Home›SSSP Templates›Electrical SSSP Template — Subcontractor under Main Contractor (Kākāriki/Green)

Electrical Kākāriki (Green) SSSP — Subcontractor under Main Contractor

A Site-Specific Safety Plan for NZ electrical contractors working as a subcontractor (PCBU 2) on a Main Contractor's commercial site — adopting the Main Contractor's H&S framework. Drafted around HSWA 2015, ESR 2010, the Electricity Act 1992, AS/NZS 3000:2018, AS/NZS 4836 arc-flash, and EWRB Practising Licence verification.

⚖️AS/NZS 3000:2018 + ESR 2010 + Electricity Act 1992

📄EWRB Practising Licence verification protocol

🇳🇿AS/NZS 4836 arc-flash + AS/NZS 5033 PV + IEC 60900/60903 insulated tools

NZD 295

Instant Download

Editable DOCX · Instant download · Use across as many projects as you operate · Issue per-project under your company name as PCBU 2.

You're a subcontractor electrical firm working on a commercial construction site or fit-out. There's a Main Contractor (PCBU 1) above you running the site — they've issued a site-wide framework, they run induction, they hold the project H&S record. You submit an SSSP to them for acceptance, and your SSSP confirms you'll work within their framework. Site Safe NZ's Kākāriki form is a 3–4 page shell. This pack is 30+ pages, ~80% pre-written, electrical-specific.

Generic SSSPs get marked for rework

Main Contractors check trade-specific hazards. A generic form that says "wear PPE" comes back with comments. An electrical pack with electrocution, arc flash, capacitor discharge, induced voltage, and PV/DC isolation listed by name passes review first time.

EWRB licence verification is the question they ask

Every Main Contractor checks the Practising Licence at induction. The §16 Training Register pack records the EWRB licence number, expiry, and the verification protocol — so you don't have to invent one per project.

Consultant-drafted electrical SSSPs cost $1.5K–$3K

This pack gives you the technical electrical content for a tenth of that — you customise project name, company details, signatories. About 20% of the document.

Who this is for

Small-to-medium electrical firms (1–15 staff) on commercial work: Commercial fit-outs, retail rollouts, hospitality refurbishments, school upgrades — anywhere a Main Contractor runs the site and you sub the electrical scope.
Sole-trader electricians on subcontract work: Owner-operator sparkies who need pre-qual-ready electrical documentation without paying a consultant for every job.
Specialty electrical firms (data cabling, security, fire alarm): Working under a general construction Main Contractor on multi-trade sites — the §12 Electrical Safety section covers low-voltage and ELV work alongside mains.
Apprentice-heavy crews: The §16 Training Register has the EWRB licence + apprentice supervision rule already drafted — Main Contractors check this first.

This is the Kākāriki (Green) tier — for subcontractors operating under a Main Contractor's H&S management system. If you run your own H&S system in parallel, you need Kōwhai. If you run the site (residential rewire, sole-trade PV, you're the only contractor), you need Whero.

Kōwhai (own H&S system in parallel) — $395 → →Whero (Main Contractor, PCBU 1) — $495 → →See all NZ SSSPs →

What's inside the template

30+ pages · Formats: DOCX

Cover & Document ControlProject, NZBN, version, revision history, sign-off pages.
1. Scope of Electrical WorkMains, ELV, data, fire alarm, security, PV/DC, switchboard work. Tick what applies per project.
2. Submitted to the Main ContractorSubmitted by [Company Name] as PCBU 2 to the Main Contractor (PCBU 1); supplements the Main Contractor's site-wide Whero SSSP.
2.1. PCBU Duties (subcontractor adopting framework)s36 primary duty, training and supervision, trade-specific hazards within the project register, s34 cooperation, induction attendance, incident reporting to the Main Contractor.
2.2 / 2.3. Subcontractor Sign-Off + Main Contractor AcceptanceStandard submission / acceptance pattern.
3. Roles, Responsibilities, Officer Duties (5 rows)PCBU 2 Electrical Subcontractor, Officer (Director), Crew Lead, Electrician (worker), Apprentice / Trainee.
4. Critical Risks for Electrical WorkElectrocution; arc flash burns matched to AS/NZS 4836 incident-energy categories; capacitor discharge; falls (ceiling rough-in, pole, roof PV); asbestos in pre-2000 electrical fittings.
5. Hazard Register (30 rows)Electrocution, arc flash, capacitor discharge, falls during rough-in, confined space (ducts/risers), induced voltage, hot work, soldering fume, manual handling, noise, HAVS, lone work, working near energised assets — with 5×5 inherent scoring + controls + residual.
6. Legislation, Codes of Practice and Standards (35+ rows)Electricity Act 1992, ESR 2010, AS/NZS 3000:2018, AS/NZS 3012, AS/NZS 4836, AS/NZS 5033 (PV), AS/NZS 4777 (inverters), IEC 60900 / 60903 (insulated tools / gloves), WorkSafe NZ Energy Safety guidance.
7. Hierarchy of ControlsEliminate → substitute → engineering → admin → PPE — applied to electrical hazards.
8. Task Analyses (TA / SWMS) IndexWorking dead procedure, LOTO, switchboard work, PV/DC isolation, live testing, cable pulling at heights, confined-space cable work.
9. Hazardous Substances RegisterPVC fume from cable cutting, capacitor electrolyte, transformer oil, solder flux, contact cleaner aerosols, isopropyl alcohol — pre-mapped to HSNO classes.
10. Notifiable Work DecisionMain Contractor is the project notifier; you report notifiable events to their Site Manager as soon as possible. Direct WorkSafe notification available as fallback.
11. Asbestos Awareness — pre-2000 electrical fittingsBakelite, switchgear backing boards, meter boards, asbestos cement penetrations — five-step stop-work protocol.
12. Electrical Safety (the core technical section)Working Dead, Lock-Out / Tag-Out, PD-T-PD discipline (Prove Dead — Test — Prove Dead), AS/NZS 4836 arc-flash risk assessment, live-work justification + permits, switchboard procedures, PV/DC isolation, equipotential bonding.
13. Working at Heights — Specific ControlsCeiling rough-in, pole work, roof PV install — five-level hierarchy + ladder rules + harness anchors.
14. Plant and Equipment RegisterFluke testers, multimeters, insulation testers, RCD testers, IEC 60900 insulated tools, IEC 60903 gloves — daily checks, calibration intervals, AS/NZS 3760 Table 4 (3-monthly T&T on construction sites).
15. PPE RegisterAS/NZS 4836-matched arc-flash PPE category, IEC 60903 insulated gloves, AS/NZS 1337.1 eye, hearing, AS/NZS 2210.3 footwear (dielectric where required).
16. Training and Competency RegisterEWRB Practising Licence verification protocol — licence number, expiry, annual check at site induction. NZQA 17600 heights, 23966 EWP, 13053 scaffold, 6401 first aid. Site Safe Passport.
17–§19. Emergency / First Aid / ToolboxAdopt Main Contractor's site-wide procedures; attend Main Contractor's toolbox.
20. Incident & Notifiable Event RegisterReport into the Main Contractor's site-wide register. WorkSafe NZ notification via Main Contractor.
21. Worker EngagementHSWA s58–67 with the Schedule 2 prescribed-industry HSR override correctly applied (HSR election obligation applies regardless of firm size — construction is prescribed).
22. Environmental ControlsCable offcut disposal, capacitor/battery recycling, transformer-oil spill containment.
23. Document Sign-OffPCBU 2 Subcontractor, Main Contractor Acceptance, Crew Lead.

Prohibited

No live work without a written live-work permit

Working dead is the default under AS/NZS 4836. Live work requires a written live-work justification + permit per AS/NZS 4836, with PD-T-PD discipline, arc-flash PPE matched to incident-energy category, and a second competent person present. The SSSP forbids live work outside this protocol.

No live work without a written live-work permit (AS/NZS 4836)
No live work by anyone whose EWRB Practising Licence is not current at the time of work
No live work without arc-flash PPE matched to AS/NZS 4836 incident-energy category
No live work without a second competent person present
No prescribed electrical work by anyone whose EWRB licence does not authorise that class of work
Apprentices supervised at all times during prescribed electrical work

PD-T-PD (Prove Dead — Test — Prove Dead) discipline is mandatory before any work on a circuit assumed to be isolated.

How this template compares

Comparison against the two common alternatives electrical subcontractors reach for — a Site Safe NZ blank, or a Main Contractor's generic form to fill in.

Feature	Site Safe NZ blank template	Main Contractor generic form	OH Consultant Kākāriki SSSP
Pages	3–4	Variable (5–15)	30+
Hazard register	Empty rows	Generic construction	30 electrical-specific rows with 5×5 scoring + drafted controls + residual
Arc-flash protocol	None	Generic line	AS/NZS 4836 risk assessment + PPE category matrix + live-work permit
EWRB Practising Licence	Not referenced	Sometimes	Verification protocol with licence number / expiry / annual induction check
AS/NZS standards	Not cited	Generic	AS/NZS 3000:2018, 3012, 4836, 5033 (PV), 4777 (inverters), 3760 Table 4 cited inline
Asbestos in pre-2000 fittings	None	Generic line	Bakelite, switchgear backing boards, meter boards — five-step stop-work protocol
PV / DC isolation	None	None	§12 covers AS/NZS 5033 + AS/NZS 4777 — isolation procedure + DC arc-flash considerations
Worker engagement	Not mentioned	Not mentioned	NZ Schedule 2 HSR override — small-business exemption does not apply
Format	PDF form fields	Word	Word (.docx) — fully editable

Reviewed by OH Professionals

This SSSP was reviewed by occupational health and safety professionals against current NZ electricity legislation, the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010, and the AS/NZS standards governing electrical work in New Zealand. The §12 Electrical Safety section was cross-checked against AS/NZS 4836 (arc flash + safe working) and the IEC 60900 / 60903 insulated tool and glove standards. EWRB Practising Licence requirements verified against the Electrical Workers Registration Board guidance current as of May 2026.

Legislation referenced

Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 — Section 30 — Management of risks ↗
Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 — Section 36 — Primary duty of care ↗
Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 — Section 37 — Duty of PCBU with management or control of a workplace ↗Principal contractor duties anchor — the Whero (Red) pack carries this; subcontractors operate within it.
Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 — Section 44 — Officer due diligence ↗
Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 — Section 62 — Worker engagement (and Schedule 2 override for construction) ↗
Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016 — Risk management, first aid, emergency plans, PPE, plant ↗
Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017 — SDS register, inventory, training, location compliance, LCC triggers ↗
Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016 — Regulation 10 — Identification ↗
Worker Engagement, Participation, and Representation Regulations 2016 — Schedule 2 — Prescribed high-risk industries (construction included) ↗Construction is Schedule 2 — the HSWA s62(2) small-business HSR exemption does not apply.
Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 — Classification framework — applied to paints, solvents and strippers ↗
Building Act 2004 — Fire-retardant coatings; building consent triggers ↗
Resource Management Act 1991 — Regional plans — spray-drift, runoff, discharge controls ↗
Electricity Act 1992 — Primary NZ electricity safety statute ↗
Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 — Prescribed electrical work, certification, EWRB licensing, safety requirements ↗The day-to-day rulebook for licensed electrical work in NZ.
Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB) — Practising Licence requirement for prescribed electrical work ↗Annual Practising Certificate must be current at site induction; licence number recorded in §16 Training Register.
AS/NZS 3000:2018 — Electrical installations — wiring rules ↗
AS/NZS 3012 — Electrical installations — construction and demolition sites ↗
AS/NZS 4836 — Safe working on or near low-voltage electrical installations and equipment ↗Arc-flash risk assessment, live-work justification, PPE category selection.
AS/NZS 5033 — Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays ↗
AS/NZS 4777 — Grid-connected inverters for distributed energy resources ↗
IEC 60900 — Live working — hand tools insulated up to 1 000 V AC / 1 500 V DC ↗
IEC 60903 — Live working — electrically insulating gloves ↗
WorkSafe NZ Energy Safety — Electrical safety guidance, notifiable incidents, prosecutions register ↗
WorkSafe NZ Approved Code of Practice — Management and removal of asbestos ↗WorkSafe NZ approved code of practice — referenced for methodology.
WorkSafe NZ Best Practice — Working at Height in New Zealand ↗Hierarchy of controls: eliminate → EWP/scaffold → harness as last resort.
AS/NZS 1892.1 — Portable ladders — industrial rated ↗
AS/NZS 1715 — Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment ↗
AS/NZS 1716 — Respiratory protective devices ↗
AS/NZS 1337.1 — Eye and face protection ↗
AS/NZS 2210.3 — Safety footwear ↗
AS/NZS 1891 — Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices ↗
AS/NZS 3760 Table 4 — Test & tag — 3-monthly inspection on construction sites ↗
AS/NZS 4501.2 + EN ISO 13982-1 (Type 5) + EN 13034 (Type 6) — Coverall stack for lead, asbestos and spray work ↗

Frequently asked

I'm a sole-trader electrician. Is Kākāriki right for me?+

On commercial subcontract work, yes. Kākāriki is built for sole traders and small firms working under a Main Contractor's H&S framework. If you're doing direct residential work with no Main Contractor above you, Whero is the right tier.

The Main Contractor sent me their SSSP template. Why do I need OHC's?+

Their template may be generic (a form to fill in) or trade-neutral (covers any subcontractor). OHC's pack is electrical-specific — your hazard register lists electrocution, arc flash, capacitor discharge, working near energised assets. Their template lists generic construction hazards. Submit OHC's to evidence you've thought about your trade's specific risks; reference theirs where it covers site-wide rules.

Will the Main Contractor accept this?+

Designed to be accepted. The §2.1 PCBU duties list, §3 Roles table, §23 Sign-Off block, and the HSR Schedule 2 reference all match what Main Contractors look for. If a specific Main Contractor wants additional content (their own induction certificate attached, their own permit-to-work form referenced), you add that as customisation — but the core document doesn't need it.

My EWRB licence is in my name personally. The SSSP is by the firm. Does that work?+

Yes. The SSSP is the firm's site-specific safety plan; the EWRB licence is your personal authorisation to perform prescribed electrical work. The §16 Training Register documents the EWRB Practising Licence of each licensed person on the job (with their licence number and current expiry), and §16.1 spells out that the licence must be current at site induction.

I'm a tier-1 electrical contractor doing $5M+ commercial work. Should I be Kōwhai instead?+

Probably — if you have a documented company-level H&S management system (written policy, training matrix, internal audit cycle), Kōwhai better fits the parallel-PCBU-2 framing. Kākāriki assumes you're adopting the Main Contractor's framework rather than running your own.

Does it cover PV / solar work?+

Yes. The §12 Electrical Safety section covers PV/DC isolation under AS/NZS 5033 + AS/NZS 4777, and the §13 Working at Heights section covers roof PV install. Falls during rooftop PV is one of the 30 hazards in the register.