Hazardous Area Electrical Installation SWMS

Suits electrical contractors and maintenance electricians who work in areas where flammable gas, vapour or dust may be present, such as fuel storage, paint, LPG and processing areas. It follows the work from area classification, permits and gas testing through isolation, certified equipment, auditor inspection and commissioning.

A SWMS is legally required under WHS Regulation s 299 for high risk construction work, and work in an area that may have a flammable atmosphere is item (l) of s 291 (item 11 on the form); that item is pre-ticked. If the work is also in a confined space, near energised installations or at a height of more than 2 metres, tick those items too.

Learn More: What Is A Safe Work Method Statement?
Have you ever been asked to provide a SWMS on a project in Queensland? Read our guide to what a Safe Work Method Statement is and when you need one.

What Is Covered In Our Hazardous Area Electrical Installation SWMS?

The job steps run in the order the work is done, from pre-start checks to finishing up. The hazards and controls include:

• Ignition of flammable gas, vapour or dust
• Sparks from tools, phones and static
• Wrong equipment for the classified zone
• Electric shock and arc during isolation
• Gas testing and detector faults
• Opening protected enclosures
• Incorrect glands and cable seals
• Connecting an installation without audit
• Confined spaces in tanks and pits
• Hot work and cold work permits
• Re-energising with people still working
• Gas alarm, fire and explosion response

High Risk Construction Work

These high risk construction work items (WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) s 291) are already ticked because they are part of this work. Tick any others that apply to your job:

• Is carried out in an area that may have a contaminated or flammable atmosphere

Licences, Training and Competency

• Electrical work licence that authorises the work, held by every person who performs or supervises the electrical work (Electrical Safety Act 2002 s 55); the employer holds an electrical contractor licence (s 56)
• Training and verified competence in hazardous area electrical work: classification zones, equipment protection types, certification marking, cable glands, inspection and maintenance (no high risk work licence applies)
• Expert person who has classified the hazardous area in line with recognised standards, and whose classification drawings are available on site
• Accredited auditor to inspect and certify the electrical installation before it is connected or reconnected to supply (Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 s 221)
• Competent person trained to use and read the gas detector, with a current calibration and bump test record
• Permit issuer and fire watch trained in the site’s permit to work system
• Confined space training and entry permit where work is in a tank, vessel or pit (WHS Regulation ss 66, 67, 69, 74 and 76)
• Rescue and resuscitation training for everyone who does or helps with electrical work (Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 s 211)
• General construction induction training card (white card) for construction work, and the site’s induction
• CPR and first aid training for the crew

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): s 51 (hazardous atmospheres), s 52 (ignition sources), s 53 (flammable and combustible material) and s 355 (specific control for fire and explosion)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld): ss 66 to 76 (confined spaces)
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Welding Processes Code of Practice 2021 (section 3.4, fire and explosion and hazardous areas)
• Confined Spaces Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021
• First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld): ss 19, 55 and 56 (electrical work, licence and contractor licence)
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): s 221 (high voltage or hazardous area electrical installation not to be connected without inspection) and s 222 (replacing equipment with similar equipment)
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): ss 193 to 204 (electrical work on or near energised electrical equipment), ss 196 to 198 (isolation) and s 211 (rescue and resuscitation training)
• Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2021 – Managing electrical risks in the workplace
• AS/NZS 3000 (Electrical installations, the wiring rules), as named in the Electrical Safety Regulation 2026
• AS/NZS 60079.10.1 Explosive atmospheres – Classification of areas – Explosive gas atmospheres, AS/NZS 60079.14 Explosive atmospheres – Electrical installations design, selection and erection, and AS/NZS 60079.17 Explosive atmospheres – Electrical installations inspection and maintenance (named in the Abrasive Blasting Code of Practice 2021, section 3.4)

What You Get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (14 pages), laid out on A4 landscape pages
• Business, client, job and document details typed once and filled in on every page, plus a space for your logo
• The high risk construction work checklist, worded as WHS Regulation s 291, and the construction project question (s 292)
• A worker and health and safety representative consultation record
• Qualifications, plant, PPE, hazardous chemicals, safety equipment, permits, references and emergency arrangements filled in for this work
• A 5 x 5 risk matrix, and job steps with initial and residual risk scores and the people responsible
• Implementing, monitoring and review requirements, an additional controls log, revision history and a worker sign-on sheet

Review and adjust it for your site, your plant and the way your crew does the job, and talk it through with your workers before work starts. If you have any trouble downloading this SWMS, you can contact us at any time. Please make sure you read our Disclaimer before downloading this SWMS.