Available now in Queensland

Electrical SWMS for Queensland jobs

Doing electrical work in Queensland 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 Queensland rules, ready for you and the PCBU to check.

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The rules

The rules for electrical SWMS in Queensland

The regulator

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is the work health and safety regulator in Queensland. Phone 1300 362 128. The Electrical Safety Office looks after electrical safety under the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld).

The law and the code

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
    The main WHS law in Queensland: your duty of care and the duty to consult your workers.
  • Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
    Regulation 291 says what counts as high risk construction work; regulation 299 says a SWMS has to be prepared before it starts.
  • Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld)
    Electrical safety duties in Queensland, for electrical work and electrical equipment.
  • Managing electrical risks in the workplace Code of Practice 2021
    Queensland's approved code: managing electrical risks, isolation, testing for de-energisation and working de-energised.

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

  1. 1Site set-up and safety briefing
  2. 2Isolation and testing for dead
  3. 3The electrical work itself
  4. 4Inspection and testing
  5. 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

  1. 1Record a 30-second voice note on site, or type the job.
  2. 2Answer anything it asks, like the first-aider's full name or how long the job runs.
  3. 3Check the draft, fix anything that doesn't match your site, and download the PDF.
  4. 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 Queensland: common questions

Do I need a SWMS for electrical work in Queensland?

You need one before any high risk construction work starts: regulation 299 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld) 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 looks after electrical safety in Queensland?

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is the work health and safety regulator. Its number is 1300 362 128. The Electrical Safety Office looks after electrical safety under the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld).

Which code of practice covers electrical work in Queensland?

The Managing electrical risks in the workplace Code of Practice 2021. It covers managing electrical risks, isolation, testing for de-energisation and working de-energised.

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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