Electrical Equipment SWMS

For builders, trades, labourers and maintenance crews who use power tools, extension leads, cord reels and other plug-in equipment on site. It covers checking test tags, connecting through a safety switch, running leads, using hand-held tools, working in damp conditions, handling faults and packing up. It does not cover energised electrical work, which needs its own SWMS and a licensed electrician.

A SWMS is legally required under the WHS Regulation (s 299) only when the work is high risk construction work, such as work on or near energised installations or a fall risk over 2 metres; otherwise this document works as a written safe work procedure or task risk assessment.

New to SWMS? Read What is a safe work method statement?

What is covered in our electrical equipment SWMS?

After the standard pre-start checks, the job steps run from “Check test tags and select the right equipment” to “Switch off, unplug and pack up”. The hazards and controls include:

• Electric shock from damaged tools and leads
• Missing or expired test tags
• Supply without a safety switch (RCD)
• Overloaded outlets, powerboards and double adaptors
• Trips over leads
• Leads damaged by vehicles, heat or sharp edges
• Working with equipment in wet or damp conditions
• Contact with concealed cables when drilling or cutting
• Overhead power lines near tools and ladders
• Kickback, flying particles and dust from power tools
• Noise from power tools
• Faulty equipment that sparks, smokes or overheats

High risk construction work

None of the high risk construction work items (WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) s 291) are pre-ticked, because this job is not high risk construction work by itself. Tick any that apply on your site.

Licences, training and competency

• Training and instruction in the safe use of each power tool and item of electrical equipment, with competency confirmed by the supervisor
• Competent person (trained, qualified or experienced) to inspect, test and tag electrical equipment
• Person holding an electrical work licence that authorises the work, for any electrical repair, fixed wiring or switchboard work
• General construction induction training card (white card) when working on a construction site
• Site induction
• First aider on site, with current CPR training

Legislation and codes of practice referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld): ss 36 and 44 (control measures, PPE)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld): ss 56 to 58 (noise)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld): ss 291(k) and 299 (energised work, SWMS)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld): s 304 (underground services information)
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld): ss 11, 18, 30, 55
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): ss 10 to 15, Schedule 2 (power lines)
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): ss 17, 18, 139, 140, 142 (equipment, leads, safety switches, testing, hire)
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): ss 195 to 204 (energised work, outside this SWMS), s 292 (incident notice)
• Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2021 – Managing electrical risks in the workplace
• Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2020 – Working near overhead and underground electric lines
• Excavation Work Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice 2021
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2021
• First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Work Health and Safety Consultation, Co-operation and Co-ordination Code of Practice 2021
• AS/NZS 3012 Electrical installations – Construction and demolition sites (named in the Electrical Safety Regulation 2026)
• AS/NZS 3760 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment and RCDs (named in the Electrical Safety Regulation 2026)

What you get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (13 pages), laid out on A4 landscape pages. Type your business, client and job details once and they fill in on every page, with a space for your logo
• 8 job steps for this work, each with its hazards, controls, initial and residual risk scores and the person responsible
• PPE listed for this job: safety glasses or a face shield when drilling, cutting, grinding or sanding; hearing protection when tool noise reaches the exposure standard; safety boots with non-slip soles
• Emergency arrangements for: electric shock and electrical fire
• Plus the parts every Work Safety QLD SWMS shares, from the s 291 checklist to the worker sign-on sheet (see the layout in our free SWMS template)

Adjust it for your site, plant and crew, and talk it through with your workers before work starts.

Checked against the Queensland laws and codes of practice listed above. Last reviewed October 2026.