High-Voltage Switching Risk Assessment

Product Overview

This risk assessment covers high-voltage switching activities from planning and area access through isolation, switching, testing, communication and restoration to service. It supports planning and risk management by identifying hazards related to energised equipment, equipment condition, arc flash, unintended re-energisation, adjacent plant and emergency response.

Activities & Risks Covered

This assessment addresses activities and risks including:

• Plan switching work, confirm authorisation and coordinate with relevant workers and site operations.
• Access switchrooms or high-voltage areas while managing entry control, obstructions, lighting and nearby live parts.
• Inspect switchgear, covers, indicators, insulation, labelling and equipment condition before switching.
• Isolate, lock and prevent inadvertent re-energisation from local, remote, automatic, backfeed or induced sources.
• Carry out switching operations while managing arc flash, shock, fault conditions, step and touch potential, fatigue and communication errors.
• Prove equipment status, test for de-energisation and apply earths while managing test and stored-energy hazards.
• Maintain exclusion zones and manage adjacent equipment, mobile plant, visitors and multiple work crews.
• Use clear communication, read-back, supervision and status confirmation throughout the task.
• Prepare for electric shock, burns, arc flash, fire, smoke and other incident response needs.
• Restore equipment to service after checking PPE, personnel, tools, earths, locks, covers, barriers and labels.

Who is this for?

Suitable for authorised workers, contractors, supervisors and businesses involved in high-voltage switching activities.

Activities & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

The template records model guidance used to inform the documented controls. Applicable WHS/OHS laws and adopted Codes vary by state or territory, so confirm the current local requirements when tailoring the assessment:

• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing the work environment and facilities — 2. The work environment; p. 13.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: First aid in the workplace — 3. First aid equipment, facilities and training; p. 12.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplace — 4.1 Guarding plant; p. 39.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing electrical risks in the workplace — 2.1 Identifying the hazards; p. 14.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of fatigue at work — Provide sufficient breaks while at work; p. 30.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks — 2. Step 1 — How to identify hazards; p. 12.

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Standard Risk Assessment Features (Click to Expand)

• Activity-specific hazard identification and control measures
• Initial and residual risk ratings
• Assigned responsible persons for each activity
• Risk matrix and assessment classification
• Review, monitoring and sign-off fields
• Site-specific customisation before use