Electrical

Electrical Isolation in the Workplace

It’s important to understand the difference between de-energised and isolated. Hear more about this from Senior Construction Advisor James Webster.

Safe elements of electrical isolation

Use this simple infographic in your workplace to help understand the difference between de-energised and isolated.

View the infographic

Electrical safety

Electrocution is one of the leading causes of death for construction workers, including electricians. Understand the importance of SWMS, how simple oversights and a 'she'll be right' attitude can lead to fatal consequences, the importance of isolation and testing before any work begins, and taking care with even the simplest of tasks like replacing light fittings.

Electrical safety tip 1

Electrical safety tip 2

Electrical safety tip 3

Electrical safety tip 4

You might also need

Find useful information and services to help your workplace in your industry.

Construction: Electricians

These are the most common injuries and hazards for people working in electrical trades, as shown by injury claims.

Hazards

Hazard 1
Lifting pushing pulling and handling materials
Arrange for bulky materials to be delivered to the final work location, or use mechanical load shifting devices (eg hand trucks, cable trolleys) to move materials around site.

Provide lifting points or handles for heavy or awkward loads.

Ensure sharp edges of metal trays and ducts are covered, and fit protective caps to the end of all thread droppers and exposed rebar.

Order materials in smaller size containers (eg 100m cable drums instead of 500m).

Avoid manual cable pulling. Use cable rollers suitable for the size of cable, avoid pulling cables around tight bends and where necessary, mechanically pull the cable.

Provide appropriate personal protective equipment (eg boots, and safety glasses).

Ensure employees wear appropriate personal protective clothing (eg gloves, long trousers).

Ensure employees are not exposed to repetitive work for long periods (eg by using job rotation, work variation) or work that requires a significant amount of high force.

7 per cent of the injuries were to a persons forearm / wrist.

9 per cent of the injuries were to a persons shoulder.

16 per cent of the injuries were to a persons back.
Hazard 2
Noise
Ensure employees are not exposed to noise that exceeds the exposure standard.

Arrange for a noise assessment if employees are exposed to excessive noise (eg workers have to raise their voices to communicate over a distance of one metre) and there is uncertainty as to whether employees exposure may have exceeded the noise exposure standard.

Eliminate or minimise the source of noise (eg enclose or isolate noisy machinery, reduce vibration, use barriers to absorb and screens to block the direct path of sound, use silencers on air exhausts, exhaust pneumatics out of the area, buy the quietest tools / machinery available).

Place warning signs in areas of excessive and continual noise (eg where employees exposure is likely to exceed the exposure standard).

Warn other workers nearby that you will be undertaking noisy work and advise them to move away or wear hearing protection.

Provide hearing equipment and ensure it is worn at all times, and provide employees with audiometric testing. Employers should provide a choice of different types of hearing protection appropriate to the noise level in the workplace.
Hazard 3
Slips trips and falls
Provide appropriate height access equipment, use the highest level of falls prevention measures (eg work from mobile scaffolds, scissor / boom lifts instead of step platforms or ladders) as is reasonably practicable.

Ensure all working areas and access ways are clean, level, well-lit and in good condition.

Remove unwanted material and construction waste regularly from site so it does not accumulate.

Ensure construction materials, power leads, tools and equipment are positioned and secured to avoid creating trip hazards.

Ensure employees wear appropriate safety boots (eg that fit well and are in good repair).

6 per cent of the injuries were to a persons forearm / wrist.

8 per cent of the injuries were to a persons knee.

20 per cent of the injuries were to a persons shoulder.

26 per cent of the injuries were to a persons back.
Hazard 4
Using hand tools
Provide appropriate mechanical aids and equipment (eg ergonomically designed power tools that are lightweight, low vibration, noise restricted and fitted with clutches and safety guards) and ensure they are used properly and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications.

Train employees, especially young workers, in the selection and use of hand tools and how to safely use them (eg avoid working in front of face and always work away from the body).

Provide specific instructions on the safe use of nail guns (eg not to carry with the trigger depressed or use in bump fire mode in close proximity to other workers) and supervise young workers using them.

Monitor the use of the nail guns to ensure safe systems of work are being maintained.

Use cable strippers instead of knives. Avoid working in front of face and always strip cable away from the body.

Provide appropriate personal protective equipment (eg work gloves that absorb impact energy, protection from sharp edges that is puncture resistant, safety glasses for using powered hand tools and nail guns) for employees.

Ensure employees are not exposed to repetitive work for long periods (eg by using job rotation, work variation) or work that requires a significant amount of high force.

7 per cent of the injuries were to a persons forearm / wrist.
Hazard 5
Working at ground or floor level
Provide appropriate mechanical aids and equipment (eg tables, benches or stands to bring work to waist height, tools with extension handles) and ensure they are used properly and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications.

Provide appropriate personal protective equipment (eg knee pads).

Ensure employees are not exposed to repetitive work for long periods (eg by using job rotation, work variation) or work that requires a significant amount of high force.

11 per cent of the injuries were to a persons knee.

16 per cent of the injuries were to a persons back.

Stay up to date with health and safety advice

Sign up to our monthly 'Safety Soapbox' newsletter to get information and advice on how to protect your workers from injuries on site.

Subscribe Newsletter archive

Electrical Isolation in the Workplace

Safe elements of electrical isolation

Electrical safety

You might also need

Compliance codes

Licences and training

Insurance, claims and recovery

Employer obligations

Workplace resources

Understand WorkSafe

Injury hotspots

Construction: Electricians

Hazards

Lifting pushing pulling and handling materials

Noise

Slips trips and falls

Using hand tools

Working at ground or floor level

Stay up to date with health and safety advice

Latest updates

WorkSafe investigates fatal ladder fall at construction site

Lithium-ion battery fires

Saturday blitz puts spotlight on trenching risks

Information

Services

About WorkSafe

Contact

Electrical

Electrical Isolation in the Workplace

Safe elements of electrical isolation

Electrical safety

You might also need

Compliance codes

Licences and training

Insurance, claims and recovery

Employer obligations

Workplace resources

Understand WorkSafe

Injury hotspots

Construction: Electricians

Hazards

Lifting pushing pulling and handling materials

Noise

Slips trips and falls

Using hand tools

Working at ground or floor level

Stay up to date with health and safety advice

Latest updates

WorkSafe investigates fatal ladder fall at construction site

Lithium-ion battery fires

Saturday blitz puts spotlight on trenching risks

Heading for cookie overlay