Safe Work Method Statement: Switchboard Installation and Upgrades
Company (PCBU): Nguyen Electrical Pty Ltd
Principal Contractor: Hillcrest Homes Pty Ltd
Project: Kellyville Duplex Fit-Off
Site Address: 14 Acacia Street, Kellyville NSW 2155
Date Prepared: July 2026
Review Date: Review before work resumes after any change to the work, the crew, or site conditions, and no later than the completion of this scope.
1. Work Activity & Scope
Nguyen Electrical Pty Ltd will carry out switchboard installation and upgrades as part of the electrical rough-in and fit-off for the new two-storey duplex at 14 Acacia Street, Kellyville. The work covers mounting and wiring two main switchboards (one per dwelling), installation of circuit protection, connection of sub-circuits, and testing and commissioning. The crew is 3 to 5 workers, the planned duration is 2 weeks from 13 July 2026, and the maximum working height is approximately 3 metres (ladder work at meter enclosures and ceiling penetrations).
This SWMS covers this activity on this site only. It was prepared under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW) s 299 and must be reviewed under s 302 whenever the work, the hazards, or the controls change.
2. High Risk Construction Work Categories
The following high risk construction work categories, as defined in the WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) s 291, apply to this activity:
•Work on or near energised electrical installations or services: the incoming consumer mains and meter enclosure may remain energised from the network side while switchboard work proceeds.
•Risk of a person falling more than 2 metres: ladder work at the upstairs switchboard location and ceiling penetrations up to approximately 3 metres.
Both categories are controlled in the step-by-step work method below. If any other high risk construction work arises (for example unexpected trenching for the consumer mains), work stops and this SWMS is revised under s 302 before that work starts.
3. Persons, Roles & Responsibilities
•Site supervisor / responsible person: Minh Nguyen. Prepares and reviews this SWMS, briefs the crew before work starts, verifies isolations, and has authority to stop work.
•Licensed electricians: carry out all electrical work under NSW licensing requirements, verify test-for-dead before touching conductors, and report any change in site conditions.
•All workers: hold a general construction induction card as required by ss 316 and 317, work in accordance with this SWMS as required by s 300, and stop work and report to the supervisor if the work cannot be done as described.
•Principal contractor (Hillcrest Homes Pty Ltd): receives a copy of this SWMS before work starts and coordinates other trades clear of the electrical work areas.
4. Plant, Equipment & Materials
•Platform ladders and extension ladder (industrial rated, inspected before use)
•Power tools: drills, hole saws, grinders (RCD-protected supply only)
•Temporary power via builder's supply, protected per AS/NZS 3012
•Voltage tester, proving unit, lockout devices and tags
•Switchboards, circuit breakers, RCDs, cabling and consumables
Damaged plant is tagged out of service immediately and reported to the supervisor.
5. Step-by-Step Work Method: Hazards, Risk Ratings & Controls
Step 1: Site establishment and pre-start checks
•Hazards: unmanaged interfaces with other trades, unidentified live services at the work area
•Initial risk: Medium (L3 x C3)
•Controls: pre-start briefing on this SWMS with every worker (s 39); confirm with the principal contractor which services are energised; barricade the switchboard work area; confirm all crew hold white cards (ss 316 and 317)
•Residual risk: Low (L2 x C2)
•Responsible: Site supervisor
Step 2: Isolation and proving de-energised
•Hazards: contact with energised conductors during isolation, stored energy, inadvertent re-energisation
•Initial risk: High (L4 x C5)
•Controls: plan the work so it is done de-energised; isolate at the main switch or network point, apply personal locks and danger tags, test for dead with a voltage tester proved on a known source before and after testing; energised electrical work is not permitted except in the narrow circumstances allowed by s 157, and only after the preliminary steps in s 158 (risk assessment, authorisation, safety observer) are completed and documented
•Residual risk: Low (L2 x C4)
•Responsible: Licensed electrician
Step 3: Mounting switchboard enclosures
•Hazards: manual handling of enclosures, falls from ladders working at up to 3 metres, dust and noise from drilling masonry
•Initial risk: Medium (L3 x C3)
•Controls: two-person lift for enclosures over 20 kg; platform ladder positioned on firm level ground with three points of contact maintained, following the fall-risk duties in ss 78 and 79; hearing and eye protection during drilling (PPE duties under ss 44 to 47)
•Residual risk: Low (L2 x C2)
•Responsible: Licensed electrician
Step 4: Cabling and terminations
•Hazards: contact with other services in wall and ceiling cavities, awkward postures, sharp edges
•Initial risk: Medium (L3 x C3)
•Controls: locate and mark other services before drilling penetrations; cable routes planned to keep separation from plumbing and gas; gloves for sharp-edge handling; terminations torqued and checked to AS/NZS 3000
•Residual risk: Low (L2 x C2)
•Responsible: Licensed electrician
Step 5: Testing and commissioning
•Hazards: contact with energised parts during live testing, unexpected operation of connected equipment
•Initial risk: High (L4 x C5)
•Controls: testing sequence follows AS/NZS 3000; live testing performed only by a licensed electrician using rated test equipment with barriers in place and other workers clear; results recorded before energisation of each circuit; temporary supply arrangements comply with AS/NZS 3012
•Residual risk: Low (L2 x C4)
•Responsible: Licensed electrician
Step 6: Housekeeping and handover
•Hazards: slips and trips from offcuts and packaging, incomplete labelling causing later confusion
•Initial risk: Low (L2 x C2)
•Controls: work area cleared at each break and end of shift; circuits labelled at the board; handover walk-through with the principal contractor; SWMS retained as required by s 303 while work continues
•Residual risk: Low (L1 x C2)
•Responsible: All workers
6. Personal Protective Equipment
Provided and maintained under ss 44 to 47, and used only as the control after higher-order controls in the hierarchy (s 36):
•Safety glasses and hearing protection during drilling and grinding
•Cut-resistant gloves for enclosure and cable handling
•Insulated-sole safety footwear
•Arc-rated clothing and insulated gloves for any permitted energised testing work
7. Permits, Licences & Training Requirements
•NSW electrical licence for all electrical work on this site
•General construction induction card (white card) for every worker, per ss 316 and 317
•Site induction by the principal contractor before first entry
•Briefing on this SWMS before starting work and after every revision (s 39)
8. Emergency Procedures
•For electric shock: do not touch the casualty until the supply is isolated; isolate at the main switch, commence first aid and CPR as trained, call 000
•Record the address of the nearest emergency department in the site induction and post it at the switchboard work area with the site address (14 Acacia Street, Kellyville NSW 2155) for emergency calls
•First aid kit location and the name of the first aider are confirmed at the pre-start briefing
•Any notifiable incident: secure the site, notify the principal contractor and SafeWork NSW, and preserve the scene as required
9. Monitoring, Review & Consultation
The crew was consulted in preparing this SWMS and signs the acknowledgement below. The site supervisor monitors compliance daily; work that cannot be carried out in accordance with this SWMS stops immediately under s 300 until the SWMS is revised. This SWMS is reviewed under s 302 whenever the work, the crew, the equipment, or site conditions change, a copy is given to the principal contractor before work starts (s 301), and a copy is kept while the work is carried out (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), ss 299 to 303 (SWMS duties), ss 157 and 158 (energised electrical work), ss 78 and 79 (falls), s 36 (hierarchy of controls), s 39 (information, training and instruction), ss 44 to 47 (PPE), ss 316 and 317 (general construction induction)
•AS/NZS 3000 (electrical installations, wiring rules)
•AS/NZS 3012 (electrical installations on construction and demolition sites)
11. Worker Sign-Off & Acknowledgement
Each worker below confirms they were consulted on this SWMS, understand the hazards and controls for this switchboard installation work at 14 Acacia Street, and will carry out the work in accordance with it.
•Name: ________________ Signature: ________________ Date: ________
•Name: ________________ Signature: ________________ Date: ________
•Name: ________________ Signature: ________________ Date: ________
•Name: ________________ Signature: ________________ Date: ________
Prepared by: Minh Nguyen, Nguyen Electrical Pty Ltd Signature: ________________ Date: ________
Sighted for the principal contractor (Hillcrest Homes Pty Ltd): ________________ Date: ________
Disclaimer
This document was generated with AI assistance from the details provided and automatically verified against a curated library of Australian WHS citations. It is not legal advice. The PCBU remains responsible for reviewing this SWMS with the workers who will carry out the work, adapting it to actual site conditions, and revising it whenever the work, hazards, or controls change.