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Thermal Imaging Risk Assessment

Thermal Imaging Risk Assessment

  • • 100% Compliant with Australian WHS Acts & Regulations
  • • Fully Editable MS Word & PDF Formats Included
  • • Pre-filled Content – Ready to Deploy Immediately
  • • Customisable – Easily Add Your Logo & Site Details
  • • Includes 2 Years of Free Compliance Updates

Thermal Imaging Risk Assessment

Product Overview

Identify and control organisational risks associated with Thermal Imaging programs at a management level, including governance, equipment selection, procedures, and data integrity. This Risk Assessment supports WHS Act compliance, demonstrates Due Diligence, and helps protect your business from operational and legal liability.

Risk Categories & Hazards Covered

This document assesses risks and outlines management controls for:

  • Governance, Legal Compliance and WHS Duties: Assessment of PCBU obligations, officer due diligence, consultation duties, and integration of thermal imaging into your WHS management system.
  • Contractor and Personnel Competency Management: Management of competency requirements, licence/qualification verification, contractor controls, and authorisation of personnel conducting thermal imaging activities.
  • Equipment Selection, Procurement and Verification: Assessment of thermal imaging camera selection, suitability for electrical and mechanical applications, supplier assurance, and verification of compliance with relevant standards.
  • Calibration, Maintenance and Inspection Systems: Management of calibration intervals, inspection regimes, maintenance records, and withdrawal-from-service criteria for thermal imaging equipment and accessories.
  • Thermal Imaging Procedures and Work Planning: Development of standardised procedures, job planning, risk-based prioritisation of inspections, and integration with permit-to-work and isolation systems.
  • Electrical Safety, Arc Flash and Isolation Management: Assessment of live work policies, arc flash boundaries, PPE requirements, switchboard access, and lockout/tagout controls when imaging energised equipment.
  • Data Integrity, Image Management and Reporting: Protocols for secure storage of images, traceability of inspections, report quality, interpretation of results, and integration with maintenance and asset management systems.
  • Change Management, Design and Engineering Controls: Management of plant or system changes arising from thermal imaging findings, engineering control implementation, and design reviews to eliminate or minimise identified risks.
  • Environmental, Site Access and Emergency Management: Assessment of site access controls, environmental conditions (heat, confined spaces, heights), traffic management, and emergency response arrangements during inspections.
  • Training, Communication and Worker Engagement: Development of training programs, toolbox talks, communication of inspection outcomes, and engagement of workers in risk control and improvement initiatives.
  • Monitoring, Audit, Incident Management and Continuous Improvement: Systems for auditing thermal imaging activities, reviewing non-conformances, incident and near-miss investigation, and driving ongoing improvement in your thermal imaging program.

Who is this for?

This Risk Assessment is designed for Business Owners, Safety Managers, Electrical Engineers, and Maintenance Leaders responsible for planning, approving, and overseeing Thermal Imaging activities across their operations.

Hazards & Risks Covered

Hazard Risk Description
1. Governance, Legal Compliance and WHS Duties
  • • Lack of clear organisational policy for thermal imaging of electrical systems leading to inconsistent WHS standards across sites
  • • Failure to allocate and document WHS responsibilities for thermal imaging activities under WHS Act 2011 and WHS Regulations
  • • Inadequate consultation with workers, HSRs and contractors undertaking thermal imaging work
  • • Non-compliance with relevant standards and guidance (e.g. AS/NZS 3000, AS/NZS 4836, AS/NZS ISO 31000, Safe Work Australia codes of practice)
  • • Absence of documented risk management process specific to thermal imaging of live electrical installations
  • • No documented criteria for when thermal imaging may be done on energised equipment versus when isolation is required
2. Contractor and Personnel Competency Management
  • • Use of thermography personnel without formal qualification or sufficient electrical safety training
  • • Inadequate verification of contractor licences, insurances and electrical authorisations
  • • Lack of competency in interpreting thermal images, leading to misclassification of risk and unsafe decisions
  • • Insufficient understanding of arc flash, electric shock, step and touch potential, and approach boundaries
  • • No explicit assessment of workers’ fitness for work (fatigue, impairment) when performing thermal surveys in electrical rooms or switchyards
  • • Inadequate induction of contractors to site-specific electrical and WHS procedures
3. Equipment Selection, Procurement and Verification
  • • Procurement of thermal imaging cameras that are not suitable or rated for electrical environments or the voltage level being assessed
  • • Use of uncalibrated, poorly maintained or non-insulated equipment increasing risk of incorrect readings or electrical contact
  • • Lack of documented technical specifications and limitations (resolution, temperature range, emissivity settings) leading to misinterpretation of images
  • • Use of incompatible accessories, lenses or viewing windows that may compromise safety barriers on switchboards
  • • Absence of electrical safety ratings (e.g. CAT rating) for associated test equipment used alongside thermal cameras
  • • No system to ensure only approved and inspected thermal imaging equipment is deployed to sites
4. Calibration, Maintenance and Inspection Systems
  • • Out-of-calibration thermal cameras leading to inaccurate temperature readings and misidentification of defects
  • • Lack of preventative maintenance program for cameras, batteries, chargers and accessories
  • • Failure to identify damaged housings, lenses or insulation that may expose workers to electrical contact or arc flash
  • • Inadequate tagging, tracking and service history resulting in use of unsafe or non-compliant devices
  • • No documented system for removing defective equipment from service
  • • Unmanaged firmware or software updates potentially affecting performance or compatibility with existing analysis tools
5. Thermal Imaging Procedures and Work Planning
  • • Absence of standardised procedures for planning and conducting thermal imaging on electrical systems
  • • Inconsistent risk assessments for different sites, voltages and switchboard designs
  • • Unclear criteria for access to live electrical rooms, substations and switchboards during imaging
  • • Failure to control simultaneous activities (e.g. switching, testing, maintenance) that may interact with thermal imaging works
  • • No formal review of single-line diagrams, load conditions and historical fault data prior to surveys
  • • Inadequate pre-job briefing leading to confusion about roles, communication methods, escape routes and emergency shutdown options
6. Electrical Safety, Arc Flash and Isolation Management
  • • Exposure to arc flash and arc blast when imaging energised switchboards or busbars
  • • Risk of electric shock from inadvertent contact with exposed live parts or non-insulated components
  • • Inadequate arc flash study or missing incident energy calculations and labelling on switchboards
  • • Poorly defined approach boundaries and control of persons entering high-risk zones during imaging activities
  • • Unclear isolation and re-energisation procedures when thermal imaging identifies critical hot spots requiring immediate intervention
  • • Reliance on ad hoc decisions by field staff about acceptable proximity to live equipment
7. Data Integrity, Image Management and Reporting
  • • Loss, corruption or mislabelling of thermal images leading to incorrect engineering decisions or missed defects
  • • Inconsistent image capture parameters (distance, emissivity, load level, ambient conditions) affecting comparability over time
  • • Lack of standardised reporting formats resulting in unclear risk rating or recommended actions for identified hot spots
  • • Unauthorised access to or modification of thermal imaging data affecting reliability and chain of custody
  • • Failure to communicate critical findings quickly to responsible electrical personnel and management
  • • No integration of thermal findings into asset management, maintenance planning and WHS risk registers
8. Change Management, Design and Engineering Controls
  • • Uncontrolled changes to switchboard design, cable routing or load configurations invalidating previous thermal baselines
  • • Failure to design new installations with adequate access for safe thermal imaging (e.g. absence of IR windows or safe viewing points)
  • • Lack of engineering review when repeated hot spots are identified, leading to recurrence and potential fire or equipment failure
  • • Modifications by third parties that increase arc flash risk or complicate thermal imaging access without being documented
  • • No formal process for updating drawings, labels and arc flash assessments after plant changes
  • • Inadequate integration of thermal imaging findings into long-term engineering and design improvements
9. Environmental, Site Access and Emergency Management
  • • Restricted or congested switch rooms leading to trip, slip and crush hazards during imaging activities
  • • Poor lighting, ventilation or temperature extremes in electrical rooms affecting worker concentration and equipment performance
  • • Inadequate emergency egress routes from substations, switchyards or plant rooms while personnel are conducting imaging
  • • Presence of other hazards co-located with electrical equipment (e.g. noise, confined spaces, hazardous chemicals) complicating emergency response
  • • Lack of clear signage and access control to high-voltage or restricted electrical areas during thermal imaging campaigns
  • • No specific emergency response planning for arc flash, electrical shock or fire triggered by faults detected or aggravated during imaging
10. Training, Communication and Worker Engagement
  • • Workers not fully understanding the purpose, limitations and risks of thermal imaging on electrical systems
  • • Inadequate communication of procedures, updates and lessons learned to field staff and contractors
  • • Failure to incorporate worker feedback about practical issues, near misses or equipment limitations
  • • Confusion about reporting channels for defects, hazards and incidents identified during imaging
  • • Insufficient awareness of WHS legislative duties and right to cease unsafe work among thermography personnel and supervisors
  • • Over-reliance on thermal imaging as a standalone control instead of part of a broader risk management strategy
11. Monitoring, Audit, Incident Management and Continuous Improvement
  • • Failure to detect deteriorating WHS performance in relation to thermal imaging activities
  • • Under-reporting or poor investigation of near misses, defects and incidents linked to electrical and thermal imaging work
  • • Lack of formal audit against internal procedures, WHS legislation and relevant standards
  • • No systematic review of whether thermal imaging programs are effectively reducing electrical risk and unplanned outages
  • • Inadequate learning from incidents within the organisation or across the industry
  • • Controls becoming outdated as technology, standards and site conditions evolve

Need to add specific hazards for your workplace?

Don't worry if a specific hazard isn't listed above. Once you purchase, simply log in to your Client Portal and add your own custom hazards at no extra cost. We take care of the hard work—creating the risk ratings and control measures for free—to ensure your document is compliant within minutes.

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
  • AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018: Risk management — Guidelines
  • AS/NZS 3000:2018: Electrical installations (Wiring Rules) — Requirements for safe electrical work environments and installations relevant to thermal imaging of electrical assets.
  • AS/NZS 4836:2011: Safe working on or near low-voltage electrical installations and equipment — Guidance for managing arc flash and live work risks during inspections.
  • AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018: Occupational health and safety management systems — Requirements for integrating thermal imaging into an organisation’s WHS management framework.
  • AS ISO/IEC 27001:2023: Information security management — Principles relevant to secure management of thermal imaging data, reports, and electronic records.
  • Safe Work Australia Codes of Practice: Including “Managing electrical risks in the workplace” and “Managing the work environment and facilities”.
Standard Risk Assessment Features (Click to Expand)
  • Comprehensive hazard identification for all activities
  • Risk rating matrix with likelihood and consequence analysis
  • Existing control measures evaluation
  • Residual risk assessment after controls
  • Hierarchy of controls recommendations
  • Action priority rankings
  • Review and monitoring requirements
  • Consultation and communication records
  • Legal compliance references
  • Sign-off and approval sections

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