Product Overview

This Welding Cutting and Grinding General Hot Works SWMS is a site-ready Safe Work Method Statement designed to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement controls for all common hot works activities. It is a comprehensive document covering multiple aspects of welding, cutting, grinding, and associated hot works safety to support strong WHS compliance on Australian worksites.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Planning and permitting of hot works, including completion and authorisation of Hot Work Permits
• Hot works including heating, cutting, and welding on structural steel, plant, and miscellaneous metal components
• Hot works including welding in workshops, fabrication bays, and on-site construction areas
• General hotworks operations involving oxy-acetylene, LPG, and other fuel gas systems
• Welding, cutting, or grinding items where no local fume extraction facilities are available, including interim control measures
• Safe operation of welding, cutting, and grinding equipment, including pre-start checks and maintenance requirements
• Selection and use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for hot works, including eye, face, hand, and respiratory protection
• Control of fire and explosion risks, including management of sparks, slag, hot metal, and flammable materials
• Management of fumes, gases, and airborne contaminants generated by welding, cutting, and grinding
• Electrical safety for welding plants, extension leads, and portable power tools in hot works areas
• Housekeeping and segregation of hot works areas, including barricading, signage, and exclusion zones
• Emergency response procedures for burns, fire incidents, electric shock, and inhalation exposure during hot works
• Safe manual handling of gas cylinders, welding leads, grinders, and workpieces

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for boilermakers, welders, metal fabricators, maintenance teams, construction contractors, and site supervisors overseeing welding, cutting, grinding, and general hot works activities.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Model Code of Practice: Welding processes – Guidance on managing health and safety risks associated with welding and allied processes
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces – Where welding, cutting, or grinding is performed at height or on elevated work platforms
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of hazardous chemicals in the workplace – Use, storage, and handling of gases, fumes, and hazardous substances from hot works
• Model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks – Framework for identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing controls
• Model Code of Practice: Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work – Controls for noise generated by grinders and other powered tools
• AS/NZS 1674.1 Safety in welding and allied processes – Fire precautions – Requirements for controlling fire and explosion risks during hot works
• AS/NZS 1674.2 Safety in welding and allied processes – Electrical – Requirements for electrical safety of welding equipment
• AS/NZS 1337.1 Personal eye protection – Selection and use of eye and face protection for welding, cutting, and grinding
• AS/NZS 1715 Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment – Guidance on respiratory protection for welding fumes and dust
• AS/NZS 1716 Respiratory protective devices – Performance requirements for respirators used during hot works
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017