SWMS template · Electrical Work
Private Power Pole Installation — Safe Work Method Statement
Safe Work Method Statement for installing or replacing a private (consumer) power pole on a property, covering service location, digging the pole hole, standing and setting the pole, fitting the service bracket and consumer mains, and coordinating disconnection and connection with the network operator.
- Category
- Electrical Work
- HRCW
- 3 categories
- Job steps
- 6
- Hazards rated
- 14
- PPE items
- 8
A private power pole is the pole on your customer's side of the property boundary that carries the overhead service line to the house, shed or meter box. Installing a new one, or replacing a rotten one, involves powered mobile plant to auger the hole and stand the pole, working at height to fit the service bracket and fittings, and in most replacements working near an existing overhead service line that is energised. Any of those makes the job High Risk Construction Work and a SWMS is required.
The biggest hazards are particular to pole work. The existing pole may be rotten at or just below the ground line and can snap when you lean a ladder on it, climb it or take the load of the service line off it. The pole truck or crane is working near the network's overhead lines in the street and the property's own service line. The pole hole is narrow and deep, and nobody should ever reach or climb into it. Underground services, including the property's own water, gas, sewer and any underground consumer mains, are often right where the pole has to go, so get Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) plans and locate private services before you dig.
The network side is not your call. The disconnection and reconnection of the overhead service line is done by the network operator or by a contractor they authorise (for example an Accredited Service Provider in NSW). Service and installation rules set out where a private pole can go, the pole size and type, embedment depth, stays, attachment height and clearances to ground and buildings, and those rules differ between distributors and states. Get the current rules from your network operator for this site and do not rely on a previous job in another area. The consumer mains, meter position and switchboard work must be done by a licensed electrician, and pole erection plant must be operated by a competent operator holding any licence the plant needs.
The SWMS must show who isolates the supply and how you confirm it, how the condition of the existing pole is checked, how the plant is kept out of the no-go zones, how underground services are located and protected, and how the pole is supported until the concrete or backfill can take load.
Customise this template with: the property and network operator; the connection and disconnection booking reference; the pole specification, embedment depth and stays required by the network's rules; BYDA plans and private service locations; the plant and operator licences; overhead line positions and no-go zones; the electrician's licence; and the emergency contacts for the network operator.
Important: This SWMS template is a starting point only. Review and customise it for your workplace and task. The PCBU remains responsible for ensuring the SWMS is suitable for the work. Not legal advice.
High Risk Construction Work Types
- Work on or near energised electrical installations or services
- Work in an area with movement of powered mobile plant
- Risk of a person falling more than 2 metres
Personal Protective Equipment
- Hard hat
- Steel-capped safety boots with electrical hazard rated soles
- High-visibility clothing
- Safety glasses
- Rigger's gloves for pole handling and insulating gloves for electrical testing
- Hearing protection near augers and compressors
- Full body harness to AS/NZS 1891 for EWP work
- Sun protection: hat, long sleeves and sunscreen
Risk Assessment
RatingsCatastrophicHighModerateLow
Step 1Planning, network approvals and booking the disconnection
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pole installed in a non-compliant position or without approval | High | Obtain the network operator's current service and installation rules for the site. Confirm the pole position, size, embedment depth, stays and clearances to ground, driveways and buildings before ordering the pole. Lodge any connection application or notice the network requires. | Low | Licensed Electrician / Supervisor |
| Work starting with the service line still energised | Catastrophic | Book the disconnection with the network operator or their authorised provider. Do not start any work on or near the existing pole or service line until the disconnection is done and confirmed in writing or by the person who did it. Treat the service line as live until then. | Low | Supervisor |
Step 2Assessing the existing pole and site
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rotten existing pole snapping when loaded or climbed | Catastrophic | Inspect the existing pole at and just below ground line before anyone touches it. Never lean a ladder on or climb a private pole whose condition is unknown. Where the pole is suspect, support it with the plant before the service line tension is removed, and keep everyone outside the fall zone of at least the pole height plus a margin. | Low | Supervisor / Plant Operator |
| Plant contact with overhead lines in the street or on the property | Catastrophic | Identify all overhead lines on the property and in the street. Set the plant up so no part can enter the no-go zones set by your state regulator and network operator, using a spotter and visual markers. If the plant cannot be kept clear, arrange with the network operator for the line to be isolated or covered before work starts. | Low | Plant Operator / Spotter |
Step 3Locating services and digging the pole hole
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striking underground cables, gas, water or sewer | Catastrophic | Obtain BYDA plans and use a service locator to check private services on the property, including underground consumer mains, irrigation and gas. Expose services near the hole by vacuum or hand digging before augering. Keep the auger clear of marked services. | Low | Supervisor / Plant Operator |
| Entanglement or struck by the rotating auger | High | Keep everyone outside the auger's operating zone while it is turning. Nobody guides the auger or clears spoil from the flights while it rotates. Stop and lower the auger before approaching. | Low | Plant Operator |
| Falling into or reaching into the open pole hole | High | Cover or barricade the hole as soon as it is drilled. Never climb or reach into the hole. Keep the pole erection close to drilling so the hole is open for as short a time as possible. | Low | Supervisor |
Step 4Standing, plumbing and setting the pole
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pole falling or swinging during lifting | Catastrophic | Lift the pole with rated plant and slings attached above the centre of gravity. Use tag lines and keep everyone out of the fall zone. Hold the pole with the plant until it is plumbed, backfilled or concreted, and braced or stayed. Do not release the plant until the pole is self-supporting. | Low | Plant Operator / Dogger |
| Crush injuries when guiding the pole butt into the hole | High | Guide the pole with tag lines or a cant hook, never by hand at the butt. Keep feet and hands clear of the hole edge. Agree signals with the operator before the lift. | Low | Plant Operator / Ground Crew |
| Skin burns and dust from concrete | Moderate | Wear gloves and eye protection when mixing and placing concrete. Wash off wet concrete from skin straight away. | Low | Ground Crew |
Step 5Fitting the service bracket, fittings and consumer mains
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falls from height while fitting the bracket and fittings | High | Fit hardware from an EWP with a harness clipped to the basket anchor, or fit it before the pole is stood where the design allows. Do not climb the pole with a ladder unless the pole is new, set, backfilled and the ladder can be secured. | Moderate | Licensed Electrician |
| Incorrect consumer mains installation causing shock or fire | High | Install consumer mains, conduit, mechanical protection and the point of attachment to the network's rules and AS/NZS 3000. Complete inspection and testing before the network reconnects the supply. | Low | Licensed Electrician |
Step 6Reconnection, testing and clean-up
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shock when the supply is reconnected | Catastrophic | Only the network operator or their authorised provider reconnects the service line. Keep the main switch off and everyone clear until reconnection is complete, then test polarity and correct connection at the meter and switchboard before restoring load. Issue the compliance paperwork your state requires. | Low | Licensed Electrician / Network Provider |
| Old pole and spoil left as a hazard | Moderate | Remove the old pole with the plant, fill the old hole and dispose of treated timber as the local council requires. Do not burn treated timber poles. | Low | Supervisor |
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.
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