The LV rescue procedure is the method a trained electrician uses to remove someone from contact with a live low voltage switchboard. First, the rescuer clears the victim from the panel with an insulated crook. Next, they apply the Drag Method while wearing 1000V insulated gloves certified to AS/NZS IEC 60903 or equivalent. Finally, they deliver first aid as required.
Over the past 10 years, 44 Australian electricians have died from traumatic injuries at work — 23 of those from electrocution. Having a clear LV rescue procedure in your head, and on the wall, is what closes that gap. This guide walks through each step in plain English and mirrors the Volt Safety LV Rescue wall poster.
This guide is a best-practice reference, not a one-size-fits-all rule. Workplaces, equipment, and incidents vary. Your site’s safe work procedures, your training, and the call of a qualified electrician on the day always take precedence.
Dangers & Risks of a Live LV Switchboard Panel
- Electric shock. Current through the body can stop breathing, trigger cardiac arrest, or cause falls that result in fractures and dislocations.
- Arc Flash. Can burn skin, underlying tissue, airways, and eyes in milliseconds.
- Heat. Burning equipment and arc flash produce flames up to four times hotter than the sun’s surface.
- Toxic gases. Burning switchgear releases smoke and toxic gases that can cause asphyxiation, especially in confined switchroom spaces.
- Shrapnel. An arc flash can blast busbars and fuses out of the switchgear.
Each risk shapes a decision in the procedure that follows.
Safety of the Rescuer is Paramount
The Volt Safety LV rescue poster opens with one rule: the safety of the rescuer is paramount. If the rescue puts you at risk, it stops.
Before you act, assess three things:
- Is there a fire? This changes the path you take through the procedure.
- Has the worker reached a clear safe area, or are they still in contact with live equipment?
- Is switchboard access so limited that rescue is impractical?
Switchboards and substations are designed for compactness, not for rescue. As a result, access can make a textbook LV rescue difficult or virtually impossible. Recognise that early and call for help rather than forcing it.
The Drag Method: How to Move a worker off a Live LV Panel
The Drag Method is the only physical rescue technique used in an LV rescue. Two rules govern it:
- Low voltage only. Suitable for switchboard panels up to 1000V
- 1000V Insulated gloves must be worn. Gloves need to be tested, in date, and certified to AS/NZS IEC 60903 or equivalent.
Grip the worker by their clothing – never bare skin – and drag them clear of the panel in one continuous movement. Keep your own body as far from live conductors as the worker’s position allows. The goal is distance: get them to a clear safe area before any first aid begins.
The LV Rescue Procedure
The full LV rescue procedure branches off a single starting point – the accident. Which branch you take depends on whether there’s a fire and where the worker is.
However no matter which path is taken, the rescuer should be ready by donning insulated gloves, having an insulated crook in hand and torch at the ready.
No fire → worker not in a clear safe area (Branch 1)
- Isolate circuit (“Isolate Here” signage should have been applied by the lead electrician before work commenced).
- Use the Drag Method to remove the worker to a clear safe area.
- Move to post-rescue actions.
No fire → worker already in a clear safe area (Branch 2)
- Isolate circuit (“Isolate Here” signage should have been applied by the lead electrician before work commenced).
- Move straight to post-rescue actions.
Fire → on or around the worker (Branch 3)
- Isolate circuit (“Isolate Here” signage should have been applied by the lead electrician before work commenced).
- Use a fire blanket (AS/NZS 3504) to smother flames on or around the worker.
- Use the Drag Method to remove the worker to a clear safe area.
- Move to post-rescue actions.
The procedures described above are general examples only and should not replace site-specific safe work procedures or the guidance of a qualified electrician.
Post-Rescue Actions
Once the worker is in a clear safe area, every branch converges on the same four-step sequence:
- Shout for help — or press the medical emergency button if one is available.
- Resuscitate if necessary — start CPR immediately if the worker isn’t breathing.
- Treat for burns — electrical burns are often deeper than they appear.
- Dial 000 as soon as possible and notify the network operator for further assistance.
The order matters. Shout first so someone else can call 000 in parallel while you start CPR.
LV Rescue Training and Retraining (UETDRRF004)
The nationally recognised unit of competency for this work is UETDRRF004 — Perform Rescue from a Live LV Panel. It covers the procedure, the equipment, and the first aid component (including CPR).
Retraining is mandatory every 12 months. Skills fade fast under stress, so annual practice keeps the sequence automatic when you actually need it. Supervised training by qualified instructors is essential – a wall poster is a reminder, not a substitute.
Frequently Asked Questions About the LV Rescue Procedure
Is low voltage rescue and CPR the same training?
They’re related but separate. UETDRRF004 covers LV rescue and includes a CPR component, but standalone CPR training (HLTAID009) is a different unit. Most working electricians hold both and refresh them together.
How often do you need to retrain in LV rescue?
This is a state by state requirement however for most states and a good rule of thumb is every 12 months. Confirm with your state WorkSafe or SafeWork body.
Can you perform an LV rescue without insulated gloves?
No. 1000V Insulated gloves rated to AS/NZS IEC 60903 are required for the Drag Method. Without them, you risk becoming injured yourself.
Summary
The LV rescue procedure is short, sequenced, and unforgiving of guesswork. Assess the scene, recognise the risks, use the Drag Method with 1000V insulated gloves, then move to post-rescue actions and dial 000.
Get the Volt Safety LV Rescue wall poster
It is suggested to mount this procedure poster on the wall within the vicinity of the switchboard or switchboard panels. It can be used as a quick reference guide in the event of an LV Rescue.
You’ll also need a compliant rescue kit. See our Low Voltage Rescue Kit Australia guide for what to stock and how to maintain it, or browse the Volt LV Rescue Kit directly.