High Risk Standard

ELECTRICAL WORK

Scope
This TPG High Risk Standard has been developed to support TPG Contractors in the planning and
mobilisation of TPG contracted works involving electrical works including testing, electrical
installations and equipment.
This Standard must be applied in conjunction with other applicable TPG Contract Conditions
regarding health and safety and the governing legal requirements for electrical work.
It is noted that if there is inconsistency between the legislation and this standard, the legislation
shall take precedence.

Purpose
This TPG High Risk Standard for Electrical Work aims to define minimum TPG and legal requirements
for the elimination or, where this is not reasonably practicable, the minimisation of, risk to workers
and other persons when Contractors are undertaking electrical works and this precondition forms a
part of their TPG agreed Contract Conditions.

Roles and Responsibilities

TPG Contractors are, so far as is reasonably practicable, responsible for:
1. Complying with all TPG contractual obligations for health and safety, including all legislative
requirements.
2. Reviewing this Standard and ensuring that this information is considered in the development
of their risk management methodologies and safe systems and recording the outcomes in
such documents as a Risk Register, WHS Management Plan, Electrical Registers and/or Safe
Work Method Statement (SWMS).
3. Developing a High Risk Construction Work - SWMS as legally prescribed for electrical work,
including when that construction work is carried out on or near energised electrical
installations or services.
4. Defining accountabilities & authorities for managers and workers who supervise or carry out
electrical work.
5. Ensuring persons who conduct, inspect and test electrical work/installations work have the
required certification, licensing, training and competencies.
6. Electrical Apprentices shall not be permitted to undertake any high risk electrical installation
or maintenance work on any TPG premises or project. Electrical apprentices shall be
supervision by a competent electrician at all times.
7. Establishing communication and consultation arrangements with workers for safe systems
(WHS Management Plan / Safe Work Method Statements) and safe work practices for
electrical work.
8. Ensuring that appropriate residual current devices (RCDs) are used in prescribed
environments as specified by the governing regulations, for example, in hostile

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 environments, when moving electrical equipment between different locations in
circumstances when damage to the equipment or to a flexible electricity supply cord is
reasonably likely, electrical equipment is frequently moved during its normal course or
electrical equipment forms part of or is used in connection with an amusement device.
9. Ensuring that all electrical equipment is installed, inspected and maintained by qualified
persons and in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions, legal requirements and
Australian Standards.
10. Establishing emergency preparedness and response, including plans and procedures,
communications, training, hardware, Isolation, Lock Out, plant and equipment, first aid and
PPE to manage an emergency involving electrical equipment such as electric shock, burns,
fire and explosion.
11. Reporting all accidents, illness, diseases and notifiable incidents within the required
contractual reporting period and in the form required to TPG and where required by State,
Territory and/or Commonwealth law, to the governing regulatory body.

Planning Electrical Works

TPG Contractors are, so far as is reasonably practicable, responsible for:
1. Identifying all State, Territory and/or Commonwealth statutory requirements for electrical
work.
2. Planning and conducting a risk management process for the design, construction,
installation, protection, maintenance and testing of electrical equipment and electrical
installations at a workplace. This process must include conducting a risk assessment which
will identify all reasonably foreseeable hazards that could give rise to risk and if it is not
reasonably practicable to eliminate those risks, minimise those risks by applying the
hierarchy of controls consistent with legislative requirements.
3. Identifying and notifying the relevant asset owner and any other affected party of all
planned electrical work.
4. Procuring the required electrical equipment that meets all necessary electrical safety
standards.
5. Identifying an obtaining the required licences, certifications and/or competencies required
for the design, construction, installation, protection, maintenance and testing of electrical
equipment and electrical installations at a workplace.
6. Planning for all potential emergency preparedness and response procedures appropriate to
the particular nature of the electrical work, including reporting requirements.

Electrical Installation Work

To the extent that control measures are listed in this standard, the control measures are not
intended to replace the selection of control measures by contractors – the selection process remains
the responsibility of contractors.
TPG Contractors are, so far as is reasonably practicable, responsible for:
1. Not undertaking work on energised electrical equipment. Electrical equipment must be
isolated & confirmed “dead” (i.e. by applying test, lock &/or New to Service Tags) by a
competent person prior to commencement of electrical work. Testing should take into
account the nature of the conductor, isolation, work and if there has been a change or the

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 area has been idle. Controls must be used to ensure de-energised electrical equipment does
not inadvertently re-energise while work is being carried out, e.g. danger tags, out of service
tags and lock out tags. The point of isolation should remain under the control of the person
carrying out the work. Work can be carried out on energised electrical equipment in strictly
limited circumstances and contractors are responsible for ensuring that an approval process
is in place before this type of work is carried out work as it is subject to specific requirements
under the legislation.
2. Implementing the High Risk Construction Work SWMS in accordance with legislative
requirements.
3. Securing and authorising all necessary electrical permits prior to commencement of
electrical works.
4. Ensuring that power circuits are protected by the appropriate rated fuse or circuit breaker to
prevent overloading.
5. Providing safe access to and egress from workplaces where electrical work is to be carried
out, while preventing unauthorised access.
6. Identifying and positively marking above and underground services within the works zone.
7. Ensuring that no worker comes within an unsafe distance of an overhead and/or
underground electrical line.
8. Ensuring that workers licences are current and appropriate prior to the commencement of
electrical installation work as defined by the regulations.
9. Providing workers’ with the required electrical safety devices, such as safety lock outs,
danger tags, residual current devices (i.e. used in hostile environments) and PPE.
10.Implementing a process for the reporting and corrective action of unsafe electrical
equipment and/or electrical work practices.
11.Leaving the workplace safe (i.e. terminating or securing exposed conductors, taping or
flagging of work areas, providing handover information and documentation, etc.).
12.Implementing and communicating emergency preparedness and response requirements as
appropriate for the electrical work undertaken.

Electrical Equipment and Process Management

TPG Contractors must ensure that unsafe electrical equipment is disconnected (or isolated) from its
electricity supply and once disconnected (or isolated) is not reconnected until it is repaired and
tested and found to be safe or is replaced or permanently removed from use. Electrical equipment
will be unsafe if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the electrical equipment is unsafe.
TPG Contractors are, so far as is reasonably practicable, responsible for:
1. Reviewing the appropriateness of risk management methodologies and safe systems of work
such as Risk Register, WHS Management Plan, Electrical Registers and/or Safe Work Method
Statements and revising as necessary.
2. Ensuring that a competent person reviews control measures (for example, inspects and tests
residual current devices as used in certain high-risk environments and confirms that the
devices are operating effectively) and revises as necessary. Residual current devices must be
inspected and tested regularly and records of that inspecting and testing must be kept until
the residual current devices are next tested or removed permanently from use.
3. Ensuring that a competent person inspects, tests and tags all flexible extension cords,
portable tools and electrical equipment at regular intervals. Electrical equipment which is
supplied electricity through an electrical socket outlet and is used in a hostile environment
(e.g. an environment where normal use exposes the electrical equipment to operating

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 conditions that are likely to result in damage or a reduction in the equipment’s expected life
span, including conditions involving exposure to moisture, heat, vibration, mechanical
damage, corrosive chemicals or dust) must be inspected and tested regularly by a competent
person. New and unused electrical equipment in a hostile environment must be inspected
for obvious damage before being used.
4. Ensuring that all testing equipment (rated tools, probes and instruments) are suitable, in
good condition and calibrated to the required standards.
5. Ensuring that records of inspection and test of electrical equipment (such as a tag register)
are maintained until the electrical equipment is next tested, disposed of or permanently
removed from the workplace. The records must specify the name of the person carrying out
the testing, date of testing, outcome and next test date. The record may be in the form of a
tag attached to the electrical equipment tested.
6. Ensuring that electrical equipment that is required to be tested but has not been tested, is
not used.
7. Ensuring that emergency preparedness and response hardware is inspected and tested as
appropriate.
8. Reviewing the reporting process for accidents, illness, diseases and notifiable incidents to
ensure they are effective and in accordance with TPG WHS requirements and State, Territory
and/or Commonwealth WHS laws.

TPG Contractors should also refer to the High Risk Standard for ‘Fatigue’ as required.

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