The Mid North Coast Safety Handbook – Edition 6

The Danger You Can't See: Electricity, Powerlines and Underground Services

Sometimes the biggest hazard on a construction site isn't the one you can see.

You can see the excavator.

You can see the scaffold.

You can see the roof edge.

You can see the power tool in your hand.

But you can't necessarily see the electricity that could kill you.

A cable can be hidden behind a wall.

A powerline can be overhead.

An electrical service can be buried beneath the ground.

A damaged extension lead can look like a minor inconvenience.

And equipment can appear completely normal while a fault is waiting to happen.

Welcome to Edition 6 of The Mid North Coast Safety Handbook.

This time we're looking at one of the most serious hazards facing construction and maintenance workers:

Electricity.

Electricity Doesn't Give You a Second Chance

Electricity is one of those hazards where a mistake can have immediate and devastating consequences.

SafeWork NSW identifies contact with electricity as one of the most common causes of serious injury or death on construction sites. Its current construction guidance states that electrocution is the second leading cause of traumatic fatalities in NSW construction.

An electrical incident can result in:

• Electric shock

• Electrocution

• Serious burns

• Arc flash injuries

• Fire

• Explosion

• Falls caused by electric shock

• Damage to equipment

• Damage to underground infrastructure

And you don't necessarily have to physically touch a cable to be at risk.

Electricity can arc.

Plant can contact overhead lines.

Excavation equipment can strike underground services.

Water and damaged electrical equipment can create an extremely dangerous combination.

The safest approach is therefore not to rely on workers to "be careful around electricity".

The risk needs to be identified and controlled before work begins.

The Powerline You Didn't Notice

Imagine a worker operating an excavator on a residential construction site.

The operator is focused on the excavation.

The spotter is watching the bucket.

The truck is waiting.

Everyone is focused on getting the job done.

But directly above the work area is an overhead electrical line.

It might be easy to miss.

It might blend into the background.

The machine may not even need to physically touch the line for a serious incident to occur.

SafeWork NSW specifically warns that working near overhead powerlines can result in serious injury or death and recommends appropriate planning, consultation and controls before work begins.

This is why the question shouldn't be:

"Can we see any powerlines?"

It should be:

"What electrical services are near this work?"

Look Up Before You Lift

Overhead services become particularly important when using:

• Excavators

• Cranes

• Elevated work platforms

• Concrete pumps

• Scaffolding

• Tipper trucks

• Telehandlers

• Front-end loaders

• Long materials

• Ladders

A machine doesn't need to be huge to create a risk.

A boom moves.

A load swings.

A truck body rises.

A ladder is carried.

A piece of steel is lifted.

A worker loses concentration for a moment.

The work environment can change very quickly.

SafeWork NSW's current compliance program is specifically focused on businesses working around overhead and underground services, including construction and utilities businesses.

That makes this a good time to ask a simple question on every site:

What's above us?

And What's Below Us?

The other half of the problem is underground services.

A construction worker may look at a patch of ground and see nothing.

But beneath it could be:

• Electrical cables

• Gas services

• Water

• Telecommunications

• Sewer infrastructure

• Other critical services

SafeWork NSW warns that striking underground electrical assets can result in serious injury, including burns, electric shock and death. It also uses the simple message:

"If you don't know, don't dig."

That is an excellent construction-site rule.

Before excavation begins, workers need to know what services may be present and where they are located.

The Excavator Doesn't Know What's Underground

An excavator operator can be highly experienced.

The machine can be well maintained.

The operator can have years of experience.

None of that tells the bucket what's underneath the ground.

That's why underground service location is a planning issue, not simply an operator issue.

Before digging, consider:

• Have underground services been identified?

• Have relevant plans and information been obtained?

• Has the work area been assessed?

• Are services clearly marked?

• Are exclusion or no-go zones required?

• Is potholing or non-destructive digging required?

• Is a spotter needed?

• Have workers been briefed on the hazards?

• Has anything changed since the site was assessed?

The most experienced operator in the world cannot safely dig through a service they didn't know was there.

Electricity Isn't Just an Electrician's Problem

One of the most important things to understand about construction electrical safety is that you don't have to be an electrician to be exposed to electrical risks.

A carpenter may drill into a wall containing live wiring.

A plumber may work around electrical equipment.

A roofer may work near overhead lines.

A labourer may use a damaged power tool.

An excavator operator may strike an underground cable.

A painter may use electrical equipment in a wet environment.

A worker may move an extension lead across a construction site.

SafeWork NSW states that electrical risks must be managed by PCBUs and that electrical equipment provided or used at a workplace must be safe to use.

Electrical safety is therefore a whole-site responsibility.

The Five-Second Check Before Using a Power Tool

Before plugging in a power tool, stop for a few seconds.

Look at:

The lead

Is it cut, crushed, frayed or damaged?

The plug

Is the plug intact?

The casing

Is the tool cracked or damaged?

The connection

Are plugs and sockets secure?

The environment

Is the equipment being used somewhere wet, dusty or otherwise harsh?

The test tag

Is inspection and testing current where required?

SafeWork NSW's construction electrical requirements include inspection and testing of power tools, extension leads, portable socket outlet assemblies and portable RCDs at intervals not exceeding three months under AS/NZS 3012 requirements.

And importantly:

A test tag doesn't make damaged equipment safe.

If equipment is visibly damaged, it should not simply be used because the tag is still in date.

Extension Leads: Small Equipment, Big Risk

Extension leads are probably one of the most familiar pieces of equipment on a construction site.

They're also easily abused.

They get:

• Driven over

• Dragged

• Crushed

• Pinched

• Wet

• Covered

• Coiled incorrectly

• Run through doorways

• Pulled around corners

• Exposed to vehicles

• Damaged by sharp edges

SafeWork NSW's 2024 electrical safety findings identified issues with flexible cords, power tools and portable outlets, including equipment that had not been appropriately inspected and tested.

The lesson is simple:

Treat the extension lead like electrical equipment — because it is.

Don't Run Leads Where They Can Be Damaged

A perfectly good extension lead can become a serious hazard if it is placed where vehicles, plant or people can damage it.

Construction wiring also needs protection from mechanical damage where appropriate.

SafeWork NSW's current guidance on construction and demolition sites outlines requirements for protecting construction wiring from mechanical damage and specifies requirements for RCD protection and electrical equipment testing.

Ask:

Could someone drive over this?

Could a machine crush it?

Could someone trip over it?

Could water reach it?

Could an edge damage it?

If the answer is yes, change the setup.

What Does an RCD Actually Do?

Most people know an RCD as a safety switch.

But knowing the name isn't the same as understanding its purpose.

A residual current device is designed to disconnect electrical supply when it detects a residual current that indicates electricity may be flowing through an unintended path.

In simple terms:

It is designed to reduce the risk of serious electric shock.

SafeWork NSW states that construction wiring final sub-circuits must be protected by RCDs with a maximum rated residual current of 30mA under AS/NZS 3012.

But an RCD isn't permission to ignore other electrical controls.

It doesn't make damaged equipment safe.

It doesn't replace inspection.

It doesn't replace isolation.

It doesn't make working on live electrical equipment acceptable.

It is one control within a broader electrical safety system.

Test the Safety Switch

Having an RCD isn't enough.

It needs to work.

SafeWork NSW states that RCDs used at work must be tested regularly by a competent person to ensure they operate effectively.

Workers should also understand the equipment and site procedures relating to RCDs.

If an RCD trips:

Don't simply reset it repeatedly and continue working.

A trip can be a warning that something isn't right.

Find out why it tripped.

Wet Weather Changes Everything

The Mid North Coast doesn't give us the luxury of predictable construction conditions.

Rain can arrive quickly.

A dry work area can become wet.

Ground conditions change.

Tools and leads can be exposed to water.

Workers can be standing on wet surfaces.

SafeWork NSW identifies wet surroundings and other harsh operating environments as conditions that can increase electrical risk.

When conditions change, the risk assessment needs to change too.

A tool that was suitable at 8:00 am may not be suitable at 2:00 pm after heavy rain.

Weather is a safety control issue, not just a scheduling issue.

Never Assume a Cable Is Dead

One of the most dangerous assumptions around electrical work is:

"It's switched off."

SafeWork NSW's construction guidance specifically warns that permanent wiring should be considered live until proven otherwise by a licensed electrician.

That is an important principle.

A switch position isn't enough.

A label isn't enough.

Someone saying "we turned it off" isn't enough.

Electrical isolation needs to be properly planned and carried out by people with the appropriate authority, competence and licensing.

Electrical Work Is Not DIY

This handbook is designed to improve safety awareness — not to turn workers into electricians.

Electrical work requiring a licence should be performed by appropriately licensed electrical workers.

SafeWork NSW states plainly:

Don't do electrical work without a licence.

For other workers, the most important skill is recognising when a task involves an electrical risk and knowing when to stop and get the right person involved.

Knowing your limits is part of being competent.

Solar Work Has Its Own Risks

Solar installations are becoming increasingly common across the Mid North Coast.

They also introduce electrical hazards that need careful management.

SafeWork NSW specifically provides guidance on managing electrical risks during solar installation and notes the serious consequences of contact with energised electrical components.

Solar work can involve:

• Roof work

• DC electrical systems

• AC electrical systems

• Energised components

• Working at heights

• Electrical isolation

• Battery systems

• Overhead services

It brings together several hazards we've already discussed in this handbook.

Height + electricity + changing conditions = a job that requires careful planning.

When Something Goes Wrong

Now let's connect Edition 6 back to Edition 2 — Emergency Preparedness.

Imagine a worker receives an electric shock.

What happens next?

Does everyone know:

• Who raises the alarm?

• Who calls emergency services?

• Where is the first aid equipment?

• Who is trained in first aid?

• Is the area safe to approach?

• Has the electrical supply been isolated?

• What happens if the worker is still in contact with the source?

• Where is the emergency access point?

One of the most dangerous things someone can do after an electrical incident is rush in and become the second casualty.

The first priority is always to make sure the scene is safe before attempting assistance.

This is where proper emergency planning and first aid training become part of the broader electrical safety system.

Electricity and Other Hazards Don't Exist Separately

One of the themes emerging throughout this handbook is that workplace hazards overlap.

Consider a simple roofing job.

A worker could be dealing with:

Asbestos — if working on an older roof.

Working at heights — because they're on the roof.

Electricity — because overhead powerlines are nearby.

Weather — because the roof becomes slippery.

Manual handling — while moving roofing materials.

Emergency response — if something goes wrong.

Good safety management doesn't look at each hazard in isolation.

It looks at the whole job.

Five Questions Before You Start

Before beginning work where electricity may be present, ask:

1. What's above us?

Identify overhead powerlines and other services.

2. What's below us?

Identify underground electrical and other critical services before excavation.

3. What electrical equipment are we using?

Check tools, leads, plugs, sockets and RCDs.

4. What has changed?

Rain, plant movement, site layout and construction stages can all change the risk.

5. Who needs to be involved?

Know when a licensed electrician, utility provider or other competent person is required.

A Five-Minute Electrical Safety Check

Before starting work:

• Overhead services have been identified

• Underground services have been identified before excavation

• Electrical equipment has been visually inspected

• Leads and plugs are free from visible damage

• Required testing and tagging is current

• RCD protection is provided where required

• RCDs are tested as required

• Leads are protected from mechanical damage

• Electrical equipment is suitable for the environment

• Wet conditions have been considered

• Unsafe equipment has been removed from service

• Workers know who is responsible for electrical work

• Emergency procedures are understood

If you can't answer these questions, stop and reassess before continuing.

The Mid North Coast Reality

Our region combines residential construction, commercial development, agriculture, civil works, infrastructure, maintenance and emergency services.

That means workers encounter electrical risks in all sorts of environments.

A new subdivision.

An older home.

A rural property.

A commercial renovation.

A road project.

A roofing job.

A maintenance callout.

A construction site beside existing infrastructure.

The surroundings may change.

The electrical risks can change with them.

That's why electrical safety isn't something that should only be discussed by electricians.

Everyone on site needs to know enough to recognise the danger.

Look Up. Look Down. Look Before You Plug In.

There are three simple habits worth taking from this edition:

Look up.

Before lifting, climbing or operating plant, identify overhead services.

Look down.

Before digging, identify underground services.

Look before you plug in.

Check the condition of electrical equipment before using it.

These three habits take seconds.

An electrical incident can change someone's life in seconds too.

The Mid North Coast Safety Handbook

This is Edition 6 of The Mid North Coast Safety Handbook, SALT Training Academy's ongoing series of practical safety information for businesses, workers and organisations across our region.

So far, we've looked at:

Edition 1: Construction safety and the foundations of safer worksites.

Edition 2: Emergency preparedness and what happens when something goes wrong.

Edition 3: Silica exposure and the dust you can't see.

Edition 4: Working at heights and why the safest height is often the ground.

Edition 5: Asbestos awareness and the renovation trap.

Edition 6: Electricity, powerlines and underground services.

Our goal remains simple:

Practical safety information for the people who work here, live here and keep the Mid North Coast moving.

Because electrical safety isn't about being afraid of electricity.

It's about respecting it.

Know what's above you.Know what's below you.Know what you're working with.

And if you don't know:

Stop. Ask. Check.

Practical Training for Safer Workplaces

SALT Training Academy provides practical workplace training across Port Macquarie and the Mid North Coast, including Low Voltage Rescue, First Aid, CPR, White Card, Working Safely at Heights, Asbestos and Silica Awareness and other workplace safety training.

We can also bring training to your workplace through our mobile training capability.

Training and assessment delivered on behalf of Allens Training Pty Ltd RTO 90909.