BlueSafe
Wire Fencing Risk Assessment

Wire Fencing 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

Wire Fencing Risk Assessment

Product Overview

Identify and control organisational risks associated with Wire Fencing through a structured, management-level WHS Risk Management approach that addresses planning, procurement, governance and lifecycle controls. This Risk Assessment supports compliance with the Work Health and Safety Act and Regulations while helping to demonstrate Due Diligence and reduce operational liability for your business.

Risk Categories & Hazards Covered

This document assesses risks and outlines management controls for:

  • Procurement & Design Governance: Assessment of how wire fencing systems are specified, designed and purchased to ensure structural integrity, fitness for purpose and compliance with relevant standards.
  • WHS Management System & Consultation: Management of policies, responsibilities, consultation arrangements and communication pathways relating to wire fencing activities across the organisation.
  • Contractor & Supplier Management: Protocols for prequalification, selection, induction and performance monitoring of fencing contractors, installers and material suppliers.
  • Training, Competency & Information: Assessment of competency requirements, licences, instruction, supervision and access to up-to-date safety information for workers involved with fencing works.
  • Planning, Site Assessment & Change Management: Management of pre-start planning, site-specific risk assessments, environmental and ground condition reviews, and formal change management for design or scope variations.
  • Inspection, Maintenance & Asset Management: Systems for scheduled inspections, condition monitoring, repair prioritisation and lifecycle management of installed wire fencing assets.
  • Electric & High-Risk Fencing Systems: Assessment of additional controls for electric fences, high-tension systems, security fencing and interfaces with electrical infrastructure and services.
  • Public, Neighbour & PCBU Interaction: Protocols for managing risks to the public, neighbouring properties, shared boundaries and coordination with other PCBUs in multi-duty environments.
  • Incident Reporting, Emergency Preparedness & Response: Management of incident notification, near-miss reporting, emergency planning and response arrangements related to fencing failures or contact incidents.
  • Monitoring, Audit & Continuous Improvement: Systems for performance monitoring, workplace inspections, audits, corrective actions and ongoing improvement of wire fencing risk controls.

Who is this for?

This Risk Assessment is designed for Business Owners, Operations Managers, Asset Managers and Safety Professionals responsible for planning, procuring, installing and maintaining wire fencing systems across their operations.

Hazards & Risks Covered

Hazard Risk Description
1. Procurement and Design of Wire Fencing Systems
  • • Selection of fencing materials and designs that are not fit for purpose, leading to structural failure or unsafe configurations
  • • Failure to consider site-specific WHS and environmental conditions (terrain, livestock, public interface, utilities) in fence design
  • • Procurement decisions based primarily on lowest cost rather than compliance with Australian Standards and WHS Act 2011 duties
  • • Use of suppliers or contractors without appropriate WHS systems, licences, or demonstrated competence
  • • Inadequate specification of guarding for high-tension wires, barbed wire, or electric fencing near public access areas
2. Governance, WHS Management System and Consultation
  • • Lack of clear WHS governance for wire fencing responsibilities across the organisation
  • • Inadequate integration of wire fencing risks into the overarching WHS management system
  • • Poor consultation with workers, contractors and other duty holders (e.g. neighbouring landowners, utilities) about fencing risks
  • • No formal process for reviewing legislative changes, Australian Standards updates or regulator guidance related to fencing
  • • Failure to allocate adequate budget and resources to manage wire fencing risks across the asset lifecycle
3. Contractor and Supplier Management
  • • Engagement of fencing contractors who lack appropriate competence, supervision or WHS systems
  • • Inadequate pre‑qualification and tender processes that fail to assess contractors’ WHS performance and capacity
  • • Poor coordination of activities between multiple contractors and the PCBU, leading to interface risks on or near fencing works
  • • Insufficient clarity over who controls the work area and associated fencing when multiple duty holders are present
  • • Lack of monitoring, verification and performance review of contractors’ WHS compliance on fencing projects
4. Training, Competency and Information
  • • Workers and supervisors lacking competency in identifying and controlling wire fencing risks across the lifecycle
  • • No formal training or induction covering specific hazards associated with high‑tension wires, barbed or razor wire, and electric fencing systems
  • • Inadequate understanding of requirements for working near overhead or underground services when planning or modifying fences
  • • Poor awareness of emergency response procedures for incidents involving fencing, such as entanglement or electric shock
  • • Failure to maintain competency over time due to turnover, seasonal workforces or infrequent fencing activities
5. Planning, Site Assessment and Change Management
  • • Wire fencing installed or altered without adequate assessment of site conditions, leading to uncontrolled interaction with vehicles, livestock, the public or other work activities
  • • Failure to identify and manage underground or overhead utilities in fencing routes, particularly when changing fence alignments
  • • Uncontrolled changes to fencing layouts, access points or gates that impact traffic management, emergency access or security
  • • Poor integration of fencing plans with broader property or project planning, resulting in conflicting controls or duplicated risk
  • • Lack of formal change management when upgrading from standard fencing to higher‑risk systems such as electric or razor wire
6. Inspection, Maintenance and Asset Management
  • • Degradation of wire fencing (corrosion, broken wires, loose posts) due to lack of systematic inspection and maintenance
  • • Uncontrolled tension loss or wire failure creating entanglement, piercing or laceration risks to workers, livestock and the public
  • • Inaccurate or outdated records of fence locations, types and condition, leading to unmanaged risks and inefficient responses
  • • Failure to identify and rectify non‑compliant or ad‑hoc fence modifications made over time by workers or contractors
  • • No prioritisation system for repairing high‑risk defects such as fallen electric wires, compromised boundary fences or damaged security fencing
7. Electric and High-Risk Fencing Systems
  • • Electric fences installed or operated without adequate controls, posing shock or electrocution risks to workers, neighbours and the public
  • • High‑tension, barbed or razor wire systems creating severe laceration and entanglement risks, particularly in emergency situations
  • • Inadequate labelling, signage and public information about the presence of electric or high‑risk fencing along property boundaries
  • • Lack of coordination with network operators and regulators when installing electric fencing near existing electrical infrastructure
  • • Failure of isolating or control equipment, resulting in unexpected energisation of fencing during maintenance or emergency response
8. Interaction with the Public, Neighbours and Other PCBUs
  • • Members of the public, including children, coming into contact with hazardous fencing along property boundaries, easements or public rights‑of‑way
  • • Disputes or misunderstandings with neighbouring landowners leading to ad‑hoc, non‑compliant or unsafe fencing arrangements
  • • Inadequate coordination with other PCBUs working on or adjacent to shared boundaries, utility corridors or road reserves
  • • Insufficient notification or signage where fencing adjoins public roads, tracks or recreational areas, leading to collision or entanglement risks
  • • Lack of clear rules for public access points, gates and shared driveways intersecting wire fencing
9. Incident Reporting, Emergency Preparedness and Response
  • • Delayed or ineffective response to incidents involving wire fencing, increasing severity of harm
  • • Under‑reporting of near misses and minor injuries related to fencing, leading to missed opportunities for system improvement
  • • Lack of clear procedures for emergency services access through or around fencing during fires, medical emergencies or rescues
  • • Inadequate analysis of fencing‑related incidents to identify underlying system or management failures
  • • Poor communication of lessons learned from incidents across worksites and business units
10. Monitoring, Audit and Continuous Improvement
  • • Complacency over time resulting in gradual deterioration of fencing risk controls and compliance
  • • Lack of objective verification that policies and procedures for fencing are implemented in the field
  • • Data related to fencing condition, incidents and costs not being systematically analysed to drive improvement
  • • Failure to identify emerging risks such as new fencing technologies, changing land use or climate impacts on fence stability
  • • No structured mechanism for workers and contractors to provide feedback on the practicality and effectiveness of fencing controls

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
  • Safe Work Australia – Managing risks of plant in the workplace Code of Practice: Guidance on managing risks associated with plant and equipment, including fixed installations.
  • Safe Work Australia – Work health and safety consultation, cooperation and coordination Code of Practice: Requirements for consultation and coordination between PCBUs where fencing interfaces with other operations.
  • AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018: Occupational health and safety management systems — Requirements with guidance for use.
  • AS/NZS 3014: Electrical installations – Electric fences (or relevant electric fence standard): Requirements for design, installation and maintenance of electric fencing systems.
  • AS 1725 (series): Chain-link fabric security fences and gates — Design and construction requirements for security and high-risk fencing applications.
  • AS/NZS 1170 (series): Structural design actions — Guidance on structural loads such as wind and impact that may affect fencing design.
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

$79.5

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