BlueSafe
Composite Repair SWMS

Composite Repair SWMS

  • 100% Compliant with Australian WHS Acts & Regulations
  • Fully Editable MS Word & PDF Formats Included
  • Pre-filled Content – Ready to Deploy Immediately
  • Customisable – Easily Add Your Logo & Site Details
  • Includes 2 Years of Free Compliance Updates

Composite Repair SWMS

Product Overview

This Composite Repair Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a fully editable safety document designed to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement controls for all common composite and fibreglass repair activities, supporting strong WHS compliance on Australian worksites. It is a comprehensive, task-specific SWMS that covers multiple aspects of composite repair, bonding, and resin processing to help you manage High Risk Construction Work safely and efficiently.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

  • Planning and preparation for composite and fibreglass repair works, including site assessment and job sequencing
  • Fibreglass repairs to structural and non-structural components, including cutting, trimming, and surface restoration
  • Performing composite bonding, including correct adhesive selection, mixing, application, clamping, and curing
  • Repairs to fibre-glass laminates, panels, and mouldings using hand and power tools
  • Resin processing, including safe handling, mixing, decanting, and curing of polyester, vinyl ester, and epoxy resins
  • Selection and use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for resins, solvents, dust, and fibre exposure
  • Control of airborne dust and fibres from grinding, sanding, and cutting operations, including local exhaust ventilation
  • Safe operation of powered tools (grinders, sanders, drills, polishers) used in composite repair tasks
  • Management of hazardous chemicals, including resin systems, catalysts, hardeners, and cleaning solvents
  • Storage, labelling, and segregation of resins, hardeners, and flammable liquids in accordance with safety data sheets (SDS)
  • Housekeeping and spill management for resins, solvents, and dust to minimise slip, trip, and fire risks
  • Manual handling of composite components, moulds, and repair materials, including team lifts and use of aids
  • Fire and explosion risk controls associated with flammable resins, thinners, and vapours in enclosed areas
  • Waste management and environmentally responsible disposal of resin containers, contaminated rags, and fibreglass offcuts

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for composite repair technicians, fibreglass fabricators, marine and automotive repairers, manufacturing workshops, and site supervisors overseeing composite repair activities.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Job Step / Activity Potential Hazards
Pre-start planning and documentation
  • • Unclear job scope
  • • Missing permits and approvals
  • • Inadequate supervision
  • • Untrained personnel
  • • Emergency response delays
Site setup and isolation
  • • Uncontrolled access to work area
  • • Inadequate ventilation
  • • Ignition sources near flammables
  • • Trip hazards from hoses and leads
  • • Unidentified energy sources
Material handling and storage
  • • Manual handling strain
  • • Chemical container leakage
  • • Incompatible chemical storage
  • • Unlabelled containers
  • • Resin and solvent spills
Surface preparation and cleaning
  • • Airborne fibreglass dust
  • • Inhalation of solvent vapours
  • • Eye irritation from dust
  • • Static build-up during sanding
  • • Hand contact with sharp fibres
Fibreglass cutting and trimming
  • • Laceration from knives
  • • Entanglement with power tools
  • • Flying offcuts
  • • Repetitive strain injury
  • • Inhalation of fine glass fibres
Resin measuring and mixing
  • • Skin contact with resins
  • • Allergic sensitisation
  • • Incorrect resin ratio
  • • Exothermic heat build-up
  • • Flammable vapour release
Composite bonding and layup
  • • Inhalation of resin fumes
  • • Skin exposure to uncured resin
  • • Entrapment in vacuum bagging
  • • Incorrect bond leading to failure
  • • Ergonomic strain from awkward postures
Curing, heating and oven use
  • • Overheating of resins
  • • Fire from heating equipment
  • • Burns from hot surfaces
  • • Release of curing fumes
  • • Uncontrolled power failure
Post-cure finishing and machining
  • • High-speed rotating tools
  • • Airborne composite dust
  • • Noise exposure
  • • Flying chips and fragments
  • • Contact with sharp edges
Working at heights during repairs
  • • Falls from ladders
  • • Falls from platforms
  • • Dropped tools and materials
  • • Instability of temporary access
  • • Overreaching from elevated positions
Hazardous waste and housekeeping
  • • Resin-contaminated waste
  • • Spontaneous combustion of rags
  • • Slips on spills and offcuts
  • • Airborne dust from poor cleanup
  • • Environmental contamination
PPE use, health monitoring and training
  • • Inadequate respiratory protection
  • • Dermal sensitisation to resins
  • • Eye injury from splashes
  • • Hearing damage from machinery
  • • Lack of worker competence
Inspection, testing and documentation
  • • Defective repair left in service
  • • Undetected delamination
  • • Incomplete curing
  • • Missing records
  • • Uncontrolled rework

Need to add specific site requirements?

Don't worry if a specific job step isn't listed above. Once you purchase, simply log in to your Client Portal and add your own custom job steps at no extra cost. We take care of the hard work—creating the hazards and control measures for free—to ensure your document is compliant within minutes.

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
  • Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice: Guidance on safe storage, handling, and use of resins, catalysts, hardeners, and solvents
  • Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice: Controls for noise from grinding, sanding, and cutting equipment
  • How to Safely Remove and Handle Asbestos Code of Practice: Referenced where composite repairs may occur near legacy asbestos-containing materials
  • Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice: Where composite repair tasks are undertaken at height on vehicles, vessels, or structures
  • First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice: Requirements for first aid arrangements for chemical exposure, cuts, and other injuries
  • Safe Work Australia – Guidance on the Interpretation of Workplace Exposure Standards for Airborne Contaminants: Used to inform controls for dust, fibres, and vapours from resin processing and sanding

Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)
  • Operational guidelines, with a step-by-step approach to safe work
  • Possible hazards that may be encountered
  • Step-by-step safety procedures to follow
  • Before work starts – Guidelines and Checks
  • Safety measures and guides
  • Operational Safety Checks
  • Before and After Risk Ratings
  • Risk Assessment Matrix
  • High Risk Work Involved
  • Emergency Evacuation Procedure
  • Plant and Equipment
  • Qualifications and Permits
  • Specific Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • Company Personnel Sign-off form

$96.8

Safe Work Australia Aligned