Electrical work is dangerous. As a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), you have a duty to keep workers and your workplace safe from electrical risks.
This page will assist you in understanding your duties under the model work health and safety laws, and direct you to supporting documentation.
WHS duties
Everyone in the workplace has WHS duties under the model WHS Act. You have specific duties if you are:
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a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU)
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a designer, manufacturer, importer, supplier and installer of plant, substances or structures
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an officer.
The model WHS Regulations outline duties that apply to work at heights. This includes specific requirements and ways to manage general electrical safety in workplaces and energised electrical work.
As a PCBU, you must, so far as is reasonably practicable:
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ensure the health and safety of workers and others at your workplace
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consult with workers who carry out work for the business or undertaking and who are (or are likely to be) directly affected by a health and safety matter, and
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consult, cooperate and coordinate activities with all other relevant duty holders.
Supporting information
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Electrical risks at the workplace (fact sheet)
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Model Code of practice: Managing electrical risks in the workplace
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The interactive safe work method statement (SWMS) tool provides information on preparing, using and reviewing SWMS for high risk construction work.
