COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Performing Task Risk Assessments in Electrical Installations course. This program has been designed to provide you with the knowledge, processes, and compliance requirements necessary to carry out effective, task-specific risk assessments within electrical installation settings.
Risk assessment is a core component of safe electrical practice. This course begins by defining the purpose and benefits of task-based risk assessments—emphasising their role in preventing incidents, fulfilling legal duties under WHS Regulation 2011 and AS/NZS 4836, and supporting a culture of proactive risk management. It also explains how task-based assessments differ from general site or activity-wide evaluations by focusing on the hazards and controls specific to individual electrical tasks.
Effective risk management relies on a sound understanding of key safety principles. This section explores fundamental concepts such as hazard, risk, likelihood, and consequence, and introduces the hierarchy of control, from hazard elimination through to the use of PPE. Participants will learn how risk assessment is not a one-time action but a continuous process that evolves throughout the task lifecycle.
Not every task requires a full risk assessment, but many in electrical work do. This section outlines when formal assessments are required—particularly for high-risk construction activities, energised installations, or tasks that are complex, non-routine, or have recently changed in terms of personnel, scope, or conditions. Knowing when to assess is critical to WHS compliance and incident prevention.
Preparation lays the groundwork for a meaningful risk assessment. This section guides participants through reviewing task-specific documentation such as client requirements, job drawings, and equipment lists. It also highlights the importance of understanding who will be involved in the work and gathering the necessary WHS resources and checklists prior to commencing the assessment.
Breaking the task into clear, logical steps enhances the quality of hazard identification. This section explains how to list each action from preparation to completion, sequence them accurately, and avoid vague or overly broad task descriptions that may conceal critical risks. Structured breakdowns improve visibility and analysis at each stage.
Each step in a task can present multiple types of hazard. This section focuses on identifying electrical-specific hazards such as arc flash, electric shock, and unexpected fault currents, alongside environmental risks like heat, dust, or poor lighting. Human factors—including fatigue, distraction, and over-familiarity—are also addressed, as they commonly contribute to unsafe conditions in the field.
Once hazards are identified, their associated risks must be evaluated. This section introduces the use of standardised risk matrices to assess the severity and likelihood of each hazard’s potential outcome. It also explains how to take existing control measures and site conditions into account to create an accurate risk profile for each step.
The control of risk must be systematic and prioritised. This section outlines how to apply the hierarchy of control to eliminate or substitute hazards where possible, implement engineering and administrative controls, and ensure the correct selection and use of PPE. Participants will learn to assess the practicality and compliance of chosen controls within real-world work constraints.
Consultation is vital for achieving accurate and accepted risk assessments. This section explains how to involve electricians, apprentices, and supervisors in identifying realistic controls, sharing hazard insights, and confirming their understanding through recorded feedback and signatures. Engagement enhances ownership and improves compliance onsite.
Formal documentation ensures clarity and accountability. This section covers how to complete company-approved or site-specific risk assessment forms accurately, write clear control steps, and avoid ambiguous or generic content. Good documentation ensures instructions are understood and able to be implemented by all team members.
No risk assessment is valid without formal approval. This section explores the need for supervisor or safety officer sign-off prior to task commencement, ensuring alignment with permits, SWMS, and client-specific protocols. Approved risk assessments must be readily available onsite throughout the work.
Risk assessments must be clearly communicated to the team. This section addresses how to brief the crew during pre-task meetings or toolbox talks, walk through the hazards and controls, and verify that each worker understands their role and the safety expectations prior to commencing the job.
Controls must be physically implemented and verified. This section provides guidance on applying isolation procedures, lockout/tagout systems, verifying PPE compliance, and checking that other administrative or engineering controls are in place and functioning. Participants will also learn how to adjust controls if they prove ineffective or impractical.
Work conditions can shift rapidly during electrical tasks. This section explores how to monitor for emerging risks, reassess conditions as the task progresses, and update the risk assessment in real time when changes arise. Continuous observation and communication are key to adaptive risk control.
When incidents or near misses occur, immediate action is required. This section outlines how to review the current risk assessment to determine what failed or was omitted, investigate contributing factors, and implement corrective measures without delay to prevent recurrence.
Recordkeeping is a legal and operational requirement. This section addresses how to retain completed risk assessments for future reference, compliance audits, or incident investigations. It also explains how to link assessments to broader project documentation such as JSAs, safety reports, or site files.
Risk assessment practices should evolve with the business. This section encourages regular review of templates and procedures, gathering user feedback, and improving clarity and relevance over time. Participants will explore how to ensure that risk assessment methods reflect changes in work methods, technologies, and regulatory expectations.
By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the knowledge, legal awareness, and procedural skills required to conduct task-based risk assessments in electrical installations—ensuring safer work environments, compliance with Australian standards, and stronger team engagement in hazard control.
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 Task-Based Risk Assessment in Electrical Installations
- Purpose and benefits of task-specific risk assessments
- Legal duties under WHS Regulation 2011 and AS/NZS 4836
- Difference between general risk assessments and task-based assessments
2. Understanding Risk Management Principles
- Key concepts: hazard, risk, likelihood, consequence
- The hierarchy of control from elimination to PPE
- Risk management as a continuous process
3. Determining When a Task Risk Assessment is Required
- High-risk construction activities requiring formal assessment
- Complex, non-routine, or energised electrical work
- Changes to conditions, personnel, or scope
4. Preparing for the Risk Assessment Process
- Reviewing work instructions, drawings, and client specifications
- Gathering relevant WHS documentation and equipment lists
- Identifying the team members involved in the task
5. Breaking Down the Task into Logical Steps
- Listing steps from preparation through to completion
- Sequencing work for accuracy and risk clarity
- Avoiding broad or oversimplified task descriptions
6. Identifying Hazards at Each Stage of the Task
- Electrical-specific hazards: arc flash, shock, fault currents
- Physical and environmental risks: heights, dust, noise, temperature
- Human factors: fatigue, inexperience, complacency
7. Assessing the Risks Associated with Each Hazard
- Applying a standard risk matrix
- Considering severity of potential injury and likelihood
- Accounting for existing controls and conditions
8. Selecting Appropriate Risk Control Measures
- Eliminating the hazard where feasible
- Substituting with safer materials, tools, or methods
- Applying engineering, administrative, and PPE controls
9. Consulting the Team on Identified Risks and Controls
- Involving licensed electricians, apprentices, and supervisors
- Recording feedback on hazard perception and control options
- Confirming agreement and understanding through signatures
10. Documenting the Risk Assessment Formally
- Using standardised company templates or site-specific forms
- Ensuring clarity, accuracy, and actionable control steps
- Avoiding vague language and generic descriptions
11. Gaining Approvals Prior to Task Commencement
- Ensuring sign-off by the supervisor, safety officer, or permit issuer
- Verifying risk assessment aligns with any issued permits or SWMS
- Keeping the approved document readily accessible onsite
12. Communicating the Assessment to All Team Members
- Conducting a pre-task briefing or toolbox talk
- Reviewing each hazard and control before work begins
- Confirming team members know their responsibilities
13. Implementing and Verifying Risk Controls on Site
- Physically applying and checking controls
- Ensuring PPE is worn and isolation is in place
- Adjusting if controls are found inadequate or impractical
14. Monitoring the Work Task for New or Changing Risks
- Observing conditions and team behaviours during the task
- Identifying emerging risks or hazards that were not foreseen
- Updating the assessment as required in real time
15. Responding to Incidents or Near Misses
- Reviewing the task risk assessment for effectiveness
- Investigating what controls failed or were absent
- Making immediate changes to prevent recurrence
16. Retaining and Filing Completed Assessments
- Archiving documents for audit, compliance, and evidence
- Linking to project files, safety reports, or JSA records
- Ensuring secure and traceable recordkeeping
17. Reviewing and Updating Assessment Practices
- Conducting periodic reviews of risk assessment templates
- Improving clarity and usability based on field feedback
- Ensuring relevance to evolving work methods and technologies
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”.