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Trees near powerlines
In Victoria, Energy Safe Victoria says only authorised powerline pruning contractors should prune trees that are touching or close to power lines. Safe Work Australia’s national guidance adds that someone who is not authorised should not climb a tree within 3 metres of energised overhead lines, or cut a branch that the work could bring within 3 metres of them.
General information, not safety advice for a particular tree. Energy Safe Victoria’s and Safe Work Australia’s pages are listed at the foot of this page.
Why the gap matters
Energy Safe Victoria says trees and shrubs growing close to power lines are a safety risk that can cause fires, blackouts or power surges, and that their foliage and branches must be kept clear of powerlines and other electricity infrastructure.
Safe Work Australia’s tree work guide says contact with an electric line can kill whether it carries 400,000 volts or 230, and that a person can be electrocuted without touching the line.
The three work zones
Safe Work Australia’s information sheet on trees near overhead electric lines (July 2014) describes three work zones around a line, each with its own rule on who may be there.
| Zone | Who may work there | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Zone A | Unauthorised persons: people without enough training or experience to avoid the electrical dangers. | Guidance |
| Zone B | Authorised persons who have been trained and assessed as competent for tree and vegetation work near energised overhead lines. A safety observer and a safe system of work should be used. | Guidance |
| Zone C | Only with approval: it is a No Go Zone where Electricity Supply Authority approval is required. Clearing should stop wherever workers, trees or equipment are in danger of entering it. | Guidance |
No one set of distances covers the whole country. Approach distances and work zones differ between states and territories, depending on the line’s voltage, whether it is insulated or bare, and in some states whether the person in control of the line has been consulted. Before You Dig Australia says minimum safe distances can be obtained from state-based asset owners.
Work above the line
The sheet says work should not be done above overhead lines, or where part of a tree could fall or be carried closer than Zone A. Where that is a reasonable possibility, authorised persons should do the work.
The safety observer
A safety observer should be used whenever work is done in Zone B, or whenever work in Zone A could enter Zone B. The observer watches the work and should have the authority to stop it at any time. Authorised persons who work closer than Zone B, and the observers who watch them, should have completed a relevant course from a registered training authority, and the sheet says both must be re-assessed every year.
The business’s duty and WorkSafe Victoria’s guide
Safe Work Australia’s 2023 tree work guide uses “must” for a legal requirement under the model WHS laws and “should” for a recommended course of action, and it says WHS laws are not the same across Australia. On overhead lines, it says a person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that people, plant and things at the workplace are kept from coming within an unsafe distance of a line. Where a safe distance is not reasonably practicable, the business must have a risk assessment done for the work, and use controls that match it and any requirements of the electricity supply authority responsible for the line.
WorkSafe Victoria’s guide to working safely with trees says hazard identification must be carried out before tree work near overhead powerlines, with a risk assessment as well. Its guide also tells crews to:
- talk to the local electricity supply authority and follow its recommendations before starting work near powerlines
- consult the asset owner about work requirements, permits and guidelines for the site
- induct every worker onto each site and go through the tasks, hazards and controls
- make sure every worker knows the No Go Zone guidelines and the risks of working near powerlines, underground lines included where relevant.
A selection from WorkSafe Victoria’s guide, listed at the foot of this page.
When a tree is already touching a line
WorkSafe Victoria says not to touch any part of a tree that is touching overhead powerlines, because the whole tree, leaves and branches included, may be energised. It warns never to assume a branch can rest safely against a line, because lines can conduct electricity even in dry conditions. Safe Work Australia’s sheet says to contact the Electricity Supply Authority straight away and keep all people clear of the area while help comes.
For the cutting itself, the sheet says a tree that has grown into a live line should not be cut by anyone in an earthed position, such as standing on the ground or working from inside the tree, and that the Electricity Supply Authority should be consulted before any work starts.
Where trees are touching or close to powerlines, Energy Safe Victoria suggests contacting your local council or electricity distribution company for advice, or hiring a tree removal specialist or arborist to do the work.
Keeping a garden clear of the lines
Energy Safe Victoria’s outdoor safety guide sets a simple marker for timing: “Pruning should be done before trees and shrubs grow to within one metre in any direction of power lines.” It adds that electricity distribution companies can provide lists of qualified power line pruning contractors.
Planting matters too. Energy Safe Victoria suggests low-growing species near powerlines, and says your electricity distribution company can give you a list of suitable species for your area. Safe Work Australia’s guide agrees: do not plant tall-growing trees under overhead lines.
Before You Dig Australia’s Look Up and Live map shows overhead powerlines, their voltages and who owns them.