RISK ASSESSMENT TEMPLATE
Electrical Risk Assessment
This electrical risk assessment template provides a structured methodology for assessing electrical hazards in Australian workplaces. It covers electrocution risks, arc flash and arc blast hazards, work near overhead power lines and underground cables, and the assessment of electrical isolation and test procedures. The template is compliant with WHS Regulation 2025 and references AS/NZS 3000 and AS/NZS 4836.
What Is It?
An electrical risk assessment evaluates the risks of electrocution, electric shock, arc flash burns, and electrical fire associated with work on or near electrical installations. Electrical incidents can result in immediate fatality, severe burns, cardiac arrest, and secondary injuries from falls caused by electric shock. The risk assessment determines the controls required to make electrical work safe.
This template addresses the full range of electrical hazards including direct contact with energised conductors, indirect contact through damaged insulation or equipment faults, arc flash and arc blast from switchgear, induced voltages on de-energised circuits, step and touch potentials near earthing systems, and the risks of working near overhead power lines and underground cables.
The assessment methodology evaluates each electrical hazard against the available fault current, voltage level, and proximity of workers to determine the risk level and the appropriate controls. It follows the hierarchy of controls for electrical work, which prioritises de-energisation and isolation over live work procedures.
When Is It Required?
An electrical risk assessment is required under the WHS Act 2011 general duty of care whenever workers are exposed to electrical hazards. WHS Regulation 2025 requires specific risk management for electrical risks in construction (Part 6.4), in general workplaces, and for work near overhead power lines.
The risk assessment must be conducted before any electrical work commences, before work near electrical installations, when changes to the electrical installation affect the risk profile, and when electrical incidents or near misses indicate that existing controls may be inadequate.
The assessment must consider both the electrical workers performing the work and other persons who may be affected, such as workers in adjacent areas during live work or members of the public near overhead power line work zones.
What's Included
How This Is Different
This electrical risk assessment template is authored by safety professionals with specific expertise in electrical hazard management. The template includes arc flash hazard assessment methodology that accounts for available fault current, protective device clearing times, and working distances, factors that determine the severity of an arc flash incident and the PPE required. Generic electrical risk assessments list electrocution as a hazard and isolation as a control. Our template provides the technical framework to assess the specific level of electrical risk based on the installation characteristics, enabling informed decisions about the controls required for each situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is an arc flash study required?
An arc flash study should be conducted for switchboards and electrical installations where workers may be exposed to arc flash during operation, maintenance, or fault conditions. The study determines the incident energy at the working distance, which dictates the arc flash PPE category required. This is particularly important for high-energy installations such as main switchboards and high voltage installations.
Can I assess electrical risk without an arc flash calculation?
A qualitative electrical risk assessment can be conducted for lower-risk electrical work such as work on final sub-circuits protected by appropriate devices. However, for work on switchboards and high-energy installations, a quantitative arc flash assessment provides the data needed to select appropriate PPE and determine safe working distances.
How does this template address work near overhead power lines?
The template includes a proximity assessment for work near overhead power lines that considers the voltage level, the safe approach distances specified in state regulations, the type of plant and equipment being used, and the controls required to prevent encroachment into the exclusion zone. This assessment is required before any work is conducted near overhead lines.
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