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Work Near Overhead Power Lines Risk Assessment

This risk assessment covers work conducted near overhead power lines, including planning, exclusion zones, equipment movements and emergency response.

Activities covered include

  • Identify overhead power lines and assess the work area before starting
  • Coordinate safety observers and critical communications
  • Prepare emergency response and incident management arrangements

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If your client or principal requests changes during document review, BlueSafe will help revise the document at no extra cost and support resubmission until it is accepted.

Work Near Overhead Power Lines 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

Product Overview

This risk assessment covers work conducted near overhead power lines, including planning, exclusion zones, equipment movements and emergency response. It supports planning and managing electrical contact, arcing and related site risks.

Activities & Risks Covered

This assessment addresses activities and risks including:

  • Identify overhead power lines and assess the work area before starting
  • Confirm de-energisation, isolation and authority requirements where applicable
  • Establish and maintain visible exclusion zones and site layout
  • Manage mobile plant, cranes, EWPs and vehicle movements near lines
  • Coordinate safety observers and critical communications
  • Use ladders, hand tools and materials without entering exclusion zones
  • Monitor wind, rain, storms, lighting and changing site conditions
  • Provide training, competency checks and supervision
  • Prepare emergency response and incident management arrangements

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out work near overhead power lines.

Activities & Hazards Covered

Activity Potential Hazards
Planning and site assessment
  • Overhead power lines not identified before work starts
  • Incorrect assumptions about line voltage, insulation status or ownership
  • Work area selected too close to live lines
  • Hidden line movement risks from sag, sway, wind or poor visibility
  • Workers or contractors unaware of line location and exclusion zones
De-energisation, isolation and authority requirements
  • Electrocution or arc flash from work near energised lines
  • Work proceeding on assumptions that power has been turned off
  • Inadvertent re-energisation of the line
  • Unauthorised work inside restricted approach distances
Establishing exclusion zones and site layout
  • People, plant, tools or materials entering the exclusion zone
  • Exclusion zones not visible on the ground
  • Encroachment caused by poor layout of access routes, stockpiles or set-down areas
  • Unauthorised persons entering the work area
Mobile plant, cranes, EWPs and vehicles
  • Plant or attachments contacting or arcing to overhead lines
  • Loads, booms, raised trays or baskets entering unsafe distances
  • Operator distraction or poor depth perception near lines
  • Ground movement or unstable setup causing plant to shift toward the lines
Safety observer and communication
  • Operator unaware of encroachment toward the exclusion zone
  • Miscommunication between operator, dogger, spotter and ground workers
  • Spotter distracted by other duties
  • Loss of communication during critical plant movements
Use of ladders, hand tools, materials and manual tasks
  • Long or conductive items contacting overhead lines
  • Workers carrying materials into the exclusion zone
  • Metal ladders, pipes, reo, formwork, scaffold parts or tools becoming energised
  • Direct or indirect electric shock from manual handling near lines
Changing site and environmental conditions
  • Wind causing load swing, line sway or loss of control
  • Rain, lightning or storms increasing electrical risk
  • Low light, glare or sun position reducing line visibility
  • Changed ground levels or plant position reducing clearance
Training, competency and supervision
  • Workers not understanding exclusion zones or line hazards
  • Untrained workers assuming covered lines are safe to touch
  • Inexperienced operators misjudging clearance distances
  • Insufficient supervision during higher-risk activities
Emergency response and incident management
  • Electrocution or burns following contact or arcing
  • Fire, explosion or line whiplash after impact
  • Secondary injury during attempted rescue
  • Delayed isolation of power or emergency response

Need to tailor this risk assessment?

Use the BlueSafe Portal to add site-specific activities, hazards, controls, responsibilities and review details before the assessment is put into use.

Acceptance Guaranteed: If your client or principal requests changes during document review, BlueSafe will help revise the document at no extra cost and support resubmission until it is accepted.

Legislation & References

The template records model guidance used to inform the documented controls. Applicable WHS/OHS laws and adopted Codes vary by state or territory, so confirm the current local requirements when tailoring the assessment:

  • Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing electrical risks in the workplace — 2.1 Identifying the hazards; p. 14.
  • Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces — 3.2 Identifying the hazards; p. 16.
  • Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Hazardous manual tasks — 4.1 The hierarchy of control measures; p. 31.
  • Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: First aid in the workplace — 3. First aid equipment, facilities and training; p. 12.
  • Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing the work environment and facilities — 2. The work environment; p. 13.
  • Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplace — Plant used to lift or suspend persons or things; p. 17.
Standard Risk Assessment Features (Click to Expand)
  • Activity-specific hazard identification and control measures
  • Initial and residual risk ratings
  • Assigned responsible persons for each activity
  • Risk matrix and assessment classification
  • Review, monitoring and sign-off fields
  • Site-specific customisation before use

Suitable for Industries

Building and ConstructionTransport and LogisticsFarming and AgricultureCivil Construction and EarthworksMining and Resources

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