Product Overview

Summary: This SOP provides a structured, repeatable approach for conducting risk assessments on renewable energy sites, including solar farms, wind farms and battery energy storage systems. It helps Australian businesses identify, assess and control WHS risks before work starts and as conditions change, supporting compliance with WHS legislation and protecting workers, contractors and the public.

Renewable energy sites present a unique mix of electrical, mechanical, environmental and construction hazards that can change rapidly throughout the project lifecycle. From heavy plant and lifting operations during construction, to high-voltage equipment, live DC systems and battery energy storage risks during operation, a generic risk assessment approach is no longer sufficient. This Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, step-by-step method for completing thorough, site-specific risk assessments tailored to solar PV farms, wind farms, battery installations and hybrid renewable facilities in the Australian context.

The procedure guides your team through planning and preparing for the assessment, systematically identifying hazards, applying a consistent risk matrix, and selecting appropriate control measures based on the hierarchy of control. It addresses common industry challenges such as managing multiple contractors, remote and regional locations, extreme weather, bushfire risk, environmental constraints and grid connection hazards. By implementing this SOP, businesses can demonstrate due diligence under WHS law, reduce incident likelihood, improve consultation with workers and contractors, and provide clear documentation that will stand up to regulator or client scrutiny.

This document also supports ongoing risk management, not just a one-off assessment. It outlines triggers for review (such as design changes, new technology, or significant incidents), integrates with Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) and Job Safety Analyses (JSA), and provides guidance on communicating findings to all personnel on site. The result is a robust, practical framework that turns risk assessment from a tick-box exercise into a powerful tool for safer, more reliable renewable energy operations.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent, high-quality risk assessments across all renewable energy sites and project phases.
• Reduce the likelihood of serious incidents involving high-voltage, working at heights, mobile plant and battery energy storage systems.
• Demonstrate compliance with WHS legislation, Australian Standards and client requirements for risk management.
• Streamline consultation and communication of risks and controls between principal contractors, subcontractors and workers.
• Improve documentation quality, making it easier to evidence due diligence during audits, tenders or regulator investigations.

Who is this for?

• WHS Managers
• HSE Advisors
• Renewable Energy Project Managers
• Construction Site Managers
• Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Managers
• Electrical Engineers
• Site Supervisors
• Field Technicians
• Principal Contractors
• Asset Owners and Facility Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Exposure to high-voltage AC and DC electrical systems, including arc flash and electric shock
• Working at heights on wind turbines, elevated platforms and solar arrays
• Crane operations, lifting activities and dropped objects during turbine and module installation
• Interaction with mobile plant and vehicles, including collision and run-over risks
• Fire and explosion risks associated with battery energy storage systems (thermal runaway) and inverters
• Remote and isolated work, including delayed emergency response and communication failures
• Extreme weather conditions such as high winds, lightning, heat stress and bushfire conditions
• Manual handling and musculoskeletal injuries from handling solar modules, cabling and components
• Environmental hazards including wildlife, snakes, insects and uneven terrain
• Fatigue risks associated with long shifts, remote travel and fly-in fly-out (FIFO) arrangements
• Public interface risks where sites adjoin public roads, easements or farming operations

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations (PV, BESS, HV, LV, SWMS, JSA, etc.)
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Consultation Requirements
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Risk Management Framework and Methodology
• 6.0 Pre-Assessment Planning (site information, design review, stakeholder input)
• 7.0 Site Walk-through and Hazard Identification Process
• 8.0 Renewable Energy–Specific Hazards (solar, wind, battery, hybrid systems)
• 9.0 Risk Analysis and Rating Using the Risk Matrix
• 10.0 Selection of Control Measures and Application of the Hierarchy of Control
• 11.0 Integration with SWMS, JSA and Permit-to-Work Systems
• 12.0 Documentation Requirements and Record Keeping
• 13.0 Communication of Risks and Controls to Workers and Contractors
• 14.0 Monitoring, Review and Reassessment Triggers
• 15.0 Emergency Preparedness Considerations in the Risk Assessment
• 16.0 Remote and Isolated Work Risk Considerations
• 17.0 Environmental and Community Interface Risk Considerations
• 18.0 Training, Competency and Induction Requirements
• 19.0 Audit, Inspection and Continuous Improvement
• Appendix A – Sample Renewable Energy Site Risk Assessment Template
• Appendix B – Example Risk Matrix and Consequence/Likelihood Tables
• Appendix C – Typical Hazard and Control Register for Renewable Energy Sites
• Appendix D – Checklist for Pre-Construction, Construction and Operational Phases

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and relevant State/Territory variants)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (and State/Territory equivalents)
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Construction Work
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace
• AS/NZS 3000: Electrical installations (Wiring Rules)
• AS/NZS 5033: Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays
• AS/NZS 3017: Electrical installations – Verification guidelines
• AS/NZS ISO 31000: Risk management – Guidelines
• AS/NZS 4801 / ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems
• Clean Energy Council guidelines for grid-connected renewable energy systems (where applicable)