Available now in NSW

Electrical SWMS for NSW jobs

Doing electrical work in NSW that counts as high risk construction work? You need a SWMS before you start. Say the job in 30 seconds and Tradietool drafts one built on the NSW rules, ready for you and the PCBU to check.

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The rules

The rules for electrical SWMS in NSW

The regulator

SafeWork NSW is the work health and safety regulator in NSW. Phone 13 10 50.

The law and the code

Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW)
The main WHS law in NSW: your duty of care and the duty to consult your workers.
The NSW Work Health and Safety Regulation
Regulation 291 says what counts as high risk construction work; regulation 299 says a SWMS has to be prepared before it starts.
Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace (code of practice)
SafeWork NSW's practical guide to managing electrical risks, including isolation and lockout.

New to SWMS? Read what a SWMS is and when you need one.

What it covers

What an electrical SWMS covers

Hazards it looks for

Electric shock from live circuits
Arc flash and arc blast
The circuit being switched back on while you're working on it
Falls while getting to equipment at height
People walking into the work area
Lifting switchboards, cable drums and gear
Slips, trips and trailing leads
Overhead or underground services
Working in a confined space, like a pit or a tank
A fault missed before the power goes back on
Asbestos, for example in an old meter board
A trench or excavation collapsing

The work method, in order

1Site set-up and safety briefing
2Isolation and testing for dead
3The electrical work itself
4Inspection and testing
5Switching back on, clean-up and handover

Each hazard gets a risk rating and controls, worked down the hierarchy of controls, with PPE last. The draft also has the emergency plan and sign-on lines for the crew.

Ask for the job to be done live and the draft won't go along with it. The method is rewritten to de-energise, isolate, lock out and prove dead before any work starts.

Tradietool

From voice note to signed-on crew

1Record a 30-second voice note on site, or type the job.
2Answer anything it asks, like the first-aider's full name or how long the job runs.
3Check the draft, fix anything that doesn't match your site, and download the PDF.
4Send it to the PCBU to approve. Your crew sign on with a QR code.

Every SWMS is a draft. AI can get things wrong, so you and the PCBU check it against the site before work starts. Tradietool isn't legal or WHS advice.

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FAQ

Electrical SWMS in NSW: common questions

Do I need a SWMS for electrical work in NSW?

You need one before any high risk construction work starts: regulation 299 of the NSW Work Health and Safety Regulation says so. Work on or near energised electrical installations or services is high risk construction work under regulation 291. So is work where someone could fall more than 2 metres, work in or near a confined space, and work in or near a trench deeper than 1.5 metres, all common on electrical jobs.

Who is the WHS regulator in NSW?

SafeWork NSW. Its number is 13 10 50.

Which code of practice covers electrical work in NSW?

SafeWork NSW's Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace code of practice. It gives practical guidance on managing electrical risks, including isolation and lockout.

Can I use Tradietool for a job in another state?

Not yet. Tradietool drafts SWMS for NSW and Queensland. Other states are coming later.

Is Tradietool free?

Yes. It's free during the beta, and you don't need a card to join. If we bring in paid plans later, we'll give you at least 30 days' notice, and you'll only pay if you choose a paid plan.

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