Product Overview

This Refrigeration Maintenance Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a comprehensive safety and risk management document designed to guide workers through the safe servicing, repair and maintenance of refrigeration systems in line with WHS compliance requirements. It provides detailed controls for multiple aspects of refrigeration work, ensuring safe practices around electrical components, pressurised systems and refrigerant gas handling.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Cold room and freezer servicing, including isolation, defrosting procedures and safe access to internal plant and lighting
• Ensuring refrigeration unit safety through lock-out/tag-out, guarding of moving parts and verification of safe start-up
• Safe handling, transfer and storage of refrigerant gases, including leak detection and exposure controls
• Ice machine manipulation, cleaning and adjustment while managing slip hazards and electrical isolation
• Ice machine service and repair, including disassembly, component replacement and recommissioning checks
• Pumping down refrigeration circuits and managing pressurised lines to prevent sudden release of refrigerant
• Refilling systems with Freon and other refrigerants, including correct connection of hoses, gauges and prevention of overcharging
• Use of refrigerant recovery systems to capture, contain and label gases in accordance with environmental and WHS requirements
• Maintenance of refrigerated display cabinets, including glass handling, lighting replacement and fan/condenser cleaning
• Work on central refrigeration plant, compressors, condensers and evaporators, including working at height or in plant rooms
• Regulating deep-freeze containment, including temperature checks, seal inspection and managing entrapment risks
• Servicing chillers, including water-side and refrigerant-side maintenance, flushing and system performance testing
• Servicing commercial freezers in supermarkets, hospitality venues and cold storage facilities with appropriate PPE and access control
• Electrical safety around refrigeration controls, switchboards and powered components, including testing before touch
• Manual handling and use of trolleys or lifting aids for compressors, gas cylinders and heavy refrigeration components

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for refrigeration mechanics, HVAC technicians, commercial kitchen service providers, supermarket and cold storage maintenance teams, and site supervisors managing refrigeration work on Australian worksites.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice: Guidance on safe access, egress, lighting and environmental conditions in plant rooms, cold rooms and work areas.
• Safe Work Australia – Hazardous Chemicals (Managing Risks) Code of Practice: Controls for safe storage, handling and use of refrigerant gases and associated chemicals.
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice: Applicable to noisy plant rooms and compressor operations.
• Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing controls for refrigeration maintenance tasks.
• Safe Work Australia – Confined Spaces Code of Practice: Relevant where refrigeration plant rooms or pits may meet confined space criteria.
• AS/NZS 5149 Refrigerating systems and heat pumps – Safety and environmental requirements: Requirements for design, installation, operation and maintenance of refrigeration systems, including refrigerant safety.
• AS/NZS 1677 Refrigerating systems: Guidance on safe construction, installation and operation of refrigerating systems and associated components.
• AS/NZS 3000 Electrical Installations (Wiring Rules): Electrical safety requirements for work on or near refrigeration electrical components and controls.
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017