Product Overview

This Flammable Materials Handling and Hot Work Fire Safety SWMS is a comprehensive Safe Work Method Statement designed to identify, control, and minimise fire and explosion risks when working with flammable and combustible substances. It provides end-to-end coverage of fire and explosion risk management, hot work fire safety, and associated WHS compliance requirements for a wide range of fire-related tasks.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Assessment and management of fire and explosion risks in areas where flammable or combustible materials are stored, handled, or used
• Implementation of fire control measures, including fire watches, hot work permits, and isolation of ignition sources
• Identification, monitoring, and control of fire-related risks such as sparks, open flames, static electricity, and hot surfaces
• Response procedures for fire safety breaches, near misses, and non-conformances, including incident reporting and corrective actions
• Safe planning and execution of fire-related tasks such as welding, cutting, grinding, soldering, and other hot work activities
• Management and prevention of spontaneous combustion in rags, waste, stockpiles, and other combustible materials
• Controls for working near flammable liquids, gases, vapours, and dusts, including segregation and ventilation requirements
• Safe work methods for operating near high heat, open flames, or hot work equipment in proximity to flammable materials
• Handling, storage, and disposal of combustible materials to minimise fuel loads and prevent fire spread
• Safe handling, decanting, and transfer of flammable materials, including bonding, earthing, and spill management
• Selection, inspection, and placement of appropriate fire extinguishers and fire-fighting equipment for hot work areas
• Emergency preparedness, evacuation procedures, and communication protocols in the event of a fire or explosion
• Training, competency, and supervision requirements for workers involved in hot work and flammable materials handling

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for welders, fabricators, maintenance teams, construction contractors, workshop operators, manufacturing facilities, and site supervisors responsible for hot work and flammable materials handling on Australian worksites.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice: Guidance on safe storage, handling, and risk management of flammable and combustible chemicals
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Risk of Fire and Explosions in the Workplace Code of Practice: Principles for identifying ignition sources, controlling fuel loads, and preventing fire and explosion events
• Safe Work Australia – Welding Processes Code of Practice: Requirements and controls for welding and allied hot work operations
• Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for hazard identification, risk assessment, and implementation of control measures
• Safe Work Australia – Work Health and Safety Consultation, Cooperation and Coordination Code of Practice: Guidance on consulting with workers and other duty holders regarding fire and hot work risks
• AS 1940: The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids: Requirements for design, storage, segregation, and spill control for flammable liquids
• AS/NZS 1674.1: Safety in welding and allied processes – Fire precautions: Specific controls for preventing fires and explosions during welding and hot work
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017