Clearance enquiries

Check the following criteria to determine whether you need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form. 

Are you working within 3m of any overhead powerlines (not including scaffolding) ?

Yes or unsure 

If you are proposing to work within 3 metres of any overhead powerline attached to a timber pole or similar type structure, including:

You will need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form. 
Note: If your work involves scaffolding or lengths of metallic objects, please read the scaffolding guide below.

No

(i.e. You are working greater than 3 metres away from overhead power lines. This does not include craning over powerlines– please refer to the cranes and mobile plant section.) 

There is no need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.

Check the following criteria to determine whether you need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.

Are you erecting scaffolding or handling lengths of metal material e.g. Pipes and roofing within 4 metres of any overhead powerlines?

Yes or unsure

You will need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.

No

(i.e. Working greater than 4 metres from overhead powerlines.)

There is no need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.

Check the following criteria to determine whether you need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.

Are you operating mobile plant such as an excavator, tractor or elevated work platform within 3 metres of any overhead powerlines? AND / OR are you craning over any overhead powerlines?

Yes or unsure

You will need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.

Note: If you are craning over any overhead powerlines, regardless of clearance distance, you must submit a Safety Advice Request Form.

No

(i.e. Operating crane or mobile plant greater than 3 metres from any overhead powerlines and not craning over any overhead powerlines.)

There is no need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.

Check the following criteria to determine whether you need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.

Are you carrying out tree and/or vegetation management within 3 metres of any overhead powerlines?

Yes or unsure

You will need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.

No

(i.e. Carrying out tree and/or vegetation management greater than 3 metres from any overhead powerlines)

There is no need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.

Check the following criteria to determine whether you need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.

Are you carrying out agricultural work using any lifting or elevating plant, or any other agricultural machinery or truck, within 3 metres of any overhead powerlines?

Yes or unsure

You will need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.

No

(i.e. Working greater than 3 metres from any overhead powerlines.)

There is no need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.

Check the following criteria to determine whether you need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.

Are you carrying out work near service wires within any of the clearance distances listed below?

Using hand held tools within 0.5 metres Operating crane or mobile plant within 3 metres Handling of metal materials (scaffolding, roofing, guttering, pipes, etc) within 4 metres Handling of non-conductive materials (timber, plywood, PVC pipes and guttering, etc.) within 1.5 metres Driving or operating a vehicle within 0.6 metres.

Yes or unsure

You will need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.

No

(i.e. You are carrying out work outside of the clearance distances listed above for each work type.)

There is no need to submit a Safety Advice Request Form.

Note

• For work involving cranes or mobile plant, or work where any metal material is being handled such as scaffolding, roofing materials and guttering, the risk control measures and increased approach distances described in other chapters of this code must be applied to the work.
• Insulated low voltage aerial consumer mains and associated electrical apparatus forming part of the consumer’s electrical installation are the responsibility of the owner of the premises (i.e. not part of the Ausgrid network). Safety control requirements for these aerial consumer mains are the same as those for overhead service mains. Unfortunately Ausgrid are not able to provide specific safety advice for customer owned aerial consumer mains and you will need to comply with the relevant clauses in the SafeWork NSW Code Of Practice – Work near overhead power lines.