Working near electrical hazards in building

• Safety Alert - school electrical danger
• Hazard identification
• Risk assessment
• Control measures

This information is for people working in buildings and near electrical installations or underground cables with a risk of contacting exposed live parts.
Examples include:

• a builder removing a sheet of plasterboard from a stud wall with a chance of contacting a socket outlet
• a plumber cutting a water pipe when there could be an electric cable next to the pipe
• a fencing contractor digging holes where an electric cable could be buried.

Safety alert – school electrical danger

A safety alert has been issued regarding workplace health and safety in schools.

Hazard identification

You should follow a basic risk management process as outlined in the Electrical Safety Cod eof Practice 2010 - Risk Management (PDF File, 616.5 KB): 

• Look at the site and identify any potential hazards.
• Assess the risk of injuring yourself and other workers.
• Use appropriate control measures.

Possible hazardous situations include:

• work that exposes electric lines or apparatus in building cavities
• work that could damage electric lines or cables
• digging or driving implements into the ground where there might be live cables
• conductive material that could be brought into contact with live parts.

Risk assessment

If a hazard is identified, a risk assessment must be conducted. Some factors to be considered include:

• the possibility of tools damaging cables or apparatus
• cables or apparatus that might be concealed
• Part 10.2.6 of the Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2010 - Working Near Exposed Live Parts (PDF File, 789.0 KB) examines the different types of electric lines and cables and provides notes on how to identify them.

For a more information on hazard factors, read the Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2010 - Working Near Exposed Live Parts (PDF File, 789.0 KB).

Control measures

Use this hierarchy of control measures when determining safe work practices:

1. Eliminate the hazard which could involve:
   • having the electricity supply to the circuit isolated. A qualified person may need to do the work.
2. Substitute a less hazardous process or equipment, like:
   • bolting a bracket to a column instead of welding it which may cause enough heat to damage an electrical cable.
3. Isolate the hazard which could involve:
   • a physical barrier to prevent accidental contact between a hand-held tool and exposed live parts.
4. Redesign the equipment or work process which could mean using a less intrusive method, like:
   • scoring and breaking the plaster for a door through a stud and plaster wall. Rather than sawing it through to reduce the risk of damaging cables which may be in the wall.
5. Introduce administrative controls like:
   • an authorisation and training system to identify the hazards and perform the work safely.
6. Use appropriate personal protective equipment which may mean the use of:
   • effectively electrically tested insulating gloves
   • fire-retardant clothing.

More information on working near electrical hazards in buildings and near underground electrical cables is available in the Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2010 - Working Near Exposed Live Parts (PDF File, 789.0 KB).