Power & Cordless Tool Safety

The Power & Cordless Tool Safety SOP provides essential guidelines for the safe use of electrical and battery-operated tools in construction. It addresses hazards such as electric shock, fire risks, and hearing damage, making it crucial for employers and workers to minimize risks. This document helps ensure compliance with relevant WHS regulations and enhances workplace safety, protecting employees from severe injuries and health issues.

• Electric shock from damaged corded tools → fatality (mitigated by RCD)
• Lithium-ion battery thermal runaway, fire, or explosion → severe burns, smoke inhalation
• Cuts, lacerations, and amputation from rotating cutters, blades, or bits → severe injury
• Eye injury from ejected swarf, splinters, sparks, or fragments → blindness
• Hearing damage from prolonged exposure to >85 dB(A) tool noise
• Hand-arm vibration syndrome from prolonged use of high-vibration tools
• Dust inhalation — silica, wood dust, asbestos → silicosis, cancer
• Kickback, entanglement, or loss of control from worn or incorrect accessories

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and applicable state/territory WHS legislation
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Cth) — Part 3.1 Plant; Part 4.7 Electrical Safety; Part 4.1 Noise; Chapter 7 Hazardous Chemicals
• AS/NZS 60745 — Hand-held motor-operated electric tools — Safety
• AS/NZS 62841 — Electric motor-operated hand-held tools, transportable tools and lawn and garden machinery — Safety
• AS/NZS 3760 — In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment
• AS/NZS 3012 — Electrical installations — Construction and demolition sites
• AS/NZS 4836 — Safe working on or near low-voltage electrical installations and equipment
• AS/NZS 1716 — Respiratory protective devices
• AS/NZS 1337 — Personal eye protection
• AS/NZS 1270 — Acoustics — Hearing protectors
• Safe Work Australia — Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia — Code of Practice: Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work
• Safe Work Australia — Code of Practice: Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace
• Power Tool Pre-Use Checklist (associated document)