Product Overview

Summary: This Lighting and Electrical Safety Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, practical framework for working safely with fixed and portable electrical equipment, lighting systems and temporary power on Australian worksites. It helps businesses control the risk of electric shock, fire, and poor lighting conditions while demonstrating due diligence under WHS legislation.

Lighting and electrical systems are fundamental to almost every workplace, yet they are also a common source of serious incidents, from electric shock and arc flash to fires and slips, trips and falls caused by poor illumination or trailing leads. This Lighting and Electrical Safety SOP sets out a structured, step-by-step approach to planning, installing, operating and maintaining both permanent and temporary electrical and lighting equipment in line with Australian WHS requirements. It covers everything from pre-use inspections and lockout/tagout of circuits, through to safe use of extension leads, portable RCDs, task lighting, and high-risk activities such as work near live parts.

By implementing this SOP, businesses can standardise how workers interact with electrical and lighting systems across offices, workshops, warehouses, construction sites and events. The procedure helps duty holders identify and control electrical hazards, ensure adequate and compliant lighting levels for different tasks, and embed practical controls such as RCD protection, isolation procedures, inspection and testing regimes, and contractor management. This not only reduces the likelihood of injuries and equipment damage, but also supports compliance with the Wiring Rules, WHS Regulations and relevant Australian Standards, giving organisations a defensible, documented system of work that can be used for training, inductions and ongoing audits.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of electric shock, arc flash and electrical fires through clear, repeatable work practices.
• Ensure work areas are adequately and safely illuminated to minimise slips, trips, falls and eye strain.
• Standardise inspection, testing and maintenance of electrical equipment across multiple sites and teams.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS legislation, Wiring Rules and relevant electrical safety standards.
• Improve contractor and worker understanding of isolation, lockout/tagout and safe work around live electrical parts.

Who is this for?

• WHS Managers
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Electrical Supervisors
• Electricians and Electrical Contractors
• Maintenance Managers
• Facilities Managers
• Construction Site Managers
• Production Supervisors
• Event and Venue Managers
• Laboratory and Workshop Coordinators

Hazards Addressed

• Electric shock from faulty equipment, damaged cords or exposed live parts
• Arc flash and arc blast during switching, fault conditions or incorrect isolation
• Electrical fires caused by overloading circuits, poor connections or damaged insulation
• Trips and falls from poorly routed leads, cables and temporary lighting setups
• Inadequate lighting leading to slips, trips, falls and errors in high-risk tasks
• Glare and visual discomfort from poorly positioned or unsuitable lighting
• Use of non-compliant or untested portable electrical equipment and extension leads
• Contact with overhead or underground electrical services during installation or maintenance
• Water ingress into electrical equipment in outdoor or wet environments
• Unauthorised or unlicensed work on electrical installations

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Hazard Identification – Lighting and Electrical Risks
• 6.0 Risk Assessment and Control Hierarchy
• 7.0 General Requirements for Electrical Safety
• 8.0 Safe Use of Portable Electrical Equipment and Extension Leads
• 9.0 Inspection, Testing and Tagging Requirements
• 10.0 Fixed Installation and Temporary Power – Planning and Set-up
• 11.0 Lighting Requirements – Task, Emergency and Outdoor Lighting
• 12.0 Isolation, Lockout/Tagout and Permit-to-Work Procedures
• 13.0 Working Near Live Electrical Parts and Exclusion Zones
• 14.0 Housekeeping, Cable Management and Trip Prevention
• 15.0 Controls for Wet Areas, Outdoor Work and Adverse Weather
• 16.0 Contractor Management and Site Access Requirements
• 17.0 Emergency Response, Incident Reporting and First Aid for Electrical Shock
• 18.0 Training, Induction and Competency Verification
• 19.0 Monitoring, Inspection, Audit and Continuous Improvement
• 20.0 Document Control and Recordkeeping

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
• AS/NZS 3000: Electrical installations (Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules)
• AS/NZS 3012: Electrical installations – Construction and demolition sites
• AS/NZS 3760: In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment
• AS/NZS 2293 series: Emergency escape lighting and exit signs for buildings
• AS/NZS 1680 series: Interior and workplace lighting
• AS/NZS 60898 and AS/NZS 61009 series: Circuit-breakers and residual current devices (RCDs)