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Biological Hazards, Mould and Cytotoxic Substances SWMS

Biological Hazards, Mould and Cytotoxic Substances SWMS

  • 100% Compliant with Australian WHS Acts & Regulations
  • Fully Editable MS Word & PDF Formats Included
  • Pre-filled Content – Ready to Deploy Immediately
  • Customisable – Easily Add Your Logo & Site Details
  • Includes 2 Years of Free Compliance Updates

Biological Hazards, Mould and Cytotoxic Substances SWMS

Product Overview

This Biological Hazards, Mould and Cytotoxic Substances SWMS is a detailed Safe Work Method Statement designed to identify, control, and minimise risks associated with hazardous biological agents, mould, dust, and cytotoxic substances on Australian worksites. It is a comprehensive document that covers multiple aspects of biological hazard management, safe handling of cytotoxic substances, and exposure prevention to support robust WHS compliance.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

  • Identification, assessment, and management of biological hazards including mould, spores, and organic dusts
  • Safe procedures for working in environments contaminated with mould dust and other airborne biological particles
  • Exposure assessment and control measures for unhealthy levels of dust or mould in indoor and outdoor work areas
  • Safe handling, preparation, administration, and disposal of cytotoxic substances in clinical and laboratory settings
  • Use of carcinogenic or allergenic substances, including engineering controls, PPE, and restricted access protocols
  • Management of worker exposure to allergens, including identification of sensitising agents and medical monitoring requirements
  • Control measures for exposure to dust and mould during cleaning, remediation, demolition, or maintenance activities
  • Development and implementation of decontamination procedures for equipment, PPE, and work areas exposed to cytotoxic or biological agents
  • Emergency response procedures for spills, accidental exposure, needle-stick injuries, and contamination incidents
  • Health surveillance, vaccination considerations, and fitness-for-work requirements for personnel working around allergies and biological hazards
  • Selection, use, fit-checking, and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment and other PPE for biological and cytotoxic risks
  • Safe waste segregation, labelling, storage, and disposal of cytotoxic, infectious, and contaminated materials
  • Training, instruction, and communication of hazards to workers, contractors, and visitors in areas with biological or cytotoxic risks

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for healthcare and oncology services, pathology and research laboratories, mould remediation and restoration contractors, cleaning and maintenance providers, and site supervisors managing work where biological hazards, mould, dust, or cytotoxic substances are present.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Job Step / Activity Potential Hazards
Pre-start planning and assessment
  • • Unidentified biological contamination
  • • Unidentified cytotoxic contamination
  • • Unassessed allergen exposure
  • • Inadequate ventilation
  • • Untrained personnel undertaking hazardous tasks
Site isolation and access control
  • • Uncontrolled spread of mould spores
  • • Uncontrolled spread of cytotoxic residues
  • • Exposure of bystanders to dust and allergens
  • • Unauthorised access to contaminated area
  • • Cross-contamination of clean areas
Health screening and fitness for work
  • • Exposure to allergens by sensitised workers
  • • Asthma exacerbation from mould dust
  • • Immune-compromised worker exposure
  • • Skin and respiratory sensitisation
  • • Medication interactions with cytotoxic exposure
Identification and classification of contaminants
  • • Misidentified mould species
  • • Unrecognised cytotoxic residues
  • • Unrecognised carcinogenic substances
  • • Incorrect selection of controls
  • • Unnecessary disturbance of contamination
Ventilation and dust control setup
  • • Airborne mould spores
  • • Suspended fine dust particles
  • • Airborne cytotoxic residues
  • • Spread of allergens via air movement
  • • Negative pressure failure
PPE selection, issue and use
  • • Inhalation of mould spores
  • • Inhalation of cytotoxic aerosols
  • • Dermal exposure to allergens
  • • Eye exposure to dust and splashes
  • • Contaminated work clothing
Safe handling of cytotoxic substances
  • • Cytotoxic drug splash
  • • Cytotoxic aerosol generation
  • • Contaminated sharps injury
  • • Carcinogenic substance exposure
  • • Chronic low-dose cytotoxic exposure
Mould and dust removal works
  • • Excessive mould dust exposure
  • • Disturbance of hidden mould
  • • Exposure to respiratory allergens
  • • Contaminated material handling
  • • Ergonomic strain during removal
Use of cleaning agents and disinfectants
  • • Chemical respiratory irritation
  • • Skin and eye contact with irritants
  • • Incompatible chemical mixing
  • • Asthma triggered by strong odours
  • • Slip hazards from wet surfaces
Managing exposure to allergens and sensitivities
  • • Exposure to mould allergens
  • • Exposure to cleaning product allergens
  • • Latex sensitivity
  • • Cross-contamination to personal items
  • • Secondary exposure to co-workers
Decontamination of workers and equipment
  • • Self-contamination during PPE removal
  • • Spread of mould spores off-site
  • • Residual cytotoxic contamination on equipment
  • • Contaminated water runoff
  • • Re-use of contaminated tools
Waste packaging, labelling and disposal
  • • Improper disposal of cytotoxic waste
  • • Handling of leaking waste bags
  • • Exposure to mould during transport
  • • Incorrect waste stream segregation
  • • Manual handling injuries
Post-work verification and clearance
  • • Residual mould contamination
  • • Residual cytotoxic contamination
  • • Delayed health effects from exposure
  • • Re-contamination due to unresolved moisture
  • • Premature re-occupation of area

Need to add specific site requirements?

Don't worry if a specific job step isn't listed above. Once you purchase, simply log in to your Client Portal and add your own custom job steps at no extra cost. We take care of the hard work—creating the hazards and control measures for free—to ensure your document is compliant within minutes.

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
  • Safe Work Australia – Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice: Guidance on ventilation, cleanliness, and environmental controls to minimise biological and dust exposure risks
  • Safe Work Australia – Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice: Relevant where handling, moving, or cleaning contaminated materials may create additional physical and exposure risks
  • Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for identifying, assessing, and controlling risks associated with biological and cytotoxic substances
  • Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice: Requirements for storage, handling, and use of cytotoxic, carcinogenic, and allergenic substances
  • Safe Work Australia – Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals Code of Practice: Labelling and identification requirements for cytotoxic and hazardous biological materials
  • Safe Work Australia – Health Monitoring for Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals Guide: Guidance on health surveillance for workers exposed to cytotoxic, carcinogenic, or sensitising agents
  • AS/NZS 1715: Selection, Use and Maintenance of Respiratory Protective Equipment: Requirements for choosing and maintaining respiratory protection for mould, dust, and biological hazards
  • AS/NZS 1716: Respiratory Protective Devices: Performance standards for respirators used when working with biological contaminants and hazardous dusts

Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)
  • Operational guidelines, with a step-by-step approach to safe work
  • Possible hazards that may be encountered
  • Step-by-step safety procedures to follow
  • Before work starts – Guidelines and Checks
  • Safety measures and guides
  • Operational Safety Checks
  • Before and After Risk Ratings
  • Risk Assessment Matrix
  • High Risk Work Involved
  • Emergency Evacuation Procedure
  • Plant and Equipment
  • Qualifications and Permits
  • Specific Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • Company Personnel Sign-off form

$96.8

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