Electrical Risk Assessment Australia

An electrical risk assessment is a structured evaluation of the hazards and risks associated with electrical equipment, electrical installations, and electrical work in a workplace. It identifies potential sources of electrical harm — including electric shock, arc flash, fire caused by electrical faults, and explosion in flammable atmospheres — and determines the controls necessary to eliminate or minimise those risks to workers and others.

Electricity kills around 15–20 workers per year in Australia and seriously injures hundreds more. Many of these incidents are preventable and occur because no formal risk assessment was conducted before work commenced, existing controls were inadequate, or workers were not informed of the electrical hazards present at the worksite. A well-constructed electrical risk assessment, reviewed by a person with electrical competence, is one of the most effective tools available to reduce the incidence of electrical injury.

An electrical risk assessment is distinct from an electrical safety compliance inspection. An inspection checks whether installations meet the requirements of AS/NZS 3000 (the Wiring Rules) or another applicable standard. A risk assessment is broader: it evaluates the actual risk to workers performing specific tasks — for example, maintenance technicians working on energised switchgear, construction electricians installing cabling near existing live services, or production workers operating electrically powered plant with exposed conductors.

The obligation to conduct an electrical risk assessment flows from multiple layers of legislation. At the top level, the WHS Act 2011 requires PCBUs to manage risks to health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable. The WHS Regulation 2025 specifies additional requirements for managing electrical risks in the workplace, including requirements around the inspection and testing of electrical equipment, the competency of persons performing electrical work, and the management of risks from electrical hazards in specific environments.

For construction work, the WHS Regulation requires that electrical equipment used on a construction site is inspected and tested at specified intervals and that work near energised electrical installations is managed as high-risk construction work. A SWMS is required for work near energised electrical installations, and an electrical risk assessment typically forms the basis of the hazard identification section of that SWMS.

For general workplaces, AS/NZS 4836 — Safe Working on or Near Low-Voltage Electrical Installations and Equipment — provides guidance on the risk management process for electrical work, including the decision framework for when work on energised electrical equipment is permitted. The standard requires that a formal risk assessment be conducted before any work is performed on or near energised electrical equipment and that this assessment demonstrate that working de-energised is not reasonably practicable before live work is authorised.

In Western Australia, the Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991 imposes additional licensing and competency requirements on persons performing electrical work. Similar licensing frameworks apply in other states under their respective electrical safety legislation.

Penalties for electrical safety failures are severe. A number of prosecutions in Australia have resulted in fines exceeding $500,000 where employers failed to implement adequate electrical safety controls and workers were seriously injured or killed as a result.

An electrical risk assessment must consider all relevant electrical hazard categories, not merely the most obvious ones. The five principal electrical hazard categories in Australian workplaces are as follows.

**Electric shock.** Contact with an energised conductor — either direct contact or indirect contact through an earth fault path — can cause ventricular fibrillation, cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, internal burns, and death. The severity depends on the current, the path through the body, and the duration of contact. Even low voltages at mains frequency (50 Hz) are dangerous at threshold currents above 10 mA. The risk assessment must consider the voltage of the system, the accessibility of energised conductors, the adequacy of insulation and guarding, and the competency of workers who may come into contact with electrical equipment.

**Arc flash.** An arc flash is an explosive release of energy caused by an electrical fault that creates an arc between conductors or between a conductor and earth. Arc temperatures can exceed 20,000°C — four times the surface temperature of the sun — and the associated pressure wave, molten metal splatter, and ultraviolet radiation can cause catastrophic burns, blindness, and blast injuries at distances of several metres. Arc flash risk is assessed using the IEEE 1584 methodology or by thermal incident energy analysis, which determines the appropriate arc flash personal protective equipment (PPE) for each switchboard and panel.

**Fire caused by electrical faults.** Overloaded circuits, damaged insulation, arcing at loose connections, and operation of electrical equipment in environments outside its rated temperature or ingress protection class can all cause electrical fires. The risk assessment should identify any electrical equipment that is not rated for its operating environment, any circuits operating above their rated capacity, and any areas where electrical faults could ignite flammable materials.

**Explosion in flammable atmospheres.** In environments classified as hazardous areas under AS/NZS 60079 — for example, fuel storage areas, spray paint booths, grain handling facilities, and chemical plants — an electrical spark from a switchgear, motor, or junction box that is not rated for use in the zone can ignite a flammable gas or dust cloud. The risk assessment must identify the zone classification and verify that all electrical equipment used in or near the classified area has the appropriate Ex rating.

**Stored energy.** Large capacitors, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), and battery banks retain a dangerous charge after the supply has been isolated. The risk assessment must identify stored energy sources and specify the wait time or discharge procedure required before workers can safely access the equipment.

A compliant electrical risk assessment follows the five-step risk management process specified in the How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice, applied specifically to electrical hazards.

**Step 1 — Identify the electrical hazards.** Walk the workplace and identify all sources of electrical energy, including fixed installations, portable electrical equipment, extension leads, portable outlet devices (power boards), equipment operating at extra-low voltage, and any electrical equipment used in wet, outdoor, or classified hazardous area environments. Review electrical single-line diagrams and the equipment register for the site. Identify any planned electrical work tasks, including maintenance, testing, installation, and commissioning activities.

**Step 2 — Determine who could be harmed and how.** Identify the workers, contractors, and members of the public who could be harmed by each electrical hazard, and the mechanism of harm. Consider not only electricians performing electrical work but also maintenance workers, cleaners, and production staff who may operate or come into contact with electrical equipment without having electrical trade qualifications.

**Step 3 — Evaluate the risk and apply the hierarchy of controls.** For each hazard, assess the likelihood and consequence of harm using a 5×5 risk matrix and select controls in hierarchy order: de-energise and isolate before any work on electrical equipment; where live work is unavoidable, use insulated tools, insulating barriers, arc flash PPE, and a qualified standby observer; install residual current devices (RCDs) on all portable electrical equipment and on circuits supplying areas where portable equipment is used; ensure equipment is appropriately rated for its environment.

**Step 4 — Document the assessment.** Record the hazards identified, the risk rating before and after controls, the controls selected and the responsible person, and the date of assessment and review.

**Step 5 — Review after changes or incidents.** Review the electrical risk assessment whenever new electrical equipment is installed, the electrical system is modified, an electrical incident or near-miss occurs, or the type of work performed on or near electrical equipment changes.

A fit-for-purpose electrical risk assessment should include the following sections as a minimum.

**Site and equipment identification:** Site address, switchboard or panel reference number, system voltage (low voltage LV, extra-low voltage ELV, or high voltage HV), circuit identification, and equipment description. For portable electrical equipment, include the asset number and last test date.

**Task description:** A description of the electrical work or task being assessed — for example, switchboard maintenance, cable installation, testing and tagging of portable equipment, or replacement of a motor starter.

**Hazard identification table:** A table listing each electrical hazard category relevant to the task, with the specific source of the hazard, the persons at risk, and the potential consequence.

**Risk matrix:** Initial likelihood and consequence ratings for each hazard before controls are applied, producing an inherent risk rating.

**Isolation and lock-out/tag-out (LOTO) verification:** Confirmation that the equipment has been de-energised using an approved isolation procedure, that all energy sources (including stored energy) have been identified and managed, and that the isolation has been verified by testing with an approved voltage detector before any work commences.

**Arc flash assessment:** For work on or near energised switchgear or panels rated above a specified threshold, an arc flash incident energy analysis result stating the calculated incident energy in calories per square centimetre (cal/cm²) and the required arc flash PPE category.

**Control measures and residual risk:** The controls applied for each hazard, the residual risk rating after controls, and confirmation that the residual risk is acceptable before work commences.

**Competency and authorisation:** Confirmation that the person performing the work holds the relevant electrical licence for the jurisdiction, that a safety observer is present where required, and that the work has been authorised by the responsible manager or PCBU.

Our consultant-drafted electrical risk assessment is reviewed by a Certified Industrial Hygienist with specialist electrical safety training and is priced at $49 AUD for the editable Word document.

In WHS investigations following electrical incidents, the following failures are consistently identified in the risk assessment records — or in the absence of any risk assessment record at all.

**Live work performed without justification.** The decision to work on energised electrical equipment must be justified by demonstrating that de-energisation is not reasonably practicable. In many incidents, live work was performed because it was convenient, not because de-energisation was genuinely impracticable. AS/NZS 4836 requires that this determination be made before the work commences and that the justification be documented.

**Inadequate isolation procedures.** Incidents frequently involve workers who believed a circuit was de-energised but encountered a live conductor due to an incorrect isolation, an unidentified parallel supply, or a stored energy source that was not managed. A compliant electrical risk assessment must specify the isolation procedure in detail, including the number and location of isolation points and the method of verification.

**No arc flash assessment.** Many electrical risk assessments consider shock risk but do not assess arc flash risk. For work on or near switchboards, motor control centres, and other high-energy electrical equipment, arc flash is often the greater risk and requires specific PPE that is very different from the insulating gloves used for shock protection.

**Failure to consider the environment.** Electrical equipment used in wet, conductive, or chemically aggressive environments presents a significantly higher risk of electric shock and equipment failure than the same equipment in a dry indoor environment. Assessments that do not account for the operating environment underestimate the risk.

**PPE as the primary control.** Electrical risk assessments that rely primarily on insulated PPE without first implementing isolation, guarding, and engineering controls are inadequate under the hierarchy of controls. PPE is a last resort, not a first response.

Our CIH-reviewed electrical risk assessment is priced at $49 AUD for the standard workplace electrical safety document, covering low-voltage equipment and general electrical work tasks. The document is delivered as a fully editable Microsoft Word file within one business day of purchase.

For specialist applications — arc flash assessments, hazardous area electrical assessments (for environments classified under AS/NZS 60079), or high-voltage electrical risk assessments — please contact us for a custom quote. These specialist assessments reflect the additional depth of professional input required and are priced accordingly.

Bundle pricing is available for organisations that require multiple electrical risk assessments — for example, one for switchboard maintenance, one for portable electrical equipment use, and one for electrical installation work. Contact us to discuss your specific requirements and receive a fixed-fee quote.

All documents are backed by our professional indemnity insurance and are reviewed annually for compliance with the current WHS Regulation, AS/NZS 4836, and any updates to the relevant Safe Work Australia guidance materials.

**Do I need an electrical risk assessment for every electrical job?** Not every electrical task requires a formal written assessment. Routine tasks performed by competent electricians in a stable, well-understood environment may be adequately managed by existing safe work procedures. However, any non-routine electrical work, any work on or near energised equipment, any work in a classified hazardous area, and any work in a wet or conductive environment requires a formal risk assessment before work commences.

**Who can conduct an electrical risk assessment?** The assessment should be conducted by a person with the competence to identify electrical hazards and assess the associated risks — typically a licensed electrician, an electrical engineer, or an electrical safety officer. For arc flash assessments, an electrical engineer with specialist training in arc flash analysis is required. The WHS Act requires that the person conducting the assessment be competent, which means they must have the knowledge, skills, and experience to perform the task safely.

**Is a SWMS required for electrical work on a construction site?** Yes. Work near energised electrical installations is listed as high-risk construction work under Schedule 1 of the WHS Regulation. A SWMS is mandatory for any such work on a construction site. The electrical risk assessment forms the basis of the hazard identification section of the SWMS.

**What is the difference between testing and tagging and a risk assessment?** Testing and tagging is an inspection and electrical safety testing procedure for portable electrical appliances, carried out in accordance with AS/NZS 3760. It verifies that the equipment is electrically safe at the time of testing. A risk assessment is a broader evaluation of the hazards and risks associated with using, maintaining, or working on electrical equipment and installations. Both are required; one does not substitute for the other.

**What PPE is required for electrical work?** The PPE required depends on the nature of the work and the hazards identified in the risk assessment. For general low-voltage work on de-energised equipment, insulated tools and safety footwear are the minimum. For live low-voltage work, insulating gloves rated to the system voltage, insulating mats, and face shields are required. For work on or near energised switchgear with an arc flash hazard, arc-rated PPE in the appropriate cal/cm² rating is required, as determined by the arc flash assessment.