Code of Practice — Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace

The full title is the Code of Practice: Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace, published by Safe Work Australia. The code becomes legally binding from 1 July 2026 under Section 26A of the WHS Act. The code covers all electrical risks in workplaces, including risks from fixed electrical installations, portable electrical equipment, overhead and underground powerlines, and electrical work performed by licensed electricians. Key topics include residual current device requirements, testing and tagging of portable electrical equipment, safe work near overhead powerlines including exclusion zones and safety observer requirements, identification and protection of underground electrical cables, electrical isolation and lockout-tagout procedures, and the management of electrical work by licensed electricians. The code references AS/NZS 3760 for testing and tagging, AS/NZS 3012 for electrical installations on construction sites, and the relevant state electrical safety regulations.

The code applies to every PCBU who manages a workplace where electrical equipment is used or where work is performed near electrical infrastructure. This includes virtually every Australian business. Construction companies working near overhead powerlines and underground cables have specific obligations under the code. Manufacturing businesses using fixed and portable electrical equipment must comply. Mining operations with high-voltage reticulation systems and portable equipment in hazardous atmospheres are covered. Agricultural businesses operating irrigation pumps, electrical fencing, and portable equipment in wet conditions must comply. Office-based businesses using portable electrical equipment including extension leads, power boards, and portable appliances are captured. The code also applies to licensed electricians performing electrical work and to persons who manage electrical installations including building owners and facility managers.

The code requires PCBUs to ensure that all portable electrical equipment used in construction and demolition work is protected by a residual current device with a rated residual operating current not exceeding 30 milliamps. Testing and tagging of portable electrical equipment must be conducted at intervals specified in AS/NZS 3760, which vary based on the environment — construction sites require three-monthly testing while general office environments require annual testing. Work near overhead powerlines must comply with the exclusion zone requirements, which specify minimum approach distances based on voltage level. Safety observers must be appointed where mobile plant operates near powerlines and the exclusion zone cannot be maintained by physical barriers. Underground cables must be located using dial-before-you-dig enquiries and electromagnetic location methods before any excavation. Electrical isolation for maintenance work must follow lockout-tagout procedures with personal isolation locks and danger tags. All electrical work must be performed by or under the supervision of a licensed electrician.

First, audit the testing and tagging program for all portable electrical equipment, verifying that test intervals comply with AS/NZS 3760 for the relevant environment classification and that all equipment carries current test tags. Second, review RCD protection on all circuits supplying portable equipment, particularly on construction sites and in wet or conductive environments, and install additional RCDs where the code requires them. Third, assess all work activities performed near overhead powerlines and underground cables against the code's exclusion zone and safe approach requirements, and implement physical barriers, safety observers, or alternative work methods where exclusion zones cannot be maintained. Fourth, review electrical isolation procedures for all maintenance, cleaning, and adjustment tasks on electrical equipment, and implement lockout-tagout systems with documented procedures for each item of plant requiring isolation. Fifth, verify that all persons performing electrical work hold current electrical licences appropriate to the work being performed, and that unlicensed persons are prohibited from performing electrical work.

Electrical incidents frequently result in fatalities or life-changing injuries including severe burns, cardiac arrest, and amputations. After 1 July 2026, failure to follow the code constitutes a standalone offence. Category 2 penalties of up to $1,731,500 for a body corporate apply where workers are exposed to electrical risks through inadequate management. Prohibition notices are issued immediately for work near powerlines without adequate exclusion zone management and for use of untested electrical equipment on construction sites. Where electrocution causes a fatality, industrial manslaughter charges are available with a maximum penalty of $20,000,000 for a body corporate and 25 years' imprisonment. Electrical safety failures on construction sites are a priority enforcement area for regulators across all states, with inspectors routinely checking test tags, RCD protection, and exclusion zone compliance during site visits.