Temporary Construction Power — Safe Work Method Statement
Safe Work Method Statement for installing, maintaining and removing temporary electrical supply on building sites, including builder's poles, site switchboards, distribution boards, lead management and RCD protection to AS/NZS 3012.
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Temporary power is the electrical backbone of a building site and the source of a large share of site electrical incidents. Installing, altering or removing it is work on or near energised electrical installations, which is high risk construction work under the model WHS Regulations, so a SWMS is required.
AS/NZS 3012 sets out how construction and demolition site installations are built and maintained: site switchboards with lockable covers, RCD protection on final subcircuits supplying socket outlets and hand-held equipment, leads kept off the ground and out of water and traffic, and regular inspection and testing. The typical interval on a construction site is three-monthly testing and tagging of leads and portable equipment, plus regular checks of RCDs and switchboards. Temporary supply must also be designed for the site's load and for how the job will change, because a board that suited slab works may be in the way of plant once framing starts.
Hazards specific to temporary power are excavating or driving a pole near underground services, overhead powerlines near the builder's pole and the incoming consumer mains, damaged leads run over by plant or crushed in doorways, water pooling around boards, and boards being opened or altered by trades who are not electricians. The incoming supply from the street is also live and cannot be isolated by the electrician; connection and disconnection of the network supply is controlled by the network operator and may need an accredited service provider, depending on your state.
All temporary installation work must be done by a licensed electrician holding the licence required in your state or territory. Your SWMS must cover service location before the pole goes in, the connection and disconnection procedure, the RCD and lead arrangement, and who inspects the installation and how often.
Customise this template with the site address and supply arrangement, the network operator connection reference, the switchboard and pole locations, the BYDA enquiry reference, the planned lead and stand layout, the inspection and test interval, and the electrician and site contact responsible for the installation.
Personal Protective Equipment
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 Assessment
1.Plan supply and locate services
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striking an underground cable or gas service when setting the pole | Catastrophic | Obtain a Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) enquiry for the site and review plans before digging. Locate services with a cable locator and pothole by hand or vacuum excavation within the tolerance zone of any marked service. Mark the pole and trench location and keep the BYDA reference with the SWMS. | Low | Licensed Electrician |
| Pole or switchboard placed where plant and deliveries will hit it | High | Agree the pole and board locations with the site manager using the site layout and plant movement plan. Keep them clear of crane swing, concrete pump and truck routes. Fit bollards or barriers where vehicles pass within reach. | Low | Licensed Electrician / Site Manager |
| Overhead powerlines near the pole or consumer mains | High | Identify all overhead lines on and adjacent to the site. Keep the builder's pole and any plant used to erect it outside the approach distances set by your state regulator and the network operator. Use a spotter when lifting the pole near overhead lines. | Low | Licensed Electrician |
2.Install builder's pole and site switchboard
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pole falling during erection | High | Use a pole designed for temporary supply and install it at the embedment depth or with the base the supplier specifies. Two people to stand the pole, with a third to backfill and brace where the pole is heavy. Keep others clear of the fall zone until it is secure. | Low | Licensed Electrician |
| Water entry into switchboard causing shock or fire | High | Use a weatherproof site switchboard with a lockable door and openings for leads that keep the door closed when in use. Mount it above flood level and clear of hose-down and pump areas. Fit RCD protection to all final subcircuits supplying outlets as required by AS/NZS 3012. | Low | Licensed Electrician |
3.Connection to supply and energising
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arc flash or shock at live consumer mains or point of supply | Catastrophic | Network connection is done only by the network operator or a person authorised under your state's service provider scheme. Keep main switches off until the installation is tested. Wear arc-rated clothing, face shield and insulating gloves when working at live supply terminals and use insulated tools. | Moderate | Licensed Electrician / Network Operator |
| Installation energised with wiring or RCD faults | High | Before energising, test earth continuity, insulation resistance, polarity and correct circuit connections. After energising, test every RCD for operation and trip time and record results. Fit a test tag to the switchboard showing the next inspection date. | Low | Licensed Electrician |
4.Lead management and distribution boards
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leads damaged by plant, doors or sharp edges | High | Run leads on insulated lead stands or hooks at least at head height along walls and scaffolds, not across the floor or through doorways. Use lead protectors or overhead routes at vehicle crossings. Use only tested and tagged heavy-duty leads and avoid joining leads in wet areas. | Low | Licensed Electrician / All Workers |
| Overloaded distribution boards or leads overheating | Moderate | Size distribution boards and leads for the expected load, including welders and heaters. Do not use domestic power boards or double adaptors on site. Check for heat at plugs and boards during inspections. | Low | Licensed Electrician |
5.Inspection, alteration and fault response
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlicensed workers altering or opening boards | High | Keep switchboard enclosures locked with access only for licensed electricians. Display a sign at the board with the contact details of the responsible electrician. The site manager reports any tampering or damage at once. | Low | Site Manager / Licensed Electrician |
| Faults left in service between inspections | Moderate | Inspect switchboards, RCDs and lead routes at the interval set in the SWMS (and after storms or flooding). Test and tag leads and portable equipment at the AS/NZS 3012 interval, commonly three months. Remove damaged items from service immediately. | Low | Licensed Electrician |
6.Disconnection and removal of temporary supply
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shock from consumer mains assumed dead after site switchboard is turned off | Catastrophic | Arrange disconnection of the network supply with the network operator or authorised service provider before removing the pole or mains. Test the consumer mains for dead at the point of work before cutting or removing. Never cut a cable that has not been proven dead. | Low | Licensed Electrician |
| Open pole hole or trench left as a trip or fall hazard | Moderate | Backfill and compact the pole hole and any cable trench immediately after removal. Remove all temporary cables, stands and fixings. | 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.