Temporary Electrical Installation Safety

Overview

Temporary Electrical Installation Safety should be managed through a planned system of work: identify the task-specific hazards, eliminate exposure where practical, use engineered or collective controls before relying on PPE, verify critical safeguards before starting, and stop the task when controls are missing or conditions change. This guide applies those principles specifically to safe temporary power distribution, cabling and protective devices on worksites.

Main Hazards

• • Exposed live parts or improvised distribution boards
• • Cables damaged by traffic, water, sharp edges or poor routing
• • Unexpected energization or start-up
• • Electric shock, arc or stored-energy release
• • Contact with moving or unguarded machine parts

Essential Controls

1. 1Use protected distribution equipment and suitable overcurrent/ground-fault protection.
2. 2Route and protect temporary cables to prevent mechanical damage and trip hazards.
3. 3Identify every hazardous energy source before intervention.
4. 4Isolate, lock, release stored energy and verify a safe state before work.
5. 5Keep guards and protective devices in place unless an approved safe isolation requires removal.
6. 6Use competent persons and equipment suitable for the electrical or mechanical duty.

Related Guides