Commercial Kitchen Fit-Out (New) SWMS

New commercial kitchen fit-out covers the fit-out of a new commercial kitchen — installing the stainless steel joinery, benches, canopy and services of a commercial kitchen as part of a hospitality or food-premises fit-out. It combines general fit-out work with the commercial kitchen services: the gas installation by a licensed gasfitter, the mechanical exhaust and canopy, the electrical, and the plumbing and wet areas. This document is written on the basis that the new commercial kitchen fit-out is carried out with the services, manual-handling, electrical and gas controls in place, and the gas, electrical and plumbing work by the appropriately licensed trades.

New commercial kitchen fit-out is carried out as construction work in connection with the construction and gas requirements, with the stainless joinery and benches handled and installed, the commercial catering gas installed by a licensed gasfitter to AS/NZS 5601.2, the mechanical exhaust and canopy and electrical installed, and the plumbing by a licensed plumber. The services, the manual handling, the gas, and the electrical and plumbing are the considerations. This document coordinates the services, manual-handling, electrical and gas controls so the commercial kitchen fit-out is carried out safely.

Hazards identified

9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.

1. 1Administrative: have any commercial catering gas installation carried out by a licensed gasfitter to AS/NZS 5601.2, with the mechanical exhaust and canopy, and do not carry out gas work without the appropriate licence.
2. 2Engineering: use mechanical aids and team lifting for the heavy and awkward cabinets, joinery, panels, glass, fixtures and equipment, and manage the manual-handling and awkward-posture hazard with correct technique and the hierarchy of controls for hazardous manual tasks.
3. 3Administrative: have all electrical work — the fit-off of lighting, power, point-of-sale and equipment — carried out by a licensed electrician, with isolation and lockout of circuits, insulated tools and testing, and do not work on energised electrical equipment.
4. 4Engineering: install the mechanical exhaust and canopy safely, with the work at height controlled and the canopy and ducting secured.
5. 5Administrative: have any plumbing and wet-area work carried out by a licensed plumber, with the fixtures, basins and drainage installed to the plumbing requirements.
6. 6Engineering: control respirable crystalline silica and dust from drilling, cutting or grinding masonry, concrete, tiles, fibre-cement or stone at the source — on-tool dust extraction or water suppression — never dry-cutting uncontrolled, with respiratory protection, recognising the workplace exposure standard for silica reduces on 1 December 2026.
7. 7Administrative: manage the sharp edges of the stainless steel, and manage the work at height for the canopy and services with fall prevention.
8. 8Administrative: manage the work in occupied, trading or public premises by segregating the work area from the public and occupants with barriers and signage, working out of hours where required, and protecting customers, occupants and the public from the work.
9. 9Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001), with the trade, electrical, gas and other competencies required for the work, and any shopping centre or building induction.
10. 10Administrative: conduct a pre-start toolbox talk covering the day's work, identified hazards, the occupied-premises and public-proximity arrangements, required PPE and emergency procedures, and record attendance in the consultation section.
11. 11Administrative: consult workers and any health and safety representatives on the work and its risks, record the consultation, and keep this document available at the workplace.
12. 12PPE: eye protection to AS/NZS 1337.1, hearing protection where required, gloves appropriate to the task, and Class I or Class II safety footwear with protective toecap to AS/NZS 2210.3.
13. 13Administrative: review and update this SWMS whenever the work scope changes, after any incident or near miss, when a worker or health and safety representative raises a concern, when new hazards are identified, or at minimum every 12 months.
14. 14Administrative: confirm the work is completed safely, the installations are secure, the electrical and services are safe, and the premises are left clean and safe.

Applicable Codes of Practice

Worked example

Shop fitters are engaged to fit out a new commercial kitchen. The commercial catering gas installation is carried out by a licensed gasfitter to AS/NZS 5601.2, with the mechanical exhaust and canopy, and gas work is not carried out without the appropriate licence. The stainless joinery and benches are handled with mechanical aids and team lifting. The electrical installation and fit-off are carried out by a licensed electrician under isolation. The mechanical exhaust and canopy are installed safely, with the work at height controlled and the canopy and ducting secured. The plumbing and wet-area work are carried out by a licensed plumber. Silica and dust from fixing into masonry are controlled at the source. The sharp edges of the stainless steel are managed, and the work at height for the canopy and services managed with fall prevention. The occupied or trading premises are managed by segregating the work area from the public. The kitchen fit-out is completed, the services confirmed safe, and the records retained.

Related legislation

• Model Work Health and Safety Act — primary duty of care; the duty to consult workers; the reckless-conduct offence; and notifiable-incident provisions, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations — the construction work, falls, electrical, hazardous manual tasks and plant provisions, and the Section 291 high risk construction work and SWMS duties where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
• The construction work, falls, electrical and hazardous chemicals Codes of Practice, and the relevant standards such as AS 1288 for glass, AS/NZS 5601.2 for commercial catering gas and AS/NZS 3000 for wiring, are called up by the relevant safety legislation for the fit-out.
• Electrical work is carried out by a licensed electrician, gas work by a licensed gasfitter, and plumbing work by a licensed plumber, under each state and territory's licensing schemes; work in shopping centres and occupied buildings is also subject to the centre or building rules.
• Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017, with the construction, falls, electrical and high risk construction work provisions applying in place of the model instruments.

Frequently asked questions