Working near live parts as dangerous as working live

Electrical workers know the dangers of working live but working around live parts, whether low or high voltage, can also be dangerous. Stay safe. Use a safe system of work, turn the power off, and test before working on or near exposed live parts.

Exposed live parts and, in some circumstances, insulated parts can be hazardous for electrical workers. Exposed live parts located in switchboards, equipment control panels and similar situations need to be treated as live unless they are tested and proven otherwise. Treating exposed parts as live even if they are not the subject of electrical work requires a risk assessment and the use of appropriate safety controls. In many circumstances, the risks associated with undertaking work near exposed live parts are the same as those associated with live electrical work.

 Evaluating the risks and developing controls can help you to develop safer work practices. Most important of all, it means everyone gets to go home safely at the end of the day. Employers must provide adequate information and training to their workers so they can identify hazards, assess risks in the course of their electrical work and apply a safe system of work.

The Electrical Safety Office has hosted Electrical Safety Forums around Queensland highlighting the risks of working near exposed live parts. More forums begin 14 July.