SafeWork SA urges machinery operators to exercise caution around powerlines

SafeWork SA and the Office of the Technical Regulator (OTR) have jointly issued a warning following a series of incidents where machinery has come into contact with live powerlines or scaffolds have been erected too close to safe clearance distances. This safety alert reinforces why SafeWork SA urges machinery operators to exercise caution around powerlines whenever plant or scaffolding works occur near electrical infrastructure.

Quick summary: SafeWork SA has received reports of 10 incidents in 2023 involving plant or scaffolds breaching safe clearance distances to underground or overhead powerlines. No serious injuries were sustained, but every case carried a real risk of electrical contact, serious injury, or death.

Why Powerline Safety Matters for Plant Operators

The safety watchdog said working in close proximity to underground or overhead powerlines has the potential to be deadly. Electrical hazards near powerlines remain one of the most serious risks facing construction, transport, and utility crews across South Australia.

SafeWork SA has received notification of 10 incidents this year where scaffolds or plant equipment have breached safe clearance distances to underground or overhead utilities. These breaches highlight ongoing hazards that demand greater attention from anyone operating plant near electrical assets.

"While no serious injuries were sustained in any of the incidents, they all had the potential to cause serious injury or death," SafeWork SA said.

Understanding Safe Clearance Distances

Maintaining safe clearance distances between plant, scaffolds, and powerlines is a legal requirement, not merely good practice. Operators should always take care and assume overhead powerlines are live unless confirmed otherwise by the relevant electrical authority.

Key points for managing electrical risk on site include:

• Keep plant and scaffolding well clear of the minimum clearance distance for the voltage class of the powerline involved.
• Be aware that both underground and overhead powerlines can be fatal if contact occurs during excavation or erection works.
• Confirm licences and permits are current before any plant works near electrical infrastructure.
• Never assume a powerline is de-energised — always treat it as a live electrical hazard.

Reducing Risk Around Powerlines on Site

Reducing electrical risk starts with proper planning before plant or transport vehicles enter a site near powerlines. Supervisors should brief crews on hazards specific to their location, including nearby underground services and overhead clearance zones.

Three workers were reportedly involved in incidents this year where plant came within unsafe distances of live infrastructure, underscoring why vigilance around powerlines cannot be treated as optional. Total incident numbers reported to SafeWork SA this year highlight a pattern of repeated hazards across multiple industries, including construction, transport, and utilities.

Our related coverage of the new campaign urging SA farmers to exercise caution around powerlines outlines similar hazards faced by agricultural plant operators working near overhead infrastructure.

Lessons From Other Jurisdictions

Interstate regulators have issued comparable guidance. Our report on how Ergon Energy urges caution around powerlines reflects a national push toward stronger electrical safety compliance for plant and transport operators.

Similarly, coverage detailing how Ergon advises operators of large vehicles and machinery to exercise caution near overhead powerlines reinforces consistent messaging across state-based safety regulators.

Supporting Documentation for Safer Operations

Businesses managing plant near powerlines can strengthen compliance using resources such as our Working Around Helicopters SWMS, which addresses hazards relevant to aerial plant operations near powerline corridors.

Additionally, our Environmental Management Plan for Sole Operators supports smaller operators seeking structured safety documentation for site-based works, while our Cleaning Without Adequate Ventilation SafeWork Method Statement demonstrates the type of documented risk control expected across all hazardous site activities.

Final Word

Additional information is available on the SafeWork SA website. Employers, supervisors, and plant operators should review current procedures regularly, ensuring every task near powerlines meets required clearance distances and electrical safety obligations before works begin.