Product Overview

Summary: This Temporary Electrical Supply Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, safe and compliant method for planning, installing, using and dismantling temporary power on Australian worksites and events. It helps businesses control electrical risks, meet WHS and wiring requirements, and protect workers, contractors and the public from shocks, fires and equipment damage.

Temporary electrical supplies are common across Australian construction sites, shutdowns, maintenance works, events and remote operations, but they carry significant risk if not managed correctly. Poorly planned or ad‑hoc temporary power can lead to electric shock, fire, equipment failure and serious legal consequences under WHS legislation. This SOP provides a structured, step‑by‑step approach to ensure that every temporary electrical installation is designed, installed, used and removed in a way that is safe, traceable and compliant with Australian standards.

The document guides your team through pre‑planning, load assessment, selection of equipment (including RCDs, leads, boards and generators), safe installation practices, inspection and testing, lock‑out/tag‑out, and de‑energisation and removal. It clearly defines responsibilities between the PCBU, licensed electricians, supervisors and end users, and embeds practical controls such as segregation of leads, protection from weather and mechanical damage, and robust defect management. By implementing this SOP, organisations can standardise their approach to temporary power, reduce the likelihood of incidents, and demonstrate due diligence during regulator inspections, audits and incident investigations.

Written specifically for the Australian context, this procedure references relevant WHS legislation and wiring rules, and is suitable for a broad range of industries including construction, mining, manufacturing, utilities, events and local government. It supports both small projects using a single temporary board and complex multi‑stage sites requiring multiple temporary supplies, helping you maintain safe, reliable power from mobilisation through to demobilisation.

Key Benefits

• Ensure temporary electrical installations are designed, installed and used in line with Australian WHS laws and AS/NZS 3000 wiring rules.
• Reduce the risk of electric shock, arc flash and electrical fires through clear controls for RCD protection, isolation and inspection.
• Standardise how temporary power is planned, installed, tested, documented and dismantled across all sites and projects.
• Demonstrate due diligence to regulators, clients and auditors with clear records of inspections, testing and authorisations.
• Minimise downtime and costly rework by preventing equipment damage, overloads and nuisance tripping caused by poor temporary power practices.

Who is this for?

• Electricians
• Electrical Contractors
• Site Supervisors
• Construction Project Managers
• Event Managers
• Facilities Managers
• WHS Managers
• Safety Officers
• Maintenance Supervisors

Hazards Addressed

• Electric shock from exposed live parts or faulty equipment
• Electrocution due to incorrect isolation or unauthorised access
• Electrical fires caused by overloading, damaged cables or poor connections
• Trip and fall hazards from poorly routed or unprotected extension leads and cables
• Mechanical damage to cables and equipment from vehicles, plant and materials handling
• Ingress of water and contaminants into electrical equipment used outdoors or in damp locations
• Use of non‑compliant, untested or improvised electrical equipment
• Arc flash and short circuits due to incorrect connections or defective equipment

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Electricians, Supervisors, Workers)
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Planning and Risk Assessment for Temporary Electrical Supply
• 6.0 Design Requirements and Load Assessment
• 7.0 Selection of Equipment (Boards, RCDs, Cables, Generators and Connectors)
• 8.0 Installation Requirements and Safe Work Methods
• 9.0 Isolation, Lock‑Out/Tag‑Out and Access Control
• 10.0 Inspection, Testing and Tagging of Temporary Electrical Equipment
• 11.0 Operation, Monitoring and User Responsibilities
• 12.0 Environmental Controls (Weather, Water, Heat and Mechanical Protection)
• 13.0 Housekeeping and Cable Management (Routing, Support and Segregation)
• 14.0 Faults, Defects and Non‑conformance Management
• 15.0 Emergency Procedures for Electrical Incidents
• 16.0 De‑energisation, Dismantling and Demobilisation of Temporary Supply
• 17.0 Training, Competency and Authorisation Requirements
• 18.0 Documentation, Records and Audit Requirements
• 19.0 Review, Consultation and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory WHS Acts)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (and state/territory equivalents) – Electrical safety provisions
• 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 3017: Electrical installations – Verification guidelines
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Managing electrical risks in the workplace
• State/Territory Electrical Safety Acts and Regulations (e.g. Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld))