Product Overview

Summary: This Air Supply Management Safe Operating Procedure sets out clear, practical steps for providing safe, reliable breathing and process air in Australian workplaces. It helps you control contamination, pressure, and continuity of air supply, supporting WHS compliance and protecting workers who depend on clean, correctly managed air to do their jobs safely.

Air supply is critical in many Australian workplaces, from confined space entries and breathing apparatus to process air for manufacturing, laboratories, and clean rooms. When air quality, pressure, or continuity are not properly managed, the consequences can include asphyxiation, exposure to toxic contaminants, equipment failure, and serious breaches of WHS obligations. This Air Supply Management Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, defensible framework for planning, operating, monitoring, and maintaining air supply systems so that workers and operations are protected at all times.

The SOP addresses both breathing air and general compressed/process air, guiding you through risk assessment, system design considerations, pre-use checks, and ongoing monitoring of air quality and pressure. It clarifies responsibilities between operations, maintenance, and WHS teams, and sets out escalation and contingency actions in the event of alarms, contamination, or loss of supply. By implementing this document, businesses can demonstrate due diligence under Australian WHS legislation, improve reliability of critical air systems, and provide workers with clear, easy-to-follow instructions for safe use of air-dependent equipment and tasks.

Key Benefits

• Ensure safe, continuous supply of breathing and process air for critical tasks and equipment.
• Reduce the risk of asphyxiation, toxic exposure, and other air-related health incidents.
• Standardise inspection, testing, and maintenance of compressors, receivers, filters, and distribution lines.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS legislation and relevant air quality and pressure standards.
• Improve incident response through clear procedures for alarms, contamination events, and loss of air supply.

Who is this for?

• WHS Managers
• HSE Advisors
• Site Supervisors
• Maintenance Supervisors
• Plant Managers
• Compressed Air System Technicians
• Confined Space Entry Supervisors
• HVAC and Building Services Managers
• Laboratory Managers
• Emergency Response Coordinators

Hazards Addressed

• Asphyxiation due to oxygen-deficient atmospheres
• Exposure to toxic or flammable contaminants in breathing air
• Over-pressurisation of air lines and connected equipment
• Failure or interruption of air supply to workers using breathing apparatus
• Contamination from oil, moisture, particulates, or microbial growth in compressed air systems
• Noise exposure from poorly controlled compressor systems
• Stored energy hazards in compressed air receivers and piping
• Uncontrolled release of compressed air causing impact or injection injuries

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Terminology (Breathing Air vs Process Air)
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Air Supply System Overview (Compressors, Receivers, Distribution and Points of Use)
• 6.0 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment for Air Supply
• 7.0 Air Quality Requirements and Testing Frequencies
• 8.0 Pre-Use Checks for Breathing Air and Process Air Systems
• 9.0 Operating Procedure for Starting, Running and Shutting Down Air Supply Systems
• 10.0 Control Measures for Contamination, Moisture, Oil and Particulates
• 11.0 Pressure Control, Regulation and Over-Pressure Protection
• 12.0 Inspection, Maintenance and Calibration Requirements
• 13.0 Management of Change for Air Supply Modifications and Extensions
• 14.0 Monitoring, Alarms and Response to Abnormal Conditions
• 15.0 Emergency Procedures for Loss of Air, Contamination or Equipment Failure
• 16.0 Interaction with Confined Space, Hot Work and Respiratory Protection Procedures
• 17.0 Training, Induction and Competency Verification
• 18.0 Recordkeeping, Testing Certificates and Audit Requirements
• 19.0 Review, Continuous Improvement and Document Control

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and state/territory equivalents
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Confined Spaces
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace
• AS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• AS 1716: Respiratory protective devices
• AS/NZS 2299.1: Occupational diving operations – Standard operational practice (where applicable to breathing air)
• AS 4343: Pressure equipment – Hazard levels
• AS 3788: Pressure equipment – In-service inspection
• AS/NZS ISO 8573 series: Compressed air – Contaminants and purity classes (where applicable)
• AS/NZS 60079.10.1: Explosive atmospheres – Classification of areas – Explosive gas atmospheres (for flammable air contaminants)