Electrical Spotter

An electrical spotter, otherwise known as a safety observer depending on your location, is a worker whose sole duty is to observe the work that is in progress and to ensure that work is carried out in accordance with approved procedures and rules regarding electrical safety. When a dedicated safety observer is appointed, their sole focus is the risk involved surrounding electricity and the work performed around them. When this work is undertaken, the safety observer will not perform any other task whilst the HVLW is in progress. The safety observer will focus on maintaining effective and immediate communication with other members of the work party at all times to ensure all are kept to the highest level of safety standards.

Almost every day, workers are at risk on their sites when working in the proximity of electrical currents. There are plenty of hazards and risks when working on a site, and powerlines may often be neglected or forgotten about. Heavy machinery is often most at risk of encountering powerlines, so if you are working on a scaffold, using a concrete pump, crane, EWP, excavator, pile drilling or tree pruning, it is a requirement to obtain an electrical spotter. A safety observer is needed when working inside specified clearances near overhead powerlines and any potential damage to underground infrastructure when digging. The safety observer can identify, locate and protect underground services such as power, sewer, gas, water and communication assets.

The safety observer must alert the work team to any potentially unsafe actions that may inadvertently occur, including infringement of safe working distances, movement of temporary insulating material, or any other lack of compliance with approved procedures. The safety observer can temporarily stop the work at any time.

The spotter must not perform any other task whilst LV live work is in progress and must focus on maintaining effective, efficient, and immediate communication with the work team at all times. This may include the use of electronic communication due to noisy environments. A person working on or within 500mm of an uninsulated live low voltage conductor will wear a low voltage insulating glove and approved outer leather glove on each hand and be attended by a safety observer. Our safety observers at SSTC are level 2 accredited and are first aid certified. They have also had extensive training in emergency procedures and demonstrated a high level of competency to carry out those procedures in the last 12 months. They are highly experienced at observing the work being undertaken and have been instructed on the hazards of the work and the necessary precautions.

At SSTC, safety is paramount, and we pride ourselves on maintaining the highest level of safety, along with our superb and efficient communication skills.