Electrical work is high risk construction work whenever it’s on or near energised electrical installations or services, and that covers most jobs electricians do. It also covers plenty of jobs other trades do near power. Here’s what an electrical SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) must cover, what we see go wrong on real jobs, and why “the power’s off” isn’t always true.
When does electrical work need a SWMS?
A SWMS is legally required when the job includes high risk construction work. Electrical jobs commonly include:
- work on or near energised electrical installations or services, including switchboards, live circuits, overhead lines, underground cables, solar arrays and batteries
- a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres: ladders, roofs, ceiling spaces and elevated work for lighting or solar
- working where powered mobile plant is moving, such as EWPs, scissor lifts and trenchers
- trenches deeper than 1.5 metres for underground cabling
- work likely to involve disturbing asbestos, like old switchboard backing panels, meter boxes and some ceiling insulation in older homes
Most commercial builders ask for a SWMS on every electrical job anyway. It’s also the first document a WHS inspector asks for on site.
It’s not just sparkies: other trades work near power too
“Working on or near energised electrical services” isn’t only an electrician’s problem. Landscapers, earthmovers, plumbers, carpenters and painters all work near live cables and wiring, and their SWMS needs to say so. Two real examples from our clients:
- A landscaper dug through an underground electrical cable and cut the power to an entire subdivision. He walked away, which makes it a close call. It could just as easily have been fatal.
- A worker replacing pipework under a sink found an exposed wire the hard way: an electric shock and a quick trip to the emergency department.
If your work involves digging, cutting, drilling or reaching into walls, ceilings, cabinets or the ground, your SWMS should cover:
- Before You Dig Australia (BYDA), the free service that used to be Dial Before You Dig, for every excavation. Remember that private cables (for example from the meter to a shed or pool) aren’t on those plans.
- Locating services before you break ground, with a service locator and by hand-digging or vacuum-digging (potholing) to find them.
- Treating all wiring as live until a licensed electrician has isolated it and proved it dead.
- RCD-protected power tools and leads that are tested and tagged.
- Stopping work and calling an electrician if you find exposed, damaged or unexpected wiring. Only licensed electricians do electrical work.
What your electrical SWMS needs to cover
A good electrical SWMS follows the actual steps of the job, what could go wrong at each step, and what you’ll do about it. These are the hazards we’d expect to see:
| Hazard | Controls to include |
|---|---|
| Contact with live parts | De-energise before work. Live work only in the limited circumstances the law allows, with a specific risk assessment, a safety observer and insulated tools and PPE. |
| Isolation and lock-out | Isolate, then lock out and tag every point of supply with your personal lock and danger tag. Only the person who fitted the lock removes it. |
| Test before you touch | Prove the circuit dead with a tester you’ve checked on a known live source before and after. Never trust labels or switch positions. |
| Solar panels and batteries | Identify every source of supply (grid, solar, battery, generator). Follow the shutdown procedure at the switchboard and inverter. Treat solar DC cabling as live in daylight. |
| Ceiling and roof spaces | Walk on joists or crawl boards, not the plaster. Plan for heat, with cooler hours, water, breaks and a buddy. Check for asbestos, vermin damage and sharp fixings before going in. |
| Switchboard and meter work | Arc flash protection, insulated mats, the right PPE category, and an asbestos check on older boards. |
| Underground cables and trenching | BYDA plans, locating and potholing, trench support over 1.5 metres, and exclusion zones around plant. |
| Ladders, EWPs and heights | The right ladder (non-conductive near live parts), secured and on firm ground. EWP pre-starts, trained operators and powerline clearances. |
| Portable tools and leads | RCD protection, test-and-tag, and leads kept off the ground and out of water. |
| Apprentices and new workers | Direct supervision, SWMS explained before they start, and no isolation or live work beyond their competence. |
| Rescue and first aid | A low-voltage rescue kit (insulated hook, gloves), CPR-trained workers on site, and a clear plan for calling for help. |
“The power’s off” isn’t always true: solar and batteries
Electricians work in ceiling spaces under strict rules about turning the power off and locking it out. But switching off and locking the main switch doesn’t isolate power coming from solar panels and battery storage. We’re seeing this catch people out more and more as solar and home batteries become standard.
- Solar panels generate power whenever there’s daylight. The DC cabling from the panels to the inverter stays live even with the main switch off.
- Batteries can keep circuits live through the inverter, and some systems switch to backup power when the grid goes off.
- Look for the signs at the switchboard and meter box that say there’s solar, a battery or multiple supplies, and follow the site’s shutdown procedure for each one.
- Check the roof and ceiling space for DC cabling, isolators and the inverter before you start.
- Lock out every source, then test before you touch. Your SWMS should name every source of supply at that site.
What we see go wrong on real jobs
- Power off at the main switch, but solar and battery still live in the ceiling space.
- Digging without locating services, then hitting a live cable.
- Unexpected wiring under sinks, behind walls and in cabinets, found by touch instead of by testing.
- The SWMS treated as paperwork: signed, filed, never talked through with the crew.
Working live: only when the law allows it
In every state, working on live electrical equipment is only allowed in limited circumstances, such as when it’s necessary for testing or fault-finding, or when isolating would create a bigger risk. Even then you need a specific risk assessment, a competent safety observer, and the right insulated tools and PPE. Each state has its own electrical safety rules and regulator: the Electrical Safety Office in Queensland, SafeWork NSW in New South Wales, and Energy Safe Victoria in Victoria.
Make your SWMS work on site
- Read it and talk it through with the crew before work starts, then everyone signs.
- Make it site-specific: this switchboard, these supplies (solar, battery, generator), these ceiling and access conditions.
- Keep it on site and review it when anything changes.
- Give a copy to the builder before work starts. If there’s a principal contractor, it’s your responsibility to provide your SWMS before the high risk work begins, not just when asked.
How we can help
SWMS Done For You: $240. Tell us about the job (domestic, commercial or solar), and we write an electrical SWMS that fits your work, your crew and your equipment. It arrives as a Word document within about 2 business days, ready to review, talk through, sign and take to site.
On the tools every day? The Projects One app lets you copy last job’s SWMS, update it for the new site on your phone, get the crew to sign on screen, and send it straight to the builder. EWP and vehicle pre-starts are in there too.
Not sure what you need? Talk to a real person
Hi, I’m Wendy. We work with electricians across Queensland, NSW and Victoria, from domestic and commercial to solar specialists. Call me about your jobs and I’ll tell you what you actually need, even if that’s not our app.
Electrical SWMS questions
Do I need a SWMS for every electrical job?
You need one for any job that’s high risk construction work, which includes work on or near energised electrical installations, falls over 2 metres and work near moving plant. That covers most electrical jobs. You don’t have to start from scratch each time, but you must review it for each site before work starts. More on reusing a SWMS.
Is turning off the main switch enough to make it safe?
Not always. Solar panels, batteries and generators can keep parts of the installation live with the main switch off. Identify every source of supply, isolate and lock out each one, and test before you touch.
Can I work live?
Only in the limited circumstances your state’s electrical safety laws allow, such as testing or fault-finding where it’s necessary. You need a specific risk assessment, a safety observer and the right insulated tools and PPE. If the job can be done de-energised, it must be.
Do other trades need to include electrical hazards in their SWMS?
Yes, if they work on or near energised electrical services. Landscapers and earthmovers digging near underground cables, plumbers and carpenters working near wiring, and painters near overhead lines all need it in their SWMS, along with controls like BYDA, locating services and treating wiring as live.
Does the builder’s SWMS cover my electrical work?
No. The business doing the high risk work prepares the SWMS for that work. As the electrical contractor, you’re responsible for your SWMS, and you must give a copy to the builder (principal contractor) before work starts.
I work in Queensland, NSW and Victoria. Do the rules change?
The SWMS rules are almost the same in every state. Victoria uses its own OHS laws, and each state has its own electrical safety laws and regulator. A well-written SWMS works across states as long as it’s reviewed for each site. See our SWMS rules in each state.
Related guides
- Roofing SWMS
- Do I need a SWMS for every job?
- SWMS vs Risk Assessment (JSA) vs Take 5
- SWMS rules in each state: Queensland, NSW, Victoria, WA
General information based on the model Work Health and Safety Regulations used in Queensland, NSW, WA and most states. Victoria uses its own OHS laws, but SWMS rules there are very similar. This isn’t legal advice, so check the detail for your state or ask us.