Welding Cutting and Grinding General Hot Works SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers planning and carrying out general hot works, including welding, oxy-fuel cutting and grinding. It supports work planning and risk management for fire, hazardous atmospheres, fumes, electrical hazards, gas cylinders, sparks, hot materials and clean-up.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Plan hot works and assess fire, process and atmosphere risks
• Prepare and control the work area, including nearby combustible materials
• Isolate services and plant before work
• Check the atmosphere and set up ventilation or extraction
• Inspect equipment, leads, regulators and grinding discs
• Handle and secure cylinders
• Position and clamp workpieces
• Perform welding work
• Carry out oxy-fuel cutting
• Perform grinding work
• Manage fire watch, breaks, shutdown and cool-down
• Clean up leads, hoses and metal waste, then sign off the area

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out welding, cutting, grinding and other general hot works.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

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

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 - primary duty of care, consultation, information training and supervision, and safe systems of work. Refer to the applicable state or territory WHS Act adopted in the jurisdiction.
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 - regs 34-38 risk management; regs 42-44 first aid, emergency plans and emergency procedures; reg 49 provision to workers; regs 51-53 managing risks from ignition sources and accumulation of flammable or combustible materials; regs 70-79 management of airborne contaminants and exposure standards; regs 209-214 guarding, operational controls and electrical risks for plant; regs 351-355 hazardous chemicals and fire/explosion controls; Part 4.3 confined spaces where applicable; Part 6.3 high risk construction work SWMS requirements where the activity is construction work.
• Code of Practice: Welding Processes - manage risks of fire, explosion, burns, heat, fumes, radiation, electric shock, and compressed and liquefied gases; use hot work permit systems and practical controls for ventilation, cylinder security and fire precautions.
• Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace - hot work includes grinding, welding and oxy-cutting; eliminate ignition sources in hazardous areas; use hot work permit systems; reduce flammable load; maintain ventilation; segregate incompatible substances; decontaminate drums, tanks and pipes before hot work.
• Code of Practice: Confined Spaces - apply entry permit, atmosphere testing, ventilation, standby and rescue arrangements where hot works occur in a confined space, as referenced by the welding and hazardous chemicals codes.
• AS 1674.1 Safety in welding and allied processes - Fire precautions; AS 1674.2 Safety in welding and allied processes - Electrical; AS 1940 The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids; AS 2865 Confined spaces; AS 4332 The storage and handling of gases in cylinders; AS/NZS 1715 and AS/NZS 1716 respiratory protective equipment; AS/NZS 1337.1 eye and face protection; AS/NZS 1801 occupational protective helmets; AS/NZS 2210.3 safety footwear; AS/NZS 1270 hearing protectors; AS/NZS 4836 safe working on or near low-voltage electrical installations and equipment.

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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