Working near low voltage electric line

• Hazard identification
• Risk assessment
• Control measures

This information is for workers and home owners doing:

• painting work near low voltage overhead lines
• erection of scaffolding
• building work near low voltage overhead lines
• any other non-electrical work where there is a risk of touching low-voltage overhead lines.

Electric lines covered by this information are:

• electricity distributors’ low-voltage overhead lines, including service lines
• low-voltage overhead lines forming part of consumers’ installations
• any low-voltage overhead line within the jurisdiction of the Electrical Safety Act 2002.

When working around low-voltage overhead lines near buildings and structures, you must comply with both exclusion zones and no-touch zones.

Hazard identification

You should follow a basic risk management process:

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

Potential hazards may include:

• bare exposed live wires
• broken-down insulation
• deterioration of earthing of exposed conductive parts that are required to be earthed
• voltage of the line higher than the expected low voltage
• the possibility of equipment coming into contact with the exposed live parts.

If the voltage of the line cannot be determined, it should be assumed a high-voltage line.

If you cannot determine if the line is effectively insulated, you should treat the line as being bare.

Risk assessment

If a hazard has been identified, a written assessment should be done. This determines the risk to a person entering into the exclusion zones.

Some factors that may be included in a risk assessment include:

• The type of work being carried out, tools or equipment being used and the risk of mechanical damage to the line if contact was made. Read Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2010 - Working Near Exposed Live Parts (PDF File, 789.0 KB) for examples
• The proximity of the work to the overhead line
• Environmental conditions such as rain, wind or uneven ground which may cause a risk of unexpected movement of tools or equipment held by the workers.

Control measures

Use the preferred hierarchy of control measures when determining safe work practices:

1. Eliminate the hazard which could involve:
   • de-energising the line during the work
   • rerouting the service line away from the work area
   • contacting distribution entities to de-energise the line.
2. Substitute with a less hazardous process or equipment:
   • an example is using non-conductive scaffolding instead of metal scaffolding.
3. Isolate the hazard which could involve:
   • erecting a barrier to prevent any part of the machine or the load being moved from entering the exclusion zone.
4. Redesign the equipment or work process which could involve:
   • someone sanding by hand the point where an overhead line meets the building instead of using an electric disc sander
   • using an insulated fibre glass extension handle on a paint roller, instead of a conductive aluminium extension handle
5. Introduce administrative controls which includes:
   • planning and documenting the work procedure before starting work
   • using a safety observer to warn people before they enter the exclusion zone.
6. Use appropriate personal protective equipment, including:
   • using effectively electrically tested insulating gloves by anyone who may be at risk of entering the exclusion zone.

In deciding which control measure to adopt, you should start at the top of the hierarchy and work your way down.

More information on working near low-voltage electric lines near buildings and structures is available in the Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2010 - Working Near Exposed Live Parts (PDF File, 789.0 KB).