Clearing vegetation

This information is for ‘untrained persons’ who might cut, trim or treat trees or other foliage near overhead electric lines. Examples include:

If you have an electrical work license you could still be classed as an untrained person with regard to exclusion zones.

Requirements for untrained persons

A person should:

not allow any part of their body or anything they are holding or have attached to their body, to enter the exclusion zone
not undertake tree trimming or vegetation management, where any part of the tree or vegetation to be treated or worked with is within the exclusion zone
not undertake tree trimming or vegetation management, where any part of the tree or vegetation could fall or otherwise be carried into the exclusion zone

You should follow a basic risk management process:

You should not do this sort of work if any part of the vegetation is within the exclusion zone or where it could fall or be carried into that area.

Potentially dangerous situations could include:

wind or wet weather pushing vegetation into the safe approach distance;
obstacles preventing safe access;
cutting equipment such as chainsaws kicking back or moving inadvertently; or
the boom of an elevating work platform or cherry picker straying into exclusion zones.

Keep yourself, and anything you are holding, outside the exclusion zone. This is an important control measure.

Other examples of possible control measures include:

For more examples of control measures when clearing vegetation, read section 7.5 of the Code of Practice - Working Near Exposed Live Parts.

Last updated October 5, 2005

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