Job activity
(Tasks) | What can harm
you (Hazards) | What can
happen (Risks) | Causes which need to be
managed (Controlled) |
| General planning | Inadequate qualifications and /or experience, planning, consultation and improvisation | Contact with electricity | - Electrical contractor not licensed.
- Inadequate consultation with relevant employees.
- Contractor not experienced in the type of work undertaken.
- Australian Standard AS/NZS 3012 not followed.
- Improvisation using inappropriate wiring methods or electrical materials.
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| | Inadequate maintenance and/or routine checks of electrical equipment by a competent person | Contact with electricity | Where applicable: - Earth Leakage Switch not trip tested monthly.
- Earth Leakage Switch not subject to a calibration test.
- Flexible extension leads, portable tools and electrical plant not inspected, tested and tagged three monthly.
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| | Use of power tools and/or electrical plant | Contact with electricity | - Earth Leakage Switch not installed on mains supply or portable generator.
- Electrical equipment faulty.
- Extension lead faulty.
- Lead severed by power tool blade.
- Tool not double insulated – old metal type.
- Tool placed in water or other liquid.
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| | Short circuit resulting in an electrical fire | Electrical fire, burns and/or contact with electricity | - Wrong type of fire extinguisher available i.e. water not powder or CO2.
- Person not trained in the use of fire fighting equipment.
- Extinguisher positioned at fire source e.g. base of switchboard.
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| Excavation and demolition | Underground electrical services | Strike underground cabling with machine, hand tool or other | - Underground services not located and/or isolated.
- Drawings incorrect, services not in their expected location.
- No excavation permit to dig system in place.
- Cables not exposed by hand before digging using plant.
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| | Power lines near the site and power to the site | Strike or working too close to power lines, e.g. metal roof sheets, ladder, scaffold or machine such as a crane or excavator | - Power lines not isolated by the Supply Authority where possible.
- Power lines not covered or enclosed.
- Machine operating too close to power lines.
- Spotter not used to supervise machine operating near power lines.
- Access positioned too close to power lines.
- Strong wind causes power lines to swing closer to work area.
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| | Entering the Danger Zone. Operating distances for plant from a live overhead power line not observed | Contact with electricity | - Plant too close to overhead power lines:
- is within 0.5 metres of a live insulated overhead power line or aerial bundled conductor line of a voltage of not more than 1000 volts;
- is within 1.0 metres of a live uninsulated overhead power line of a voltage of not more than 1000 volts;
- is within 3.0 metres of a live overhead power line, whether insulated or not, of a voltage exceeding 1000 volts but not more than 33000 volts; or
- is within 6.0 metres of a live overhead power line, whether insulated or not, of a voltage exceeding 33000 volts;
- Inspection of the work area not conducted prior to starting work.
- Spotter not used to constantly observe the operation of the plant whilst working or travelling in the vicinity of the overhead power lines.
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| | Power supply within site amenities | Contact with electricity | - Faulty electrical appliance or equipment within shed.
- Appliance or equipment not regularly inspected by a licensed electrician.
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| | Inappropriate electrical lighting to work area | Contact with electricity | - Lighting unprotected, e.g. no wire guard or diffuser.
- Single lamp holders with bare light bulb used.
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| | Inappropriate electrical supply to work area | Contact with electricity | - Earth Leakage Switch not installed on mains supply or portable generator.
- Electrical switchboard does not have lid and/or is not weatherproofed.
- Electrical switchboard is not secured.
- Electrical switchboard does not have bushed holes to prevent damage to leads.
- Leads are damaged by the switchboard lid – not connected through bushed holes in the base.
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| | Undetected live electricity within structure to be demolished | Contact with electricity | - No Isolation Permit system in place prior to demolition.
- Earth Leakage Switch not installed on mains supply or portable generator.
- Licensed electrical contractor or authorised person not used to switch off/isolate power.
- Power not isolated to prevent it being switched back on, e.g. remove main fuse or tag out method.
- On site labour do not treat all power circuits as live.
- Other power source from outside the site not identified and disconnected.
- Irregular or unauthorised connections not identified and disconnected.
- Temporary connections not identified, tagged and isolated.
- Water pipe electrified.
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| Structures trades | Power sited too far from work area | Contact with electricity | - Electrical supply not provided within the maximum length allowable for the rating of the extension lead used
- Several extension leads connected together (in series).
- Insulated hooks not used - leads wrapped around metal components, e.g., formwork.
- Lead/s run between floors.
- Lead severed by sharp edge.
- Extension lead not secured above work area - lying in water or other liquid.
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| Roofing | Live electricity in roof cavity | Electric shock, burns or electrocution | - Earth Leakage Switch not installed on mains supply or portable generator.
- Insulation to old wiring frayed or easily damaged – e.g. brittle or old metal conduit.
- Power not switched off.
- Power not isolated to prevent it being switched back on, e.g. remove main fuse or tag out method.
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| Roofing | Electricity on or near the site | Electric shock, burns or electrocution | - Insulation to old wiring frayed or easily damaged – eg brittle or old metal conduit.
- Work area too close to power lines
- Tiger tails (insulation) not adequately boxed in when adjacent to scaffold or at risk of being penetrated by metal roofing materials with sharp edges.
- Tiger tails (insulation) not extended to an appropriate distance past the boundary.
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| Finish trades | Live electricity too close to scaffold erection or completed scaffold is moved too close during use | Electric shock, burns or electrocution | - Earth Leakage Switch not installed on mains supply or portable generator.
- Working too close to live power lines.
- Tiger Tails (insulation) not in place on power lines or wet conditions make them ineffective.
- High wind causes power lines to swing closer to work area.
- Scaffold component strikes and shatters unprotected light bulb.
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| Finish trades | Electrical supply too close to work area | Electric shock, burns or electrocution | - Earth Leakage Switch not installed on mains supply or portable generator.
- Working too close to live power lines.
- Tiger tails (insulation) not in place on power lines or wet conditions make them ineffective.
- High wind causes power lines to swing closer to work area.
- Scaffold component strikes and shatters unprotected light bulb.
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| Roofing | Undetected live electricity within ceiling or structure | Contact with electricity | - Earth Leakage Switch not installed on mains supply or portable generator.
- Licensed electrical contractoror authorized person not used to switch off/isolate power.
- Power not isolated to prevent it being switched back on, e.g. remove main fuse or tag out method.
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| Public access | Live power on site – un-authorised access | Contact with electricity | - Electrical switchboard not locked outside work hours.
- Earth Leakage Switch not installed on mains supply or portable generator.
- Site not adequately fenced or guarded.
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