Seeing unsafe practices, such as scaffolding near overhead lines, has prompted WorkSafe Energy Safety to remind workers to act to avoid serious injuries.
WorkSafe - Energy Safety is issuing a reminder to workers to stay safe, urging tradespeople to avoid complacency and potential serious injury around low voltage overhead electric lines. The agency reported seeing unsafe practices, such as scaffolding that has been erected touching overhead electric lines, prompting the call to act.
WorkSafe – Energy Safety says, “These practices could lead to serious injuries from electric shock and many of these cases have led to WorkSafe undertaking compliance action such as issuing prohibition notices at construction sites."
A guide for working near low voltage overhead electric lines was created by an industry working group and published by WorkSafe to assist with meeting these legal obligations within a property boundary. The guide clearly explains how to manage the risk of electric shock while work is being done near a live low voltage overhead electric line within a property boundary.
The guide sets out principles that must be applied when working near low voltage overhead electric lines including: If work needs to be done near a live low voltage overhead electric line, the safest option is to eliminate the risk of electric shock by having the electricity supply isolated before work starts.
If isolating the electricity supply is not possible, workers must maintain a Minimum Approach Distance (MAD) so that they keep their body, tools and equipment a safe distance from the overhead line.
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With written consent from the line owner (within the boundary this will normally be the property owner) any person doing work must maintain a MAD of at least 0.5 metres from the overhead line.
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Without written consent from the line owner, any person doing work must maintain a MAD of at least 4 metres from the overhead line.
As well as maintaining a MAD, WorkSafe expects additional control measures to be used to minimise the risk of electric shock. There are also specific MADs and consents required for temporary structures (such as scaffolding) and mobile plants in use near an overhead line which follow these same principles.
