Working near electricity
Whether you are a homeowner making changes to your home or garden, a farmer working the land, an electrical contractor or builder, you should take every precaution when working near Western Power network assets and infrastructure. To protect yourself and others against injury, it is important to plan ahead and ensure that all work can be carried out safely.
What should I look out for?
- underground powerlines
- switchgear enclosures
- network poles
- substation buildings
- overhead powerlines
- transformers
- pillars (green domes)
Understanding your legal requirements
Third Party Services Western Power no longer conducts on-site assessments and does not issue work permits to private contractors or entities to work on, or near, Western Power electricity network assets that are sited on land that Western Power does not own or otherwise control.
To ensure it is safe for you to undertake your proposed work near Western Power’s electricity network assets, Western Power strongly recommends that you engage a qualified service provider before you start. In the first instance, you should consult the Local Government Planning Authority, Architect, Civil, Structural or Electrical Engineer or Project Manager specific to your project. To help you, Western Power also publishes a list of qualified service providers who can give you professional advice and services to keep your work and our network safe.
Western Power does not make any enquiry, and does not offer any warranty about the capacity or competence of the service providers on this list. Publication of the list is not a recommendation or endorsement of services offered. List of third party service providers:
Work near energised electrical installations and powerlines, whether underground or overhead, is high risk work. A person in control of the work area must ensure that no person, plant or material enters the danger zone of an overhead powerline or other electrical network assets.
Any information provided to you by Western Power should not be used in isolation and we recommend that you refer to the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996. These documents outline WorkSafe WA requirements for working near electricity. For queries relating to these requirements, visit www.worksafe.wa.gov.au or contact WorkSafe on 1300 307 877.
Depending on your requirements, you will be required to submit the appropriate form, below is an outline of each form and when it should be used.
Request for information - Western Power Network Assets
Western Power can assist your project by providing detailed information of its network assets, voltages and guidelines on safe distances relevant to your nominated project location.
This form is used to request information only on Western Power assets at a specific location; this will assist you in your planned works near electricity.
Complete and submit and we will send you information on the types and voltages of assets that may be affected by work at your location.
- Complete a request for information (PDF 310 kb)
Request for quotation
Once you have received our asset information letter, or if you already know the asset details, and you have determined that you will need tiger tails to be installed as a visual aid over the wires, or your works will be encroaching the danger zone, you will need to complete one or more of the following request forms.
The cost to install and remove covers on one bay of low voltage mains directly adjacent to a work site is based on the following requirements:
- all four wires being covered
- a minimum of one week's notice
- mobilisation of crew and equipment
- administrative costs
- traffic management
Cost is generally between $2800 - $3200 for one week.
An entire bay of mains will require 200 linear meters of Tiger Tails. House service leads require a minimum of five metres.
Allow a minimum of one month notice from receipt of monies paid to schedule into our works program.
The application form is available at:
- Installation of Tiger Tails (PDF 596 kb)
You can extend the period of Tiger Tail supply by notification in writing (i.e. e-mail). Further charges will apply.
Note: Tiger tails are visual indicators only and must not be relied upon for insulation.
Other forms you may need to use:
- To isolate a single premises or service cable – Online Network Service form
- To isolate multiple premises or network cables - Isolation of Western Power Services form (PDF 220 kb)
- To remove or relocate a network asset - Relocation/Removal of Western Power Assets form (PDF 120 kb)
Should you wish to proceed with your application for any of the above products and services (Form 2) you may be required to pay a non refundable design fee of $1,500.00 (inclusive of GST), in advance. This covers the work we need to do in preparing a detailed design and firm quote.
- The design fee paid (excluding GST) will be deducted from the total project cost if you proceed to construction.
- GST applies to the design fee, and the firm quotation value.
Related links
- Transmission assets - contact transmission.relocations@westernpower.com.au
- The Electrical System Safety Rules (ESSR) state different approach distances for ordinary persons, vehicles and plant, refer to Tables 5-2 and 5-3 on page 5.4 of ESSR
- Breaches should be reported directly to www.worksafe.wa.gov.au or 1300 307 877
- Power Training Services
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