Two people wearing personal protective equipment looking at work on a power pole

Our safety rules

When working on or around powerlines, we never compromise on safety. It’s the difference between life and death. Learn the rules, know the rules. Keep you and your team safe.

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Your obligations

To keep you safe, WorkSafe has set down minimum safe practices for carrying out any work near electricity and communications networks.

Photo of a fallen tree underneath downed power lines.

What to do in an emergency

Knowing what to do in an electrical emergency could be the difference between life and death.

Photo of a man carrying a ladder in a home garden. Work in the backyard garden. A natural scene from everyday life.

Working near overhead lines

If your next project is near any power poles or overhead lines, we have rules and guidelines in place to keep you safe.

Digging soil with a shovel, check before you dig.

Working near underground cables

Always check before you dig, it could save your life! Check out the safety advice and procedures you should follow to keep yourself safe.

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Using or moving our equipment

If you need to use or move our equipment to make your project happen, follow this process.

Photo of a worker in a cherry picker basket lifted to the top of a power pole. Power lines haave been clipped together to allow work to progress safely.

Close approach request form

For safety reasons, close approach approval is required for all work within four metres of overhead lines or cables and excavating within five metres of a power pole

Worker in a cherry picker basket working on top of power line Rosebank Rd

Disconnection service

Whether you need to temporarily disconnect from our network or permanently disconnect a property prior to demolition, we can help you.

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Travelling with high loads

Before you hit the road with a high load, check this information to make sure you can make it safely to your destination.