Critical Control Standard

Isolation of Energy
1. Objective
The Isolation of Energy Critical Control Standard's objectives are to:
• Ensure that the hazards of isolation of hazardous energy sources are known and treated
appropriately with critical controls
• Set the standards for the isolation of all hazardous energy sources within Sydney Water, and for
work undertaken at Sydney Water sites
• Drive simplicity and standardisation in the systems that Sydney Water uses to make all hazardous
work as safe as possible.

2. Scope
Sydney Water will use isolation procedures when we:
• Do any work on any system that contains one or more hazardous energy sources that are otherwise
uncontrolled
• Do any work in the vicinity of stored energy, or where stored energy could potentially be released to
affect the area of work.

3. Minimum Requirements
The Isolation of Energy system (and procedures created to satisfy the Standard) will:

3.1 Work Design Requirements

• Ensure that tasks are planned to eliminate the need for Isolation of Energy as possible.

• Follow the Work Design Critical Control Standard.

• Ensure that there is material available to the people undertaking work to fully understand the work to
be done, and:
o What isolation and verification process is required and are competent in carrying out that
isolation/ verification process
o Which hazards are present and what safety requirements they must operate under
o What personal protective equipment is required in order to carry out the isolation/s
o Where and how to access any rescue equipment and are trained in the use of that equipment
o Local emergency procedures, stop work procedures and modification to plant procedures that
are in place.

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• Ensure there is an approved system of controlling/isolating all energy sources from people on Plant
and/or Equipment that is being worked on:
o Ensure that hazard identification and protection has been completed and is in place
o Ensure that all interactions with other isolations are fully understood and can be controlled before
any sign on process is completed.
• Use or surpass the requirements of the relevant Code of Practice for the work as designed. Some
examples include:
o Managing Risks of Plant
o Managing Electrical Risks,
o Managing risks of Hazardous Chemicals. Information is available from the SafeWork Website
o Storing and Handling of Dangerous Goods
• Ensure compliance with WHS Act 2011 and Regulation 2017

3.2 People Requirements

Ensure that those undertaking work where Energy Isolation is necessary are trained, competent and fully
understand the work to be done, i.e:
• The hazards of the job and any hazards in the work zone, the controls in place to address them, and
how they should be interacting with the hazards and controls
• What isolation and verification process is required and are the method for carrying out that isolation/
verification process
• The safety equipment they will require and how to use it
• What personal protective equipment is required in order to carry out the isolations
• Any emergency plans or rescue plans are understood and personnel are trained in its use
• Where and how to access any rescue equipment and are trained in the use of that equipment.

3.3 Equipment Requirements

Ensure a system is in place to inspect equipment to be used and to certify that:
• All equipment is maintained and inspected to be in line with manufacturers specifications
• A process is in place to identify all plant hazards
• There is a process to remove and quarantine defective equipment

4. Context
4.1 Accountabilities

Position Accountabilities
Level 3 Managers • Development and implementation (including training) of specific Isolation of
Energy Procedures/process

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5. Ownership
Role Title
Group People and Corporate Services
Owner Head of Safety and Wellbeing
Author Justin Drinkwater, Human Factors Specialist

5.1 Change history

Version Issue Date Approved by Brief description of change and consultation

1 1/10/2019 James Wallace, A/Head of New document
Safety and Wellbeing

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