Electrical Demolition Safe Work Method Statement

The primary hazard in electrical demolition is contact with electrical conductors or equipment that remain energised despite isolation attempts. This hazard occurs when electrical systems have multiple supply points and not all sources are isolated, when supply isolation is performed at incorrect locations leaving downstream circuits energised, when neighbouring properties' electrical systems feed into the demolition building through shared services, when emergency generator systems or uninterruptible power supplies maintain power to specific circuits, when solar photovoltaic systems continue to generate DC voltage independent of grid disconnection, or when electrical isolation is incomplete due to damaged or malfunctioning isolators. In demolition environments, electrical drawings may be outdated or inaccurate, electrical equipment may be damaged or modified from original configurations, and visual inspection may not reveal all electrical connection points. Electricians may encounter energised conductors concealed within walls or ceilings during physical removal work, even after supply isolation was believed complete. The consequences include electrocution causing cardiac arrest and death, severe electrical burns requiring extended hospitalisation, falls from heights when electric shock causes loss of balance, and psychological trauma from near-miss electrical incidents. This hazard is particularly insidious because electricians conducting demolition work may develop complacency after isolating obvious electrical services, failing to identify concealed or unexpected energy sources that remain hazardous.

Arc flash incidents occur during electrical demolition when conductive demolition tools, equipment, or falling structural elements create short circuits between energised electrical conductors or from conductors to earth. The intense heat generated by electrical arcs, often exceeding 10,000 degrees Celsius, causes devastating burns, ignition of clothing, and vaporisation of metal components. Arc blast creates explosive pressure waves that propel workers backwards, cause hearing damage, and eject molten metal fragments. This hazard is particularly prevalent during demolition of switchboards and distribution boards containing busbars with high fault current capacity, during removal of main cables where accidental contact between phase conductors creates massive short circuit currents, when demolition equipment such as excavators or jackhammers contacts underground or concealed electrical cables, when metallic building components being demolished contact overhead power lines, or when water exposure during demolition creates conductive paths between electrical conductors. Demolition environments increase arc flash risk because structural damage may have displaced electrical equipment from designed locations, debris may conceal electrical hazards, and the chaotic nature of demolition work creates multiple opportunities for inadvertent contact with electrical systems. Even after electrical supply isolation, capacitive or inductive energy stored in cables and equipment can cause arc flash if conductors are short-circuited during removal work.

Electrical demolition activities may inadvertently trigger structural collapse when electrical infrastructure provides unintended structural support, when removal of electrical equipment disturbs building elements, or when demolition sequencing allows structural failure. This hazard manifests when heavy switchboards, transformers, or electrical panels attached to walls provide lateral bracing that prevents wall collapse, when electrical conduits passing through structural members create unexpected load paths, when cable trays suspended from ceiling structures support ceiling panel weight, or when removal of electrical services disturbs asbestos-containing materials causing collapse of friable insulation. In partially demolished buildings, structural stability is already compromised, and any additional disturbance including electrical removal work may trigger progressive collapse. Electricians working at height on ladders or elevated work platforms face particular risk as structural movement or collapse causes falls from heights compounding the injury severity. The unpredictable nature of structural behaviour in demolition environments means electricians must constantly assess structural stability, avoid working beneath unstable elements, and coordinate with structural engineers when removing large electrical equipment or services that may affect building stability.

Electrical systems in buildings constructed before the 1990s commonly contain asbestos in various forms including arc chutes in switchboards, cable insulation, backing boards in electrical panels, lagging on conduits, and fire-resistant materials around electrical equipment. Electrical demolition work disturbs these materials, releasing respirable asbestos fibres that cause fatal diseases including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer with latency periods of 20-40 years. Asbestos in electrical systems is particularly hazardous because it is often friable (easily crumbled), concealed within enclosed electrical equipment, and directly in the work area where electricians must handle materials during removal. Electricians may not recognise asbestos in electrical components as it was incorporated into numerous products including switchboard arc barriers, thermal insulation around transformers, gaskets in electrical enclosures, and backing materials on cable trays. The disturbance of asbestos during electrical demolition creates elevated airborne fibre concentrations in confined spaces such as switchboard rooms or ceiling cavities where ventilation is limited. Without appropriate respiratory protection, testing, and containment, electricians conducting demolition work face severe long-term health consequences. Regulatory requirements mandate that asbestos is identified before demolition work commences, but in practice, electrical demolition often reveals previously unidentified asbestos requiring immediate work stoppage and remediation.

Electrical demolition frequently requires work at heights when removing overhead lighting, disconnecting ceiling-mounted electrical equipment, removing cable trays from elevated positions, or accessing switchboards mounted at height. Falls from heights cause serious injuries or death and represent a leading cause of construction fatalities. This hazard is compounded in demolition environments where access equipment must be positioned on unstable or debris-covered surfaces, where structural movement affects ladder or scaffold stability, where lighting is inadequate due to disconnected electrical services, and where electricians must manipulate heavy electrical components while maintaining balance on elevated platforms. The physical demands of electrical demolition work including pulling cables, disconnecting heavy light fixtures, and dismantling equipment require both hands, preventing maintenance of continuous handhold on ladders or platforms. Demolition dust and debris create slippery surfaces on rungs and platforms. Overhead work positions create awkward postures that affect balance and increase fatigue. When electrical equipment removal requires cutting or drilling, vibration and reaction forces further destabilise working positions. The combination of electrical hazards requiring focused attention with fall hazards creates competing safety priorities where electricians may prioritise electrical safety at the expense of fall protection, or vice versa.

Older electrical equipment commonly contains hazardous materials including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in capacitors and transformers, mercury in switches and thermostats, lead in cable sheathing and solder, cadmium in battery backup systems, and various toxic chemicals in electrical components. During demolition work, these materials may be released through equipment damage, creating toxic exposures through skin contact, inhalation of dusts or vapours, or ingestion via contaminated hands. PCB-contaminated equipment is particularly problematic as PCBs are persistent organic pollutants causing serious health effects including liver damage, immune system effects, and cancer. Equipment containing PCBs may not be labelled, requiring presumptive identification based on equipment age and type. Mercury exposure occurs when switches or thermostats are broken during removal, releasing liquid mercury and mercury vapour. Lead exposure results from cutting or abrading lead-containing cables or when removing lead-based paint from electrical conduits. The health consequences of these exposures include acute poisoning symptoms, long-term organ damage, reproductive effects, and increased cancer risk. Beyond direct health impacts, improper handling of contaminated electrical equipment creates environmental contamination requiring expensive remediation and generates hazardous waste requiring proper disposal through licensed contractors.