Product Overview

Summary: This Seasonal Maintenance Adjustments Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, step-by-step framework for preparing plant, equipment and facilities for changing weather conditions across the Australian seasons. It helps organisations proactively manage seasonal safety risks, protect assets, and maintain compliance with WHS obligations while keeping operations running smoothly year‑round.

Seasonal changes in Australia can be extreme, from high heat and bushfire risk in summer to storms, heavy rainfall and cold snaps in winter. These conditions can significantly impact the safe operation of machinery, building services, outdoor work areas and critical infrastructure. This Seasonal Maintenance Adjustments SOP sets out a structured, repeatable process for inspecting, adjusting and documenting maintenance activities in line with seasonal risk profiles for your location and industry.

The procedure guides your team through pre‑season planning, risk-based inspections, and specific adjustments to equipment, controls and work environments as conditions change. It addresses issues such as heat stress controls, stormwater and drainage readiness, roof and gutter checks, HVAC optimisation, electrical system resilience, bushfire preparedness, and slip/trip prevention during wet periods. By embedding this SOP into your maintenance program, you reduce unplanned downtime, extend asset life, and demonstrate due diligence under Australian WHS legislation by actively controlling foreseeable seasonal hazards that could lead to incidents, injuries or costly damage.

Key Benefits

• Reduce weather-related incidents, equipment failures and unplanned shutdowns through proactive seasonal inspections and adjustments.
• Ensure compliance with WHS duties by systematically identifying and controlling foreseeable seasonal hazards such as heat, storms and bushfire risk.
• Extend the life of plant, equipment and building assets by aligning maintenance activities with seasonal stressors and environmental conditions.
• Streamline planning and communication between maintenance, operations and WHS teams with a clear, repeatable seasonal maintenance calendar.
• Improve worker safety and comfort by optimising ventilation, temperature control, lighting and access ways ahead of seasonal extremes.

Who is this for?

• Operations Managers
• Maintenance Supervisors
• Facilities Managers
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Site Supervisors
• Property and Asset Managers
• HSE Coordinators
• Production Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Heat stress and dehydration risks for workers during hot weather
• Bushfire exposure and ember attack risks for sites in bushfire-prone areas
• Electrical faults, short circuits and equipment damage due to moisture ingress and storms
• Slips, trips and falls caused by water ingress, moss, leaves and debris on walkways and access routes
• Falling objects from unsecured roofing materials, shade sails, signage and external fixtures during high winds
• Reduced air quality and ventilation issues leading to respiratory irritation or illness
• Failure of critical emergency systems (e.g. pumps, generators, alarms) during seasonal peak demand
• Pest and vermin infestations impacting hygiene and electrical cabling during warmer or wetter seasons

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Seasonal Context (Heat, Storm, Cold, Bushfire Periods)
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Seasonal Risk Assessment and Planning Process
• 5.0 Pre-Summer Maintenance Adjustments (Heat and Bushfire Preparedness)
• 6.0 Pre-Winter Maintenance Adjustments (Cold, Storm and Wet Weather Preparedness)
• 7.0 Pre-Autumn and Pre-Spring Transitional Checks
• 8.0 Plant and Equipment Seasonal Adjustment Checklists
• 9.0 Building and Facility Seasonal Inspection Checklists
• 10.0 Controls for Worker Safety During Seasonal Maintenance Tasks
• 11.0 Permit-to-Work and Isolation Requirements (Where Applicable)
• 12.0 Documentation, Recordkeeping and Seasonal Maintenance Calendar
• 13.0 Emergency Preparedness and Contingency Measures for Extreme Weather
• 14.0 Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement of Seasonal Maintenance Program

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 and equivalent state and territory regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Plant in the Workplace
• AS/NZS 3000:2018 Electrical installations (Wiring Rules)
• AS 1851:2012 Routine service of fire protection systems and equipment
• AS 3666: Air-handling and water systems of buildings – Microbial control
• AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018 Risk management – Guidelines
• Relevant state and territory bushfire management guidelines and building requirements (e.g. BAL ratings where applicable)