Electrical · Canada

FLHA for electrical panel replacement

By SiteSortedBuilt from provincial OHS law and CCOHS guidance · How we write and check theseUpdated November 9, 2026

Provincial OHS law requires hazards to be assessed and controlled before work starts. A field level hazard assessment (FLHA) for electrical panel replacement is done on site at the start of the shift and again whenever conditions change.

It lists the tasks, hazards and controls, and every worker signs on before starting and signs off at the end of the shift. The main hazards are disturbing asbestos, electric shock from live wiring, lifting and carrying heavy loads and falling from a ladder.

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FLHA example: electrical panel replacement

This is a complete FLHA for electrical panel replacement, with 10 job steps. Open it in the builder to add your site, crew and signatures, change anything, and download a PDF. Or download the free Word template below and fill it in by hand.

Field Level Hazard Assessment (FLHA)

Electrical panel upgrade · Electrical · Example

Document FLHA-001 · Rev 1

Job steps, hazards and controls

#	Job step	Hazards	Risk before	Controls	Risk after
1	Tell the occupants when the power will be off and arrange a supply for medical or other critical equipment	Working in an occupied home or building	Medium	Plan noisy, dusty or risky work for when the building is empty. Elimination Close off the work area with barriers, plastic sheeting or locked doors, and put up signs. Engineering (guarding) Keep fire exits and paths clear at all times. Administrative Tell occupants before you turn off power, water or gas, and before noisy or dusty work. Administrative Lock away tools, chemicals and materials each day, out of reach of children. Administrative Clean up dust and debris at the end of each day. Administrative	Low
2	Set up barriers and good lighting at the electrical panel so no one else can reach the open board	Working in an occupied home or building Poor lighting and night work	Medium	Working in an occupied home or building: see step 1 for the full controls Administrative Plan work for daylight hours where you can. Elimination Set up enough temporary lighting for the task, walkways, stairs and access points. Engineering Aim lights so they do not dazzle plant operators or drivers. Engineering Check lighting before work starts and carry a flashlight or head lamp. Administrative Wear hi-vis with reflective tape for night work. PPE	Low
3	Check the old electrical panel backing board and surrounds for asbestos	Disturbing asbestos	Critical	Get an asbestos survey before work on buildings built before 1990. Elimination Seal off the work area and keep everyone else out. Engineering (guarding) If asbestos must be disturbed, keep it wet, use hand tools not power tools, and clean up with a HEPA vacuum. Engineering Follow your province's asbestos rules, including notification and trained or certified workers where required. Administrative In BC, a qualified person must inspect and write a hazardous materials report before demolition or renovation, and asbestos abatement must be done by a WorkSafeBC licensed contractor (since 1 January 2024). Administrative Stop work straight away if you find suspect asbestos. Do not touch it and tell your supervisor. Administrative Wear a fit-tested respirator suited to the work, and disposable coveralls. PPE	Medium
4	Arrange the supply disconnection, isolate, apply lockout and tags, then test to prove dead; treat the supply side as live until it is disconnected	Electric shock from live wiring	Critical	Isolate the power before any work. Do not work live. Elimination Lock out and tag the isolation point with your own personal lock and danger tag. Engineering (guarding) Electric shock from live wiring: see step 10 for the full controls Administrative	Medium
5	Check the tester on a known live source before and after proving dead	Electric shock from live wiring	Critical	Test before you touch: prove dead at the point of work with a tested voltage tester. Engineering Only licensed electricians do electrical work, to the Canadian Electrical Code and provincial rules. Administrative Electric shock from live wiring: see step 10 for the full controls Administrative	Medium
6	Remove the old electrical panel, labelling every circuit as it comes off	Electric shock from live wiring Cuts from sharp edges Lifting and carrying heavy loads	Critical	Check for back feeds from solar, batteries and generators that can keep a circuit live after the main switch is off. Administrative If energized work cannot be avoided, use a permit, a safety observer and insulated tools, following CSA Z462. Administrative Electric shock from live wiring: see step 10 for the full controls Administrative Deburr or cover sharp edges, and fit edge protectors on exposed sheet metal. Engineering Use knives with retractable or self-retracting blades. Engineering Cut away from your body and keep your other hand clear. Administrative Put used blades in a blade bin or sharps container. Administrative Use two people to handle large sheets of metal or glass. Administrative Plan to avoid carrying: have materials delivered, and old items picked up, as close as possible to where they are used. Elimination Use lighter or smaller loads: order smaller bags and shorter lengths, and drain or break down old items before moving them. Substitution Use trolleys, pallet jacks, hoists, vacuum lifters or equipment instead of carrying by hand. Engineering Use a two-person lift for anything heavy, long or awkward. Plan the route first and clear it. Administrative Keep the load close, back straight and no twisting. Turn with your feet. Administrative	Medium
7	Mount the new enclosure, drilling with dust control and working from a stable step	Injury from power tools General dust Falling from a ladder	High	Keep all guards fitted and working. Never tie back or remove a guard. Engineering Clamp or secure the work piece. Do not hold it by hand. Engineering Only trained, competent people use power tools, following the maker's instructions. Administrative Check tools before use. Unplug or remove the battery before changing blades or bits. Administrative No loose clothing, jewellery or long hair near spinning parts. Administrative Use low-dust products, such as dust-reduced or pre-mixed compounds. Substitution Seal off the work area with plastic sheeting in occupied buildings. Engineering (guarding) Use tools with dust extraction and a vacuum for clean up. Engineering Lightly mist the area with water to keep dust down, away from anything electrical. Engineering Never dry sweep or blow dust off with compressed air. Administrative Use a platform ladder, mobile scaffold or aerial work platform for longer jobs instead of a straight ladder. Substitution Use CSA Grade 1, 1A or 1AA ladders in good condition. Remove any damaged ladder from site. Engineering Set extension ladders at a 4 to 1 angle on firm, level ground, tied or footed, and reaching 1 metre above the landing. Engineering Use ladders only for short, light work. Do not carry heavy or awkward loads up a ladder. Administrative Keep three points of contact and your belt buckle between the side rails. Do not overreach. Administrative	Medium
8	Terminate circuits with GFCI protection and tighten connections to the right torque	Electric shock from cords and power tools Repetitive work and awkward postures	High	Use battery-powered tools where you can. Substitution Use GFCI protection on all temporary power and portable tools. Engineering Keep cords off the ground and out of water, using stands or hooks. Engineering Check cords, plugs and tools before every use. Tag out and remove anything damaged. Administrative Do not use tools in rain or wet areas unless they are rated for it. Administrative Wear safety boots and dry gloves. PPE Use tools that cut the effort: powered screwdrivers, long-handled tools and extension poles for overhead work. Substitution Set work up at waist height on benches or trestles where you can. Engineering Use light tools with good grips, and keep blades and bits sharp. Engineering Rotate tasks and take short breaks every hour on repetitive work. Administrative Warm up before heavy physical work and report aches and pains early. Administrative Wear knee pads for kneeling work and gloves for grip. PPE	Medium
9	With your lock still on, do the dead tests: ground continuity, insulation resistance, polarity and correct circuit connections	Electric shock from live wiring	Critical	Wear insulated gloves, arc-rated clothing and a face shield when testing or working near live parts. PPE Electric shock from live wiring: see step 10 for the full controls Administrative	Medium
10	Remove your lock only when the dead tests pass and everyone is clear, re-energise, then test GFCI trip times and polarity live; label the electrical panel, clean up and issue the certificate	Electric shock from live wiring Poor housekeeping and waste	Critical	Isolate the power before any work. Do not work live. Elimination Lock out and tag the isolation point with your own personal lock and danger tag. Engineering (guarding) Test before you touch: prove dead at the point of work with a tested voltage tester. Engineering Only licensed electricians do electrical work, to the Canadian Electrical Code and provincial rules. Administrative Check for back feeds from solar, batteries and generators that can keep a circuit live after the main switch is off. Administrative If energized work cannot be avoided, use a permit, a safety observer and insulated tools, following CSA Z462. Administrative Wear insulated gloves, arc-rated clothing and a face shield when testing or working near live parts. PPE Order materials to size and send packaging back where you can. Elimination Put waste bins and chutes close to the work. Engineering Clean as you go, and do a full clean up at the end of each day. Administrative Keep exits, stairs and walkways clear at all times. Administrative Stack materials neatly on level ground, away from edges. Administrative Wear gloves when handling waste. PPE	Medium

PPE

CSA green triangle safety boots (CSA Z195)Safety glasses (CSA Z94.3)Rubber insulating glovesArc flash PPE (CSA Z462)N95 respiratorHigh-visibility vest (CSA Z96)Respirator fit tested to CSA Z94.4 (P100 for dust, or the type the air test calls for)CoverallsWork glovesCut-resistant glovesHearing protectionHard hat (CSA Z94.1)Knee pads

Plant and equipment

Electrical test meterHand toolsPower drillStep ladder

Permits and plans

Lockout permit

Emergency

Call 911. Add the nearest hospital, the muster point and the first aid attendant for your site.

Sign-off

Supervisor and every worker sign to confirm they have read and understood this FLHA, then sign off at the end of the shift.

Free FLHA template for electrical panel replacement

Word (.docx) and PDF, Letter landscape, no email needed. Fill in your site details, then print or send it.

Word template (.docx)PDF template

Make yours in 2 minutes

Same document, filled in for your job. Answer a few yes or no questions, the crew signs on the phone, and you send the PDF.

Start this FLHA

Pre-start checklist for electrical panel replacement

Tick these off before work starts. They come from the hazards, permits and equipment in this job.

FLHA read, explained and signed by everyone on the job
Ladder inspected, secured and extending 1 m above the landing
Lockout, tagout and test before touch done before work starts
Asbestos register or survey checked for the work area
First aid attendant, first aid kit and emergency number (911) confirmed
PPE checked and worn: CSA green triangle safety boots (CSA Z195), safety glasses (CSA Z94.3), rubber insulating gloves, arc flash PPE (CSA Z462)

The safe sequence of work

Tell the occupants when the power will be off and arrange a supply for medical or other critical equipment
Set up barriers and good lighting at the electrical panel so no one else can reach the open board
Check the old electrical panel backing board and surrounds for asbestos
Arrange the supply disconnection, isolate, apply lockout and tags, then test to prove dead; treat the supply side as live until it is disconnected
Check the tester on a known live source before and after proving dead
Remove the old electrical panel, labelling every circuit as it comes off
Mount the new enclosure, drilling with dust control and working from a stable step
Terminate circuits with GFCI protection and tighten connections to the right torque
With your lock still on, do the dead tests: ground continuity, insulation resistance, polarity and correct circuit connections
Remove your lock only when the dead tests pass and everyone is clear, re-energise, then test GFCI trip times and polarity live; label the electrical panel, clean up and issue the certificate

Hazards to watch on electrical panel replacement

The hazards most specific to this job, and the step where each one comes up.

Step 2Poor lighting and night workDim or dark work areas hide trip hazards, edges and moving plant, and make workers hard to see.

Step 8Electric shock from cords and power toolsDamaged cords, plugs or tools, or water near power, give the user an electric shock.

Step 1, 2Working in an occupied home or buildingResidents, staff or children wander into the work area and get hurt, or the work blocks exits or cuts off power or water while people are inside.

Step 3Disturbing asbestosBuildings built before 1990 may contain asbestos. Drilling, cutting or breaking it releases fibres that cause cancer years later.

Step 7General dustDust from drywall, joint compound, cement and clean up irritates eyes and lungs and makes it hard to see.

Step 7Injury from power toolsDrills, saws, routers and sanders kick back, catch clothing or throw debris, causing cuts, broken bones and eye injuries.

Highest risk on electrical panel replacement: Critical before controls (B), down to Medium after controls (A), on the Canada 5 by 5 risk matrix (possible and fatality becomes unlikely and serious injury).

What changes on your site

This example covers the job itself. Your site may add more. Add controls for any of these that apply (the builder asks you these as yes or no questions):

Could anyone fall 3 metres or more, or fall any distance into machinery, water, a hazardous substance or through an opening?
Will anyone work on a roof?
Is there a fragile roof, skylight or clear roof sheet?
Will you use a scaffold or mobile tower?
Will you use an aerial work platform (scissor lift or boom lift)?

Why FLHAs get rejected

Prime contractors and COR auditors send documents back for these reasons. This example avoids them, but check yours too.

End of shift boxes already say "None" when the form was signed at the start of the shift.
One FLHA reused for days or weeks, or a "review by" date a month away, when the work and conditions change daily.
No time of assessment and no record of any revision, which Alberta s.7(3) requires.
Workers signed that they "read" it, but nothing shows they took part, which Alberta s.8(1) requires.
Work at height with no fall protection plan where the province requires one, or no written rescue procedure for workers using fall arrest.
Permits or locates required on site but no permit or ticket numbers recorded.
No re-assessment entry after an obvious change such as weather, a new task or a new crew member.

Rules by province for electrical panel replacement

Province or territory	Key local rule	Regulator
Ontario	Fall protection (O. Reg. 213/91 s.26) applies at a fall of more than 3 m, more than 1.2 m where the work area is used as a path for a wheelbarrow or similar equipment, and at any height into operating machinery, water or other liquid, a hazardous substance, or through an opening.	Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
British Columbia	Fall protection is required where a fall of 3 m or more may occur (s.11.2). A written fall protection plan is required at 7.5 m or more where there are no permanent guardrails (s.11.3).	WorkSafeBC
Alberta	A hazard assessment must be done before work begins, and before a new work site is built (OHS Code s.7(1)). The results must be written down with the controls (s.7(2)).	Alberta Occupational Health and Safety
Quebec	Guardrails (Safety Code s.2.9.1, as amended by Decret 63-2025) are needed where a worker could fall into liquid or a hazardous substance, onto moving parts or dangerous equipment, 1.2 m or more when using a vehicle, 1.5 m or more when handling a load, and more than 3 m in all other cases.	CNESST (Commission des normes, de l'equite, de la sante et de la securite du travail)
Manitoba	A prime contractor is required whenever more than one employer or self employed person works on the site at the same time (Act s.7).	Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Branch
Saskatchewan	An occupational health committee is required at 10 or more workers of one employer (Act s.3-22).	Saskatchewan Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, OHS Division
Nova Scotia	Workers must be trained in fall protection before using it or working in, supervising or planning work in a fall protection area, with a refresher at least every 3 years (WHSR s.21.19).	Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration, Safety Branch (OHS)
New Brunswick	Fall protection is needed from 3 m above water or the nearest permanent safe level (Reg 91-191 s.49(1)(a)(i)).	WorkSafeNB
Newfoundland and Labrador	Give written notice to the minister before starting a construction project that will last 30 days or more, with the site, location, type of work and number of workers (Regs s.8).	Government Services, Occupational Health and Safety Division
Prince Edward Island	Fall protection is needed from 3 m above the nearest safe surface or water (Fall Protection Regulations s.2(1)(a)).	Workers Compensation Board of PEI, OHS Division
Yukon	Every employer must do hazard assessments with the committee, representative or workers, and redo them after significant changes or incidents (Regs s.1.03.01).	Yukon Workers' Safety and Compensation Board
Northwest Territories	Fall protection is needed from 3 m, or lower if there is a risk of injury (s.119(1)). Guardrails are needed for falls of 1.2 m to 3 m at permanent work sites (s.119(2)).	Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC)
Nunavut	No 911. To reach the RCMP in an emergency, dial your community's first three digits then 1111 (Iqaluit: 979-1111). Put the local fire, ambulance and RCMP numbers on every FLHA.	Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC)

Questions

Do I need an FLHA for electrical panel replacement?

Who signs the FLHA?

The supervisor and every worker take part in the assessment and sign on before work starts, then sign off at the end of the shift. Review it and re-sign whenever the task or conditions change.

How long do I keep it?

Keep completed hazard assessments for at least 3 years (COR auditors sample the last 12 months). Review this FLHA and re-sign whenever the task, crew or conditions change.

What PPE is needed for electrical panel replacement?

Usually CSA green triangle safety boots (CSA Z195), Safety glasses (CSA Z94.3), Rubber insulating gloves, Arc flash PPE (CSA Z462), N95 respirator, High-visibility vest (CSA Z96), Respirator fit tested to CSA Z94.4 (P100 for dust, or the type the air test calls for), Coveralls, Work gloves, Cut-resistant gloves, Hearing protection, Hard hat (CSA Z94.1), Knee pads. The site rules may add more, so check with the general contractor.

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Blank FLHA template: free FLHA templates. Also for other countries: Australia (SWMS) · United Kingdom (RAMS) · United States (JHA)