Product Overview

This Electrical Installation and Maintenance Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is designed to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement effective controls for electrical work on Australian worksites, helping you maintain WHS compliance and protect workers from electric shock, arc flash, and fire. It is a comprehensive document that covers multiple aspects of electrical installation and maintenance activities, from planning and isolation through to testing, commissioning, and ongoing servicing.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Planning and consultation prior to electrical work, including reviewing drawings, permits, and site-specific requirements
• Selection, inspection, and use of electrical tools, test instruments, extension leads, and portable RCDs
• Lockout/tagout, isolation, and verification of de-energised circuits before commencing work
• Installation, modification, and maintenance of switchboards, distribution boards, and control panels
• Running, terminating, and securing cables and conductors in ceilings, walls, trenches, and plant areas
• Installation and maintenance of power outlets, lighting circuits, and fixed electrical equipment
• Working near live electrical parts where de-energisation is not reasonably practicable, including use of insulated tools and barriers
• Testing, fault finding, and commissioning of new and existing electrical installations
• Use of ladders, platforms, and elevated work areas when installing overhead lighting and cable supports
• Housekeeping, management of offcuts, and control of fire and trip hazards around electrical work areas
• Emergency response procedures for electrical incidents, including electric shock, arc flash, and fire
• Safe storage, transport, and handling of electrical materials, components, and associated equipment

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for electrical contractors, maintenance electricians, data and communications installers, facility managers, and site supervisors responsible for overseeing electrical works.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
• Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace Code of Practice – guidance on controlling risks associated with electrical work and equipment
• Construction Work Code of Practice – requirements for managing risks on construction sites where electrical installation occurs
• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice – controls for working at height while installing or maintaining electrical systems
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice – safe use of powered tools and plant associated with electrical work
• AS/NZS 3000 Electrical Installations (Wiring Rules) – principal standard for design, installation, and verification of electrical installations
• AS/NZS 3012 Electrical Installations – Construction and Demolition Sites – requirements for temporary electrical installations on construction sites
• AS/NZS 3760 In-service Safety Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment – guidance for testing and tagging of portable electrical equipment