COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Site Preparation Requirements for Electrical Installations course. This program is designed to provide you with the essential knowledge to prepare worksites for safe, compliant, and efficient electrical installation. Thorough site preparation is a critical foundation that supports technical accuracy, workplace safety, and project coordination across all stages of an electrical job.
This course begins by exploring the importance of effective site preparation in electrical work. Poor planning can result in non-compliant installations, safety incidents, costly delays, and conflict with other trades. This section outlines the key responsibilities of electricians and supervisors in ensuring that site conditions are safe, accessible, and ready for installation activities to commence.
Understanding electrical plans and project documentation is essential. This section focuses on how to accurately interpret wiring schematics, layout diagrams, and installation schedules. Learners will develop the skills to identify key connection points, verify material specifications, and communicate effectively with project managers to resolve discrepancies before work begins.
Risk assessments must be completed prior to any electrical installation. This section guides participants through identifying site-specific hazards—such as confined access, overhead services, or unstable surfaces—and explains how to evaluate environmental risks and formally report issues using pre-start documentation.
Access and working conditions have a direct impact on safety and efficiency. This section highlights how to verify clear and secure access to switchboards, cable routes, and fixing zones, and how to confirm that structural surfaces—walls, floors, and ceilings—are ready to support electrical infrastructure.
Service entry and metering locations must be properly identified. This section explains how to coordinate with supply authorities such as Ausgrid or Endeavour Energy to determine main switchboard placement, ensure required clearances, and allow for future maintenance access.
Structural readiness plays a critical role in supporting compliant installations. Here, learners will review how to confirm that wall chases, slab penetrations, and cable risers are completed and accessible, and how to ensure stability of mounting surfaces for switchboards and accessories.
Planning conduit and cable pathways is essential to avoid rework and conflicts. This section explores how to map out vertical and horizontal cable routes, segregate electrical systems from plumbing or HVAC, and mark pathways to prevent clashes with structural components.
Effective site preparation requires cooperation with other trades. This section focuses on the sequencing of trade works and how to communicate with plumbers, carpenters, and HVAC contractors to avoid interference or damage during parallel installations.
Safe work zones must be established before installation begins. This section teaches how to install temporary fencing, signage, and lighting to manage hazards and maintain a clean, organised, and clearly defined work environment for the electrical team.
Temporary power supply is often necessary during construction. This section outlines how to set up compliant site power boards, RCD protection, and temporary leads, while maintaining safe routing practices to prevent tripping, overloading, or equipment failure.
On-site material storage requires careful planning. You will learn how to stage and secure cable drums, conduits, and enclosures, protect sensitive components from weather exposure, and organise accessories for quick access and reduced handling time.
All tools and equipment must be checked prior to use. This section covers how to inspect and tag power tools, ensure test instruments are functional and calibrated, and secure high-value tools in locked or weatherproof storage areas.
Proper earthing is fundamental to electrical safety. This section explains how to prepare earth electrode locations, comply with AS/NZS 3000 requirements for earthing conductors, and coordinate with structural trades to integrate earthing provisions into the build.
Trenching must be planned with safety and compliance in mind. This section covers locating existing underground services, setting trench depth and separation standards, and installing compliant conduits, markers, and warning tape to reduce excavation risks.
Environmental controls must be established during early site works. This section highlights how to implement erosion controls, manage chemical or waste contamination risks, and reduce dust and noise levels in accordance with EPA and local council guidelines.
Strong communication with site management is critical. This section emphasises the importance of liaising with the principal contractor or builder, attending safety inductions, and setting up systems for daily reporting, site briefings, and progress updates.
Thorough documentation is essential for compliance and transparency. This section explains how to complete pre-work forms, log material deliveries, track trench inspections, and keep accurate records to support audits, incident investigations, or installation sign-offs.
Before any installation begins, final readiness must be confirmed. The course concludes by detailing how to conduct a full site walk-through with a supervisor, verify the clearance and safety of work areas, and confirm that all preparatory tasks have been completed according to project specifications and safety requirements.
By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the tools, knowledge, and industry best practices to effectively prepare worksites for electrical installations—supporting safety, compliance, and project success from day one.
Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:
1. Introduction to Site Preparation for Electrical Installations
- Importance of effective site preparation
- Consequences of poor preparation for compliance and safety
- Overview of responsibilities for electricians and supervisors
2. Reviewing Electrical Plans and Documentation
- Interpreting wiring schematics and layout drawings
- Identifying key specifications and connection points
- Confirming installation requirements with project managers
3. Conducting a Site Risk Assessment
- Identifying site-specific electrical hazards
- Evaluating environmental and access risks
- Documenting and reporting issues before commencement
4. Verifying Site Access and Working Conditions
- Ensuring safe access to switchboards and work zones
- Identifying entry and exit points for cables and conduits
- Confirming floor, wall, and ceiling readiness for fixing
5. Establishing Service Entry and Metering Locations
- Identifying the main switchboard and metering areas
- Coordination with supply authorities
- Planning space for safety clearances and future access
6. Ensuring Structural Readiness for Installations
- Confirming slab penetrations and wall chases are complete
- Checking mounting surfaces for stability
- Verifying ceiling voids or risers are accessible
7. Planning Conduit and Cable Pathways
- Identifying vertical and horizontal runs
- Allowing for segregation from plumbing and HVAC
- Marking routes to prevent structural clashes
8. Coordinating with Other Trades and Services
- Planning works with plumbers, carpenters, and HVAC installers
- Avoiding damage from overlapping installations
- Confirming sequencing of trade tasks
9. Setting Up Safe Work Zones
- Erecting temporary barriers or exclusion areas
- Placing warning signage and hazard notifications
- Ensuring lighting and visibility in workspaces
10. Preparing for Temporary Power Supply
- Arranging site power boards and RCD protection
- Verifying temporary supply permits and compliance
- Managing lead routing to avoid trip hazards
11. Material Storage and Handling on Site
- Staging cable drums and conduits securely
- Protecting sensitive equipment from moisture or heat
- Labelling and organising switchgear and accessories
12. Tools and Equipment Readiness Checks
- Inspecting and tagging power tools and leads
- Ensuring availability of testing instruments
- Setting up secure storage for tools and gear
13. Grounding and Earthing Site Provisions
- Preparing trenches and locations for earth electrodes
- Confirming compliance with earthing conductor requirements under AS/NZS 3000
- Coordinating with structural and civil works to ensure proper earth grid connection
14. Trenching and Underground Service Coordination
- Locating and marking existing underground services before excavation
- Planning correct depth, width, and conduit separation for electrical trenches
- Installing warning tape and compliant conduit for buried cables
15. Ensuring Compliance with Environmental Requirements
- Implementing erosion control and sediment barriers during site works
- Preventing site contamination from fuel, oils, or electrical waste
- Managing noise and dust emissions in accordance with local council and EPA standards
16. Establishing Communication with Site Management
- Liaising with the principal contractor or builder regarding site readiness
- Participating in site inductions and safety briefings
- Setting up systems for daily communication and progress reporting
17. Documentation and Record-Keeping for Pre-Work Checks
- Completing pre-start checklists and sign-off forms
- Logging the delivery of materials and equipment
- Keeping records of permits, trench approvals, and coordination notes
18. Final Site Readiness Verification Before Installation
- Conducting a full walk-through with supervisors or forepersons
- Checking installation zones for clearance, obstructions, and safety
- Confirming all preparation tasks are complete before energised works begin
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.
COURSE DELIVERY:
Purchase and download course content.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.