Safe Work Method Statement: Full House Rewire (1970s Dwelling)
•PCBU / Company: Westcove Electrical Pty Ltd
•Contact Person: Daniel Mercer
•Principal Contractor / Builder: Not appointed. The work is contracted directly by the owner-occupier; Westcove Electrical Pty Ltd is the PCBU with management and control of the work.
•Site Address: 23 Marlow Street, Penrith NSW 2750
•Project Name: Penrith House Rewire
•Work Activity Covered by this SWMS: Complete rewire of a 1970s single-storey brick veneer dwelling: removal of superseded wiring, new consumer mains, new final subcircuits, new switchboard with RCD protection, and new lighting and power accessories
•Date Prepared: 12 August 2026
•Review Date: Review and revise this SWMS whenever the work, the identified hazards, or the control measures change, in accordance with WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) s 302
1. Work Activity & Scope
Westcove Electrical Pty Ltd will carry out a complete rewire of the single-storey brick veneer dwelling at 23 Marlow Street, Penrith. The dwelling was built in the mid-1970s. The scope covers isolating and removing the existing wiring, installing new consumer mains from the point of attachment, a new switchboard with safety switches (RCDs) on all final subcircuits, new lighting and power circuits through the roof cavity and wall cavities, and testing and commissioning of the completed installation.
The crew is 2 to 3 workers: a licensed electrician holding an individual contractor licence, a second licensed electrician, and at times an apprentice working under the supervision arrangements set out under roles and responsibilities below. Planned duration is 2 weeks. The occupants will not live in the dwelling during the rewire; the house is empty of residents but furnished.
Because the dwelling predates 1990, asbestos-containing materials are assumed to be present until an inspection says otherwise. The pre-start controls in step 2 apply before any cutting, drilling or cavity entry.
This work includes work on or near energised electrical installations, which is high risk construction work under WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) s 291. This SWMS was prepared before the work started as required by s 299, and a copy will be kept on site and available for inspection until the work is complete, as required by s 303.
2. High Risk Construction Work Categories
The following high risk construction work categories under WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) s 291 apply to this activity:
•Work on or near energised electrical installations or services: the existing installation remains energised until formal isolation, the consumer mains work is adjacent to the network connection, and existing circuits of unknown condition run through every cavity this work enters.
•Work likely to disturb asbestos: the dwelling's age makes asbestos-containing materials likely (switchboard backing panels, eaves sheeting, wall sheet in wet areas). Work that would disturb any suspect material does not proceed under this SWMS alone; see step 2.
•Risk of a person falling more than 2 metres does not apply as planned: all roof cavity work is performed from within the cavity on crawl boards, and external work is at eaves height from platform ladders below 2 metres. If any task changes to involve a fall risk of more than 2 metres, work stops and this SWMS is revised under s 302 before that task proceeds.
3. Persons, Roles & Responsibilities
•Licensed electrician / supervisor (Daniel Mercer): holds an individual contractor licence (electrical category) issued by Building Commission NSW. Responsible for the electrical safety of the work, formal isolation and lock-out, authorising each stage, supervising the apprentice, and stopping work if this SWMS is not being followed.
•Second licensed electrician: carries out installation work, acts as the second person present during any work near exposed conductors, and checks test results.
•Apprentice (when on site): works under supervision in accordance with the NSW Supervision Practice Standard, which is a condition of the supervising electrician's licence. The apprentice does not work on or near energised parts, does not enter the roof cavity alone, and has each day's permitted tasks set at the pre-start briefing.
•All workers: hold a current general construction induction card (white card) as required by ss 316 and 317 of the WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW), read and sign this SWMS before starting, and stop and report if conditions change.
4. Plant, Equipment & Materials
•Voltage tester and proving unit (tested before and after each use)
•Lock-out devices and personal danger tags for the main switch and meter isolator
•Insulated hand tools rated for the work; battery drills and saws
•Crawl boards and kneeling boards for roof cavity work
•Platform ladder and step ladders, rated industrial, inspected before use
•Portable LED task lighting (battery, low heat)
•Cable rods and draw tape; new switchboard, RCDs, cable and accessories
•P2 respirators, safety glasses, gloves, and disposable coveralls for cavity work
•First aid kit and burn dressings in the site vehicle; fire extinguisher (dry powder) at the switchboard during connection work
All plant and equipment is inspected before use. Defective equipment is tagged out and removed from site.
5. Step-by-Step Work Method: Hazards, Risk Ratings & Controls
Step 1: Pre-start planning, isolation strategy and briefing
•Hazards: Unplanned contact with energised parts later in the job because isolation points were not identified; crew not knowing the sequence
•Initial risk: High (L3 x C5)
•Controls: Walk the site with the crew before any work. Identify the point of attachment, metering, main switch and every distribution point. Agree the isolation strategy: where supply will be isolated, where lock-out devices go, and which circuits stay energised at each stage (none, once the rewire proper begins). Brief this SWMS in full and have every worker sign on. Confirm licences and white cards are current.
•Residual risk: Low (L1 x C3)
•Responsible: Licensed electrician / supervisor
Step 2: Asbestos check before any cutting, drilling or cavity entry
•Hazards: Disturbing asbestos-containing material (switchboard backing panel, eaves lining, wet area sheeting) and exposing the crew to airborne fibres
•Initial risk: High (L3 x C5)
•Controls: Treat the dwelling as containing asbestos until inspected. Visually inspect the switchboard panel, eaves and any sheet material on the cable routes before work; where material is suspect, do not cut, drill or abrade it. Arrange sampling by a competent person, and removal by a licensed asbestos removalist where removal is required, before the affected task proceeds. In NSW, asbestos removal licensing is administered by SafeWork NSW. Never use power tools, compressed air or high-pressure water on suspect material. Record the inspection outcome in the site diary.
•Residual risk: Low (L1 x C4)
•Responsible: Licensed electrician / supervisor
Step 3: Isolation of supply and proof of de-energisation
•Hazards: Electric shock or arc flash from working on parts believed dead but still energised; inadvertent re-energisation by another person
•Initial risk: High (L3 x C5)
•Controls: Electrical work on energised equipment is not permitted except in the narrow circumstances allowed by s 157 of the WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW); this job is planned so none of those circumstances arise. Before any work: isolate at the main switch, fit lock-out devices and personal danger tags, and prove de-energisation with a voltage tester proved immediately before and after each test. Complete the preliminary steps required by s 158 before any task that could involve energised parts: risk assessment, a clear work area, and an accessible isolation point. Where network-side conductors at the point of attachment cannot be isolated by Westcove, that work is not performed under this SWMS: it is scheduled with the network operator under their access rules.
•Residual risk: Low (L1 x C5)
•Responsible: Licensed electrician / supervisor
Step 4: Roof cavity work: removing old wiring and running new circuits
•Hazards: Heat stress in the cavity; contact with undiscovered energised cables from adjacent premises equipment; stepping through the ceiling; insulation dust and fibres; low light and awkward posture
•Initial risk: High (L4 x C4)
•Controls: Enter the cavity only after the isolation in step 3 is confirmed and only during the cooler part of the day; above 32 degrees inside the cavity, reschedule the task. Two-person rule: one worker in the cavity, one in contact below, with agreed check-in intervals. Move only on crawl boards placed across joists; never step between joists onto plasterboard. Treat every cable found as energised until tested; unidentified cables are traced and proven dead before handling. Wear a P2 respirator, gloves, coveralls and eye protection when moving through insulation. Battery task lighting only; no temporary mains lighting in the cavity during the rewire.
•Residual risk: Medium (L2 x C3)
•Responsible: Licensed electrician / supervisor
Step 5: Wall cavity work, accessory replacement and chasing
•Hazards: Striking concealed cables or plumbing when drilling or chasing; silica dust from masonry chasing; manual handling in awkward positions
•Initial risk: Medium (L3 x C4)
•Controls: Confirm isolation before opening any accessory or junction. Scan or trace cable routes and plumbing before drilling into walls; hand-check behind sheet material before cutting. When chasing masonry, use dust extraction on the tool or wet methods, and a P2 respirator; keep other workers clear of the dust zone. Cap and identify all abandoned conductors as they are removed so nothing dead is later mistaken for live, or live for dead.
•Residual risk: Low (L2 x C2)
•Responsible: Second licensed electrician
Step 6: New switchboard installation and consumer mains connection
•Hazards: Arc flash during connection work; fire during and after energisation; wrong polarity or defective connections
•Initial risk: High (L3 x C5)
•Controls: Complete and check all switchboard wiring dead. Connection of the consumer mains is carried out only with supply isolated and proven, by the licensed electrician, with the second electrician present. Fit RCD protection to all final subcircuits. Keep the dry powder extinguisher within reach during connection and first energisation. Energise circuits progressively, one at a time, checking each for correct operation before the next.
•Residual risk: Low (L1 x C4)
•Responsible: Licensed electrician / supervisor
Step 7: Testing, commissioning and handover
•Hazards: Undetected wiring defect left in service; shock to occupants after handover
•Initial risk: Medium (L2 x C5)
•Controls: Test the completed installation in accordance with AS/NZS 3000 (wiring rules) before it is placed in service: earth continuity, insulation resistance, polarity, and correct RCD operation on every final subcircuit. Record all results. Complete the certification required for the electrical work in NSW and provide it to the owner. Walk the owner through the new switchboard, RCD test buttons and what to do if a safety switch operates.
•Residual risk: Low (L1 x C4)
•Responsible: Licensed electrician / supervisor
6. Personal Protective Equipment
PPE is the last line of control and is used in addition to isolation, safe systems and engineering controls, in line with the duties in ss 44 to 47 of the WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW):
•Safety glasses: all cutting, drilling and connection work
•Insulated gloves: any task near conductors not yet proven dead
•P2 respirator, disposable coveralls and gloves: all roof cavity work and any dusty demolition of old wiring runs
•Hearing protection: masonry chasing and drilling
•Safety footwear: at all times on site
•Sun protection for external work at the point of attachment
All PPE is inspected before use and replaced when damaged.
7. Permits, Licences & Training Requirements
•Electrical work in NSW may only be performed by the holder of the appropriate licence or certificate; Westcove Electrical Pty Ltd holds an individual contractor licence (electrical category) issued by Building Commission NSW, and every tradesperson on this job holds their own licence or works under the supervision arrangements for apprentices.
•Apprentice supervision follows the NSW Supervision Practice Standard, a condition of the supervising electrician's licence since 1 September 2024.
•Every worker holds a current general construction induction card (white card), ss 316 and 317, WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW).
•No high risk work licence class is required for this activity as planned: there is no scaffolding, rigging or EWP use. If access requirements change, this SWMS is reviewed first.
•Any asbestos removal identified in step 2 is carried out only by a removalist licensed with SafeWork NSW, under their own controls, before the affected electrical task proceeds.
8. Emergency Procedures
•Record the address of the nearest emergency department and the location of the first aid kit at the pre-start briefing, and confirm every worker knows the site address to give to emergency services: 23 Marlow Street, Penrith NSW 2750.
•Electric shock: do not touch the person while they may be in contact with a live source. Isolate at the main switch or meter isolator. Call 000. Start CPR if trained and the person is not breathing normally; use the nearest available AED. Any electric shock, however minor it appears, is reported and the person is medically assessed.
•Fire at the switchboard: isolate if safe, use the dry powder extinguisher only if the fire is small, evacuate and call 000 otherwise.
•Suspected asbestos disturbance: stop work in the area immediately, keep others out, do not sweep or use compressed air, and follow step 2 before anything resumes.
•Heat illness in the roof cavity: bring the worker out of the cavity, rest and cool them, give water, and call 000 if their condition does not improve promptly.
•All incidents and near misses are reported to the supervisor. Notifiable incidents are reported to SafeWork NSW and the scene preserved as required.
9. Monitoring, Review & Consultation
•The supervisor checks compliance with this SWMS daily at the pre-start briefing and stops work if it is not being followed, in line with the duty in s 300 of the WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) to carry out the work in accordance with the statement.
•This SWMS is reviewed and revised under s 302 whenever the scope, hazards or controls change: in particular, if any suspect asbestos material is found, if access above 2 metres becomes necessary, or if the isolation strategy changes.
•Workers were consulted in preparing this SWMS at the job planning meeting and are consulted on any revision. Any worker can raise a concern at the pre-start briefing or at any time during the work.
•A copy of this SWMS is kept in the site folder at the dwelling until the work is complete, as required by s 303.
10. Applicable Legislation & Standards
•Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW)
•Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW): s 291 (high risk construction work), s 299 (SWMS required), s 300 (comply with SWMS), s 302 (review), s 303 (keep), s 157 (energised electrical work prohibited except in narrow circumstances), s 158 (preliminary steps), ss 44 to 47 (PPE duties), ss 316 and 317 (general construction induction)
•AS/NZS 3000 (electrical installations: wiring rules)
•NSW Supervision Practice Standard for licensed electricians supervising apprentices (Building Commission NSW)
11. Worker Sign-Off & Acknowledgement
Each person below confirms they have read and understood this SWMS, had the chance to ask questions, and agree to work in accordance with it.
Site supervisor - Daniel Mercer, Westcove Electrical Pty Ltd
Signature: ________________________ Date: ____________________
Second electrician
Signature: ________________________ Date: ____________________
Apprentice (if on site)
Signature: ________________________ Date: ____________________