Safe working clearances and enquiries
Find out how to request safety clearance advice when working near the electricity network, including when you need an assessment and what the process involves.
Ausgrid may need to check your construction site or provide safety advice if you are working near powerlines or operating plant or equipment in proximity to the electricity network. Where required, Ausgrid will assess your site to check whether further safety controls are required.
Safety advice for work near powerlines
Follow the steps to request safety advice
- Refer to the Ausgrid Quick Reference Guide for Safety Clearances
- Complete a Safety Advice Request form and email to construction.works@ausgrid.com.au.
Safety advice request process
Our teams assess your request and will contact you should further information be required. If Ausgrid is required to support your work, a quotation will be issued to you in the form of a Short Form Contract which can then be used for billing purposes should you choose to go ahead with the works.
Once we have received your contract you will receive an email to acknowledge receipt. Details of scheduling and payment details will follow and you will be contacted by our team as your request progresses.
Choose the scenario that best suits your work type
Check the following criteria to determine whether you need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.
Are you working within 3 metres of any overhead powerlines (not including scaffolding)?
Yes or unsure
If you are proposing to work within 3 metres of any overhead powerline attached to a timber pole or similar type structure, including:
Working at heights, e.g. from a cherry picker or other structure, or
Operating mobile plant such as an excavator, tractor, or elevated work platform, or craning over any overhead powerlines.
You will need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form .
Note: If your work involves scaffolding or lengths of metallic objects, please read the scaffolding guide below.
No
(i.e. You are working more than 3 metres away from overhead powerlines. This does not include craning over powerlines – please refer to the cranes and mobile plant section.)
There is no need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.
Please check the safety requirements in Chapter 3 – Approach Distances When Working Near Overhead Powerlines in the WorkCover Work Near Overhead Powerlines Code of Practice before commencing any work.
Check the following criteria to determine whether you need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.
Are you erecting scaffolding or handling lengths of metal material e.g. pipes and roofing within 4 metres of any overhead powerlines?
Yes or unsure
You will need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.
No
(i.e. Working greater than 4 metres from overhead powerlines.)
There is no need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.
Please check the safety requirements in Chapter 6 - Scaffolding - in the Work Near Overhead Power Lines Code of Practice for safe practices near scaffolding before commencing any work.
Check the following criteria to determine whether you need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.
Are you operating mobile plant such as an excavator, tractor or elevated work platform within 3 metres of any overhead powerlines? AND / OR are you craning over any overhead powerlines?
Yes or unsure
You will need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.
Note: If you are craning over any overhead powerlines, regardless of clearance distance, you must submit a Safety Advice Request Form.
No
(i.e. Operating crane or mobile plant greater than 3 metres from any overhead powerlines and not craning over any overhead powerlines.)
There is no need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.
Please check Chapter 4 – Operating Cranes and Mobile Plant Near Overhead Powerlines in the Work Near Overhead Power Lines Code of Practice.
Check the following criteria to determine whether you need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.
Are you carrying out tree and/or vegetation management within 3 metres of any overhead powerlines?
Yes or unsure
You will need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form .
No
(i.e. Carrying out tree and/or vegetation management greater than 3 metres from any overhead powerlines).
There is no need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.
Note: You must not:
Climb a tree or cut any branch within 3 metres of live overhead powerlines; or
Allow yourself, your tools, clothing, or equipment to be within 3 metres of live overhead powerlines while you work.
Please check Chapter 5 – Tree and Vegetation Management Near Overhead Powerlines in the Work Near Overhead Powerlines Code of Practice before commencing any work.
Check the following criteria to determine whether you need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.
Are you carrying out agricultural work using any lifting or elevating plant, or any other agricultural machinery or truck, within 3 metres of any overhead powerlines?
Yes or unsure
You will need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.
No
(i.e. Working greater than 3 metres from any overhead powerlines.)
There is no need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.
Please check Chapter 7 – Agricultural Work Near Overhead Powerlines in the Work Near Overhead Powerlines Code of Practice before commencing your work.
Check the following criteria to determine whether you need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.
Are you carrying out work near service wires within any of the clearance distances listed below?
- Using hand held tools within 0.5 metres
- Operating crane or mobile plant within 3 metres
- Handling of metal materials (scaffolding, roofing, guttering, pipes, etc.) within 4 metres
- Handling of non-conductive materials (timber, plywood, PVC pipes and guttering, etc.) within 1.5 metres
- Driving or operating a vehicle within 0.6 metres
Yes or unsure
You will need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form .
No
(i.e. You are carrying out work outside of the clearance distances listed above for each work type.)
There is no need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.
Please read Chapter 8 – Working near low voltage overhead service wires in the Work Near Overhead Power Lines Code of Practice before commencing any work.
Note:
- For work involving cranes or mobile plant, or where any metal material is being handled (such as scaffolding, roofing materials, or guttering), the risk control measures and increased approach distances described in other chapters of this code must be applied.
- Insulated low voltage aerial consumer mains and associated electrical apparatus forming part of the consumer’s electrical installation are the responsibility of the property owner (i.e. not part of the Ausgrid network). Ausgrid is unable to provide specific safety advice for customer‑owned aerial consumer mains. You must comply with the relevant clauses in the SafeWork NSW Code of Practice – Work near overhead power lines .