Know the danger zone and other risks
Find information about danger zones, clearances and other considerations for underground and overhead electrical infrastructure.It’s important to understand and comply with these obligations to avoid the risk of penalties, damage to equipment and property, injury to yourself and others, or even death.
Remember, don’t start work near electrical infrastructure without permission from us, and always follow your industry's regulations, codes of practice and guidelines related to safe work.
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Danger zones
Danger zones
Working around electricity, whether underground or overhead, is high risk work.
A danger zone is a specific area surrounding live electrical apparatus (including our Horizon Power network) where no person, equipment or materials can enter. The size of the danger zone is determined by the voltage of the electrical apparatus.
If you are in charge of the work area, it's your responsibility to plan all work to be carried out safely outside of the danger zone, and that nothing (or no person) enters it.
Please note, if your works enter the danger zone as prescribed in section 3.64 of the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996, or you make contact with the network, you may be prosecuted and be liable for any damage to the network.
Minimum approach distances for underground cables
To help you avoid danger zones, we have identified the minimum approach distances around both underground and overhead assets. These danger zones include minimum approach distances for:
- Power tools or plants
- Non-powered hand tool/non-destructive digging (or potholing) - This refers to the use of high pressure compressed air to break up the ground, which is then removed by a powerful vacuum unit.
Nominal voltage
Minimum approach distance
Power tool or plant
Non-powered hand tool/non-destructive digging
Up to and including 1,000V (low voltage)
30cm
Approach with care, avoid contact
1,000V up to and including 33kV (high voltage)
50cm
Greater than 33kV up to and including 330kV (transmission)
3m*
* Please note: Horizon Power must assess any works within 3 metres of cables 33kV and above. You may need a permit and/or authorisations for your works.
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Safety around underground power
Safety around underground power
Learn moreExcavating, drilling and installing posts and poles can be life-threatening if you don’t know what is below the surface.
Electricity and other essential services are often provided through underground networks. Coming into contact with our network assets is very dangerous - and it can leave entire communities without essential services.
No matter the size of your project, you always need to be aware of these assets and the risks they pose. It is your responsibility to ensure the proposed work can be carried out safely. You can request information to assess risk and work safely.
Industry Standards
When working near underground assets, it is essential to follow the five Ps of excavation:
Plan
Plan your job and lodge a Dial Before You Dig enquiry at least two days before any excavation
Prepare
Prepare by reviewing your plans and contacting the utility if you need assistance. Look for onsite asset and infrastructure clues such as streetlights, pillars and meters. Engage a DBYD Certified Locator prior to potholing.
Pothole
To establish the exact location of underground infrastructure, pothole or hand dig if permitted
Protect
Protect the infrastructure via various methods, including communication, utilising barriers and marking the location of the exposed infrastructure
Proceed
Only proceed once you have planned, potholed (if permissible) and have protective measures in place.
Guidelines for undertaking excavation work
- Contact Dial Before You Dig for a cable location plan
Dial Before You Dig is a free national service which aims to help prevent danger, damage and disruption to Australia’s complex pipe and cable networks. Accidentally hitting these cables can cause a lot of damage and serious injury or even death. Visit 1100.com.au or call 1100 to submit an enquiry for plans detailing the location and voltages of network assets in your work area. - Engage a qualified cable locating service provider
This will help confirm the location of known and unknown underground services in your work area. Dial Before You Dig provide a list of certified locators. - Follow the industry standards process (link to further down page)
- Determine and double-check the minimum approach distances
You may need to refer to your industry's regulations, codes of practice and guidelines for details. - Determine the collapsible area of the proposed excavation
Ground collapse is one of the biggest risks to be controlled in excavation work. It can occur quickly and without warning, giving you or members of your team virtually no time to escape. When planning your work, always consider the collapsible areas for underground assets. Choose appropriate excavation methods and control measures for your working environment.
- Consider the operating height of any excavation equipment
Many vehicles and pieces of equipment needed for digging can extend into the overhead powerline danger zones. Check your overhead Dial Before You Dig plans for the location and voltages of our powerlines to determine the clearances required. - Only use mechanical excavation after all services have been identified and exposed
You need to prove the location of service assets in your work area before erecting barriers and creating allowances to maintain the appropriate clearances. - Get advice from WorkSafe's Excavation Code of Practice 2013
Stop work immediately and call us on 13 23 51 if you cannot locate assets on the plans or if you discover damaged insulation or cables, or if you discover a cable that is not shown on your plans.
- Contact Dial Before You Dig for a cable location plan
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Safety around overhead power
Safety around overhead power
What to do if you see a fallen powerlineIt’s vital to plan ahead to make sure you and your team are safe when working near the overhead network.
To limit the risk of accident and injury, you should always follow the guidelines above related to any excavation work and:
- Know the location and voltages of network assets in your work area to determine the required clearances.
- Check the height of loads.
- Work out the extension, reach and height of equipment you plan to use.
- Never lift loads directly underneath powerlines - or over powerlines.
- Establish your lay down area or site storage away from any of our network assets
- Any sand, bins or other equipment or materials - and people - should always stay outside of the danger zones.
Know the voltage and location of distribution assets
Dial Before You Dig - Call 1100Our distribution assets include:
- The low voltage network (415 to 1,000 volts)
- Parts of the high voltage network (up to 33,000 volts or 33kV)
To determine the voltage of overhead and underground assets in your work area, lodge a Dial Before You Dig enquiry. Submit your request at least 30 days before you need to start work, or longer if you think any assets might need to be removed or relocated.
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Easements
Easements
Our electricity network is the largest in Australia, with some powerlines and structures located on or near private property, particularly across our rural and remote areas.
In some areas, an easement may be registered on the Certificate of Title of a property. An easement (sometimes called a ‘wayleave’) allows us and our contractors access to build and maintain electrical infrastructure on private property.
If you have an easement registered on your property, you might have restrictions on activities you can perform or structures you can place within the easements.
For your safety, this could include restrictions on:
- Changing or disturbing the present ground level
- Constructing or erecting any building or structure
- Construction of fencing higher than 2 metres
- Constructing, erecting, improving, enlarging or altering any storm water drain, basin or dam
- Growing, cultivating or maintaining any vegetation higher than 1 metre
- Stacking or storing any material or rubbish
- Using machinery or vehicles which are higher than 4.5m
- Parking any vehicle or machinery which is higher than 2.5m
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WHS regulation obligations
Workplace health and safety regulation obligations
Always follow your industry's regulations, codes of practice, and guidelines related to safe work. You also need to know:
- It’s mandatory for you, as a customer, excavator, or contractor, to physically locate all services before any excavation works, as set out in Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA)
- You should never assume the depth, location, or alignment of cables. Use Dial Before You Dig plans as a guide only.
- When undertaking any works, it is your responsibility as a customer, excavator, or contractor to make sure that all due care and safe clearances are observed and maintained. Check the Utility Providers Code of Practice for Western Australia for works in road and rail reserves.
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Safety inductions for our contractors and employees
All of our contractors and employees need to complete our free online safety induction training course in accordance with the OSH-3.2-5-2-1 Safety Induction Requirements.
Safety inductions
Our Horizon Power induction includes a suite of packages, with different options tailored to the type of work and location involved for a particular team. Depending on your role, you may need to complete:
- Safety and Wellbeing General Induction (all workers)
- Safety and Wellbeing Emergency Induction (all workers)
- Safety and Wellbeing Operational Induction (This is required if you perform, supervise or manage operational activities such as maintenance, construction or inspection activities.)
- Safety and Wellbeing Regional Inductions (You may need to complete an induction for where you are based AND other locations, as required to attend Bentley or regional locations.)
Each package has a Course Overview which outlines the number of modules, course duration, instructions and other information.
Once you have successfully completed all of the modules and course requirements, you’ll be able to download a copy of your induction completion for your records.
How to enrol in your safety induction
If you need to complete our safety induction as a contractor, contact your Horizon Power Contract Manager or Horizon Power Regional Health & Safety Advisor to organise your login details. This will give you access to our Horizon Power Learning Management System (LMS).
Once you are logged in:
- Select Course Catalogue.
- Select Safety and Wellbeing Regional Induction (Bentley and regional locations) or Safety and Wellbeing Induction (General, Operational and Emergency).
- Choose the induction you need to complete and follow the instructions provided.
If you have any questions about your induction, please contact your Horizon Power Contract Manager or Horizon Power Regional Health & Safety Advisor.
More ways to stay safe...
More ways to stay safe...
Help by staying at least 10m away
When you see a fallen powerline, the best way to help is to call Horizon Power immediately on 13 23 51.
Faults and outages
Keep up-to-date with details of planned power outages, faults and electricity supply interruptions when they occur.
Horizon Power acknowledges the Traditional Custodians throughout Western Australia and their continuing connection to the land, waters and community. We pay our respects to all members of the Aboriginal communities and their cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain images, names or voices of deceased people.