Lighting Installation — Safe Work Method Statement
Safe Work Method Statement for installing and replacing light fittings, downlights, LED battens, high-bay lights and exterior lighting in residential, commercial and warehouse buildings, including work in ceiling spaces and from ladders, scaffolds and EWPs.
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Lighting installation becomes high risk construction work when there is a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres or when the work is on or near energised electrical installations, so most commercial and warehouse lighting jobs need a SWMS. A residential downlight swap from a 1.5 metre platform ladder with the circuit isolated may not trigger the requirement, but principal contractors usually ask for one anyway.
The hazards that hurt electricians on lighting jobs are falls from ladders, falls through ceilings while working in roof spaces, and shocks from lighting circuits that were thought to be dead. Lighting circuits are a known trap: switch wires, shared neutrals, two-way switching and circuits fed from more than one board mean a light can still be live after the switch or one breaker is turned off. Older buildings add asbestos in ceilings, eaves and switchboard backing boards, and in the ACT and parts of NSW, homes affected by loose-fill asbestos insulation. Roof spaces in summer can reach temperatures that cause heat illness within an hour. Recessed lights also need the clearances to insulation and building materials required by AS/NZS 3000 and the manufacturer, or they become a fire risk.
The work must be carried out by a licensed electrician holding the licence required in your state or territory and comply with AS/NZS 3000. Boom-type EWPs with a boom length of 11 metres or more need a high risk work licence; operators of scissor lifts and smaller booms still need training and familiarisation on the unit.
Your SWMS must cover the access method for each height, how circuits are isolated and proven dead, what to do before entering a ceiling space, and how fittings are handled overhead.
Customise this template with the building type and ceiling heights, the number and type of fittings, the access equipment (platform ladder, mobile scaffold, scissor lift or boom), the circuits and boards to be isolated, the asbestos register details for the building, and how insulation clearances will be achieved.
Personal Protective Equipment
High Risk Construction Work Types
- •Risk of a person falling more than 2 metres
- •Work on or near energised electrical installations or services
Risk Assessment
1.Plan access and set up the work area
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falls from step ladders during repetitive overhead work | High | Choose the access method by height and quantity: platform ladder with handrails for low ceilings, mobile scaffold or scissor lift for long runs and ceilings above about 3.5 metres, boom lift where floor access is limited. Do not stand on the top two steps of a step ladder or use an A-frame against a wall. Inspect ladders before use and remove damaged ones from service. | Low | Licensed Electrician / Supervisor |
| EWP tip-over or crush against roof structure | High | Check the floor can carry the EWP and is clear of pits, penetrations and slopes. Complete the pre-start check. Operators of boom-type EWPs with a boom of 11 metres or more must hold the high risk work licence. Watch overhead for purlins, sprinkler pipes and cable trays when elevating, and have a ground person trained to lower the platform in an emergency. | Low | EWP Operator / Supervisor |
| Falling tools or fittings striking people below | Moderate | Barricade the area under the work position. Use tool lanyards on EWPs and carry fittings up in a bag or box rather than in hand. | Low | Licensed Electrician |
2.Isolate and prove lighting circuits dead
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shock from a light fitting fed by a switch wire, shared neutral or second board | Catastrophic | Isolate the circuit at the circuit breaker, not the light switch. Lock and tag the breaker. Test for dead at the fitting between all conductors including active, switch wire, neutral and earth, using a proven tester. Where two-way switching, multiple boards or shared neutrals may exist, test every conductor in the fitting before touching it. Do not rely on a non-contact tester alone. | Low | Licensed Electrician |
| Circuit re-energised by someone else while work is in progress | High | Fit personal lock and danger tag at the board. In occupied buildings tell the building manager which areas will be without lighting and provide temporary lighting so the isolation is not undone to restore light. | Low | Licensed Electrician |
3.Ceiling space entry and cable work
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falling through plasterboard ceiling | High | Only move on ceiling joists or on crawl boards spanning at least three joists. Use a torch or lead light to see joists before each move. Do not step between joists on plasterboard. | Low | Licensed Electrician |
| Exposure to asbestos in ceiling materials or loose-fill insulation | High | Check the asbestos register for commercial buildings. For homes, ask the owner about the age of the home and check whether the property is on a loose-fill asbestos register where one exists. Do not enter or disturb suspected asbestos material; stop and arrange testing. Wear a P2 respirator for general ceiling dust. | Low | Licensed Electrician / Supervisor |
| Heat stress in roof spaces | High | Schedule roof space work for the morning in hot weather. Limit time in the roof space to short periods with breaks out of the heat, carry water, and have a second person check in at least every 20 minutes. | Moderate | Licensed Electrician / Supervisor |
4.Installing and connecting fittings
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neck and shoulder strain from prolonged overhead work | Moderate | Position the platform so work is at chest to head height rather than at full reach. Pre-terminate fittings at ground level where possible. Rotate tasks on large jobs. | Low | Licensed Electrician |
| Heavy high-bay or batten fittings falling during fixing | High | Fix brackets and hooks before lifting the fitting. Use the fixings the manufacturer specifies for the structure and fit safety chains or wires where provided. Two people for fittings over 15 kg or awkward lengths. | Low | Licensed Electrician |
| Fire from recessed lights in contact with insulation or timber | High | Install recessed fittings with the clearances to insulation and combustible material required by AS/NZS 3000 and the manufacturer, or use fittings rated for covering by insulation. Fit barriers where required. Check transformers and drivers are not buried in insulation. | Low | Licensed Electrician |
5.Testing, re-energising and clean-up
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wiring faults causing shock when re-energised | High | Before removing locks, complete insulation resistance, earth continuity and polarity tests on modified circuits. Make sure all fittings are closed up and no one is in the ceiling space. Record results on the certificate required in your state. | Low | Licensed Electrician |
| Old fluorescent tubes and lamps broken during disposal | Moderate | Keep removed fluorescent tubes and HID lamps whole in their boxes and send them to lamp recycling. Clean up broken lamps with gloves and a damp cloth, not a broom. | Low | Licensed Electrician |
Relevant Codes of Practice
Worker Acknowledgement
By signing below, I confirm that I have read, understood and agree to comply with this Safe Work Method Statement.