Vinyl / Sheet Vinyl Flooring (incl. Heat Welding) SWMS

Vinyl sheet and heat-weld installation covers the installation of sheet vinyl flooring with heat-welded seams — laying the sheet vinyl, adhering it, and heat-welding or hot-air-welding the seams with welding rod, common in commercial, healthcare and wet-area flooring. It combines the flooring installation with the hot work of heat-welding: the heat and burns from the welding equipment, the fumes from the heated vinyl, the adhesives, and — critically where old vinyl is being removed first — the asbestos in pre-1990 floor coverings. This document is written on the basis that vinyl sheet and heat-weld installation is carried out by competent installers with the hot-work, fume, adhesive and asbestos controls in place.

Vinyl sheet and heat-weld installation is carried out with the heat-welding hot work managed for heat, burns and fumes, the adhesives managed to their safety data sheets, and — where old vinyl is removed first — any asbestos in pre-1990 floor coverings and adhesives identified and removed by a licensed asbestos removalist. The hot work and burns, the heated-vinyl fumes, the adhesives, and any asbestos in removal are the considerations. This document coordinates the hot-work, fume, adhesive and asbestos controls so the vinyl sheet and heat-weld installation 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. 1Engineering: manage the heat-welding hot work — using the hot-air welding equipment safely, protecting against heat and burns, and managing the fire hazard with hot-work precautions where required.
2. 2Engineering: provide ventilation where heat-welding to control the fumes from the heated vinyl, with respiratory protection where required.
3. 3Administrative: assume floor coverings, adhesives, levelling compounds and underlays in buildings built or refurbished before 1990 contain asbestos until determined otherwise by a licensed asbestos assessor — including sheet vinyl, vinyl and cork tiles, black bitumen adhesive (blackjack), and old levelling compounds — and do not disturb, grind or sand them uncontrolled.
4. 4Administrative: where asbestos-containing floor coverings or adhesives are present, have them removed by a licensed asbestos removalist to the asbestos Codes of Practice, and where removal requires grinding or sanding that makes the material friable, a Class A asbestos removal licence holder must carry out the work, with the appropriate respiratory protection, dust suppression and licensed disposal.
5. 5Engineering: provide ventilation where using solvent-based adhesives, primers, finishes or coatings, and control the flammable vapour and ignition sources, managing the chemicals to their safety data sheets.
6. 6Engineering: use mechanical aids and team lifting for the heavy rolls, packs, bags and panels, and manage the awkward kneeling and bending postures of flooring work with knee protection, task rotation and breaks.
7. 7Administrative: use the cutting knives and tools safely, with sharp blades, correct technique and cut-resistant protection, to prevent lacerations.
8. 8Administrative: manage slips on the new or wet floor, and provide ventilation where working in enclosed areas with adhesives.
9. 9Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001) where the work is construction work, with the flooring, asbestos-awareness and any other competencies required for the work.
10. 10Administrative: conduct a pre-start toolbox talk covering the day's work, identified hazards, 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, knee protection for kneeling work, 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: ensure the work is carried out by competent flooring installers, with any electrical work by a licensed electrician and any asbestos removal by a licensed asbestos removalist, under the applicable requirements.

Applicable Codes of Practice

Worked example

An installer is engaged to lay sheet vinyl with heat-welded seams in a commercial building. Where old vinyl is removed first, any asbestos in the pre-1990 floor coverings and adhesives — including black bitumen adhesive — is assumed present until determined otherwise by a licensed asbestos assessor and removed by a licensed asbestos removalist, with a Class A licence holder where removal requires grinding or sanding. The new sheet vinyl is laid and adhered, with the adhesives managed to their safety data sheets and ventilation provided. The heat-welding hot work is managed — using the hot-air welding equipment safely, protecting against heat and burns, and managing the fire hazard. Ventilation is provided where heat-welding to control the fumes from the heated vinyl, with respiratory protection where required. The heavy sheet vinyl rolls are handled with mechanical aids, and the kneeling postures and knife cutting managed. Slips on the new floor are managed. The vinyl is installed and the seams welded, 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 asbestos provisions and licensing, the hazardous chemicals and silica provisions, and the Section 291 high risk construction work and SWMS duties where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
• The asbestos Codes of Practice (managing and controlling asbestos, and safely removing asbestos), the hazardous chemicals and silica requirements, and the respiratory protection standards AS/NZS 1715 and AS/NZS 1716, are called up by the relevant safety legislation, together with the construction and product requirements.
• Asbestos removal is licensed under each state and territory's asbestos licensing scheme, with friable asbestos and asbestos made friable by the removal method requiring a Class A asbestos removal licence holder; electrical work is carried out by a licensed electrician.
• Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017, with the asbestos, hazardous chemicals and high risk construction work provisions applying in place of the model instruments.

Frequently asked questions