COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome to the Risk Management in Electrotechnology Operations course. This program is designed to equip you with the knowledge and regulatory understanding required to manage workplace risks associated with electrical installation, maintenance, and servicing work. In a high-risk industry such as electrotechnology, effective risk management is not only a legal requirement but a critical safeguard for the health, safety, and well-being of workers and clients alike.

This course begins by defining what risk management entails in the electrotechnology context and explaining why a proactive approach to hazard identification and control is essential. You’ll explore common risks such as electric shock, arc flash, fire hazards, and other dangers posed by tools, equipment, and work environments. A strong risk management system protects not just people and property, but also project timelines, business reputation, and legal compliance.

Understanding your legal responsibilities is fundamental. This section reviews the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act and Regulations, outlining the specific duties of Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBUs), supervisors, and workers in electrical operations. You’ll also learn about the role of state-based electrical safety regulators and what inspectors look for when reviewing risk control systems on-site.

Risk management is most effective when it’s integrated into daily operations. This section introduces the four-step risk management process—identify, assess, control, and review—and discusses how consultation with workers ensures that hazards are recognised early and managed collaboratively. It also examines how risk control strategies must be continuously updated to reflect changing conditions.

Identifying hazards is the first step in any risk strategy. You’ll learn how to recognise the full range of risks in electrical work, from shock and arc flash to physical and environmental hazards such as working in confined spaces, at heights, or in hot or noisy conditions. The course also addresses human factors, including fatigue, time pressure, and inadequate supervision.

Effective risk assessment involves understanding both the likelihood and potential consequences of a hazard. This section explains how to use a risk matrix to categorise hazards, prioritise action, and determine what controls are needed to reduce the level of risk to an acceptable level. You’ll also learn how to justify and document your risk assessment decisions.

The hierarchy of controls forms the foundation of all workplace risk management. This section explains how to select the most effective control measures—from elimination and substitution through to engineering, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE). You’ll also understand the limitations of PPE and the importance of combining it with other risk controls.

Job Safety Analysis (JSA) and Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) are essential tools for managing risk. You’ll learn how to break tasks down into individual steps, identify hazards at each stage, and apply targeted controls. Guidance is provided on preparing compliant SWMS, ensuring they are reviewed regularly, signed off by workers, and updated as site conditions change.

Live work poses one of the highest risks in electrotechnology. This section covers the legal restrictions on energised electrical work, the safety requirements under AS/NZS 4836, and the use of lockout/tagout procedures, test instruments, and communication systems to ensure team safety during testing or fault-finding.

High-risk construction work (HRCW) involving electrical tasks requires additional documentation and planning. You’ll explore how to identify HRCW under the WHS Regulations, the extra oversight responsibilities involved, and how to ensure risk controls are implemented and monitored consistently on dynamic worksites.

Mobile, temporary, or remote worksites present unique challenges. This section explains how to manage risks associated with temporary power setups, adverse weather, exposed cabling, and unmonitored work areas. Emphasis is placed on electrical compliance, load management, and isolating hazards in temporary environments.

Environmental risks are also part of effective risk management. You’ll learn how to manage site runoff, dust, noise, e-waste, batteries, and other hazardous electrical materials in compliance with environmental legislation. This includes disposal of contaminated items and minimising environmental impact during installation or demolition.

Working in isolated, remote, or confined areas demands specialised risk controls. This section guides you through communication systems, emergency access, ventilation, and work-alone procedures that ensure safety when team members are not within immediate reach of each other.

Being prepared for emergencies is non-negotiable in electrical work. You’ll learn how to plan for potential incidents such as electrocution, fire, and arc flash, ensuring that first aid kits, extinguishers, defibrillators, and emergency contacts are readily available and understood by all workers.

Training and competency are cornerstones of safe work. This section covers the importance of formal and informal training, the use of toolbox talks, refresher courses, and on-the-job observation to verify that workers are competent to perform high-risk tasks safely and effectively.

Risk management relies on thorough and consistent documentation. You’ll learn how to maintain clear records of risk assessments, JSAs, SWMS, incidents, inspections, and training—ensuring that your workplace is always ready for internal audits, client reviews, or regulatory inspections.

Supervision plays a key role in monitoring safety. You’ll explore how to conduct safety spot checks, identify non-compliance, intervene in unsafe behaviour, and coach team members to follow safe systems of work consistently across the site.

Finally, continuous improvement is vital. This section outlines how to evaluate the effectiveness of your current risk controls, analyse trends in near misses and incidents, and implement worker feedback and updated procedures to improve safety outcomes across all electrical projects.

By the end of this course, you will have a solid understanding of how to manage risks in electrotechnology operations, ensuring compliance with WHS legislation, protecting your workforce, and embedding a culture of safety and accountability in every aspect of electrical work.

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 Risk Management in Electrotechnology

• Definition and importance of risk management
• Common risks in electrical installation, maintenance, and service work
• Benefits of proactive risk identification and control

2. WHS Legislation and Duty of Care Responsibilities

• Overview of the WHS Act and Regulations
• Responsibilities of PCBUs, supervisors, and workers
• Role of electrical safety regulators and inspectors

3. Understanding Risk Management Principles

• The four-step risk management process
• The role of consultation in managing risk
• Integration of risk management into daily operations

4. Identifying Hazards in Electrotechnology Work

• Electrical hazards
• Physical and environmental hazards
• Human and operational factors

5. Assessing Risk: Likelihood and Consequence

• Using a risk matrix to rate hazards
• Determining levels of risk exposure
• Prioritising risk treatment based on assessment outcomes

6. Applying the Hierarchy of Control Measures

• Elimination and substitution of hazards
• Engineering and administrative controls
• Use and limitations of PPE

7. Job Safety Analysis (JSA) and Task-Based Risk Planning

• Breaking tasks into steps for hazard identification
• Incorporating controls for each stage of the task
• Worker involvement in JSA completion and review

8. Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS)

• When and why SWMS are required for electrical tasks
• Structuring SWMS with activity, risk, and control information
• Reviewing, signing, and updating SWMS onsite

9. Risk Management in Live Work and Testing

• Legal restrictions and safety controls under AS/NZS 4836
• Isolation, verification, and energisation procedures
• PPE, test instruments, and team communication

10. Managing High-Risk Construction Work (HRCW)

• Identifying electrical HRCW under WHS Regulations
• Additional planning and documentation requirements
• Supervisory oversight and site coordination

11. Risk Control During Temporary and Mobile Installations

• Managing risks on construction, event, and mobile sites
• Ensuring compliant temporary power systems
• Monitoring cable routing, weather exposure, and load safety

12. Environmental Risk Management

• Managing risks related to e-waste, noise, and runoff
• Safe handling of batteries, transformers, and refrigerants
• Complying with EPA and sustainability regulations

13. Risk Controls in Remote, Isolated, or Confined Work Areas

• Planning for emergency response and communications
• Environmental and access considerations
• Fatigue management and work-alone protocols

14. Emergency Preparedness and Incident Response

• Identifying electrical emergency scenarios
• Ensuring availability of response equipment
• Reporting, investigation, and post-incident review

15. Training and Competency in Risk Management

• Ensuring workers are trained in task-specific hazards
• Using refresher courses and toolbox talks
• Verifying competency through observation and recordkeeping

16. Documentation and Record-Keeping

• Maintaining JSAs, SWMS, and risk assessments
• Recording incidents, inspections, and toolbox talks
• Ensuring version control and audit readiness

17. Supervising and Monitoring Risk Controls

• Conducting spot checks and safety audits
• Addressing non-compliance with safe systems of work
• Reinforcing safe behaviour and reporting unsafe acts

18. Continuous Improvement of Risk Management Systems

• Analysing trends in incidents and near misses
• Reviewing risk management plans regularly
• Encouraging worker feedback and procedural updates

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”.