety Management Plans

Safety management plans (SMPs) help meet legal duties related to electrical safety. They also help establish clear responsibilities for electrical safety and identify potential risk that may occur.

SMPs typically include:

• An electrical safety policy and rules
• An electrical safety program
• Electrical safety procedures
• Guidelines for selecting and using personal protective equipment (PPE)

Safe Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Electrical Equipment

Safe operating procedures (SOPs) provide step-by-step instructions for working with or near electricity safely. SOPs should be specific to the workplace and the type of electrical equipment used.

Electrical Equipment Register

An equipment register makes it easy to track when each item was last tested, who conducted the testing, and what results emerged. It helps ensure all electrical equipment stays safe and up-to-date. Using a register eliminates repeated testing of the same item.

Risk Assessment Form

Use this form to assess risk associated with electrical work. The assessment form template helps you:

• Identify potential hazards
• Evaluate electrical risk
• Determine controls needed to minimise exposure
• Develop a safe work procedure

Complete Your Electrical Safety Program with SafetyDocs

Working with or near electricity needs careful management to avoid potential injuries or fatalities. Following protocols and guidelines helps ensure a safe working environment, though maintaining compliance can take considerable time.

SafetyDocs by SafetyCulture can help implement an electrical safety program covering all the bases. We help companies create safe and compliant workplaces, designing our safety solutions to assist with meeting legislative requirements — much like our approach to managing vehicle safety in the workplace.

We provide content-rich, fully editable documents helping your business save time, costs, and resources. With over 35,000 satisfied customers across Australia and New Zealand, we're confident we can help you get ahead of the game regarding safety.

Start with the following safety documents for managing electrical activities:

• Electrician's Safe Work Method Statements Pack
• Electrical Safety Audit Checklist
• Integrated Management System for Electricians

Get in touch with us today to learn more about how we can help you implement these measures across your business.

Available for instant download and supplied in fully editable MS Word format for use in your business.

Please note that the above information is provided as a comment only and should not be relied on as professional, legal or financial advice.