Flammable Materials Handling and Hot Work Fire Safety SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers handling flammable materials and conducting hot work, including planning, storage, equipment checks, atmosphere testing, fire watch and shutdown. It supports planning for ignition, vapour, gas, chemical, heat, fire and emergency hazards.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Review the work scope, flammable materials, chemical risks and emergency arrangements.
• Establish the work zone and control access, combustible materials, vehicles and emergency access.
• Inspect flammable material storage and position gas cylinders and hoses.
• Verify equipment and electrical safety, including ignition and hot-metal hazards.
• Test the atmosphere and ventilation for vapours, gases, oxygen conditions and fumes.
• Issue hot work permits and prepare vessels or pipework before work begins.
• Conduct hot work while managing sparks, molten metal, flashback, radiation and fumes.
• Transfer flammable materials and manage spills, vapours, static and splash hazards.
• Manage fire and spill emergencies, then complete fire watch and shutdown.
• Clean up residual waste and demobilise the work area.

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses handling flammable materials or carrying out hot work.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

The template includes references relevant to the documented work, including:

• Applicable Commonwealth, state or territory WHS/OHS legislation and regulations, including duties to manage risks, provide safe plant and systems of work, manage hazardous chemicals, control ignition sources and maintain emergency arrangements.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace — guidance on minimising quantities, segregating incompatibles, controlling ignition sources, ventilation, hazardous areas, hot-work permits and combustible-dust housekeeping.
• Model Code of Practice: Welding Processes — guidance on eliminating or isolating fuel sources, purging vessels, using fire-resistant barriers, ventilation, flashback arrestors, secure cylinder storage and maintaining firefighting equipment.
• AS 1674.1 Safety in welding and allied processes — Fire precautions.
• AS 1940 The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids.
• AS 4332 The storage and handling of gases in cylinders.
• AS/NZS 2865 Confined spaces, including hot-work precautions where confined-space work applies.
• AS/NZS 60079.10.1 Explosive atmospheres — Classification of areas — Explosive gas atmospheres.
• AS/NZS 60079.10.2 Explosive atmospheres — Classification of areas — Combustible dust atmospheres.
• AS 1020 The control of undesirable static electricity.
• AS 4326 The storage and handling of oxidising agents.
• AS/NZS 1715 Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment; AS/NZS 1716 Respiratory protective devices.
• AS/NZS 1337.1 Personal eye-protection; AS/NZS 1270 Hearing protectors; AS/NZS 2210.3 Protective footwear.

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Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)

• Task-specific job steps, hazards and control measures
• Initial and residual risk ratings
• Assigned responsible persons for each job step
• Plant, equipment and PPE requirements where applicable
• Permits, qualifications and high-risk construction work details where applicable
• Worker consultation, sign-off and review sections