Heat-Stress Plumbing Work (NT/QLD/SA) SWMS
Safe work method statement for plumbing work in extreme heat conditions across Northern Territory, Queensland, and South Australia including heat illness prevention and acclimatisation controls.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Hot conditions and heat stress plumbing covers plumbing work carried out in hot conditions and environments where heat stress is a hazard — working outdoors in hot weather, in roof spaces, plant rooms and other hot environments, where the heat itself presents a risk of heat illness. The defining hazard is heat illness — heat stress, heat exhaustion and heat stroke — which can be serious or fatal, alongside the plumbing work being carried out. This document is written on the basis that plumbing work in hot conditions is carried out with the heat-illness controls in place, in addition to the controls for the plumbing work itself.
Plumbing work in hot conditions is carried out with the heat illness risk assessed and controlled — through the work environment, the work organisation, hydration, rest and acclimatisation — recognising that heat illness can be serious or fatal. The heat illness hazard, the hot environment, and the plumbing work are the considerations. This document coordinates the heat-illness, hydration, rest and work-organisation controls so the plumbing work in hot conditions is carried out safely.
Hazards identified
9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Serious or fatal heat illness from working in hot conditions
Dehydration and its effects from the hot conditions
Extreme heat in roof spaces, plant rooms and confined environments
Errors and injury from reduced capacity and judgement in the heat
Burns from hot surfaces and hot water in the environment
Sun exposure and ultraviolet harm working outdoors
Injury from the plumbing work compounded by the heat
Heat and atmospheric hazards in confined hot environments
Fatigue-related injury compounded by the heat
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Administrative: assess the heat illness risk for the work and conditions, and control it — recognising that heat illness can be serious or fatal — through the work environment, work organisation, hydration, rest and acclimatisation.
- 2Administrative: provide hydration and encourage regular drinking, and provide rest breaks in cool or shaded areas, scheduling work to avoid the hottest part of the day where practicable.
- 3Engineering: where working in hot roof spaces, plant rooms or confined hot environments, provide ventilation and cooling where practicable and limit exposure, and apply the confined space controls in confined hot environments.
- 4Administrative: monitor workers for signs of heat illness, recognise and respond to heat illness, and acclimatise workers to the heat.
- 5Engineering: manage hot surfaces and hot water in the environment, and provide sun protection working outdoors.
- 6Administrative: manage the reduced capacity and judgement and the fatigue from the heat, and carry out the plumbing work safely in the hot conditions.
- 7PPE: appropriate clothing for the heat, sun protection, and hydration, in addition to the standard PPE.
- 8Administrative: ensure the work is carried out and certified by an appropriately licensed plumber, drainer or gasfitter under the relevant state or territory plumbing and gasfitting licensing scheme, with the relevant competencies and a compliance certificate issued where required.
- 9Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001) where the work is construction work, with the plumbing, gasfitting, confined space and any other competencies required for the work.
- 10Administrative: conduct a pre-start toolbox talk covering the day's work, identified hazards, isolations, required PPE and emergency procedures, and record attendance in the consultation section.
- 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.
- 12PPE: eye protection to AS/NZS 1337.1, hearing protection where required, gloves appropriate to the task, high-visibility clothing, and Class I or Class II safety footwear with protective toecap to AS/NZS 2210.3.
- 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.
Applicable Codes of Practice
The assessment and control of heat illness for the work in hot conditions and environments.
Atmospheric testing, ventilation, entry permit and rescue controls where the work involves entry into a confined space.
The water services standard for the water supply, backflow protection and connection.
The risk management process and hierarchy of controls applied to the hazards of the work.
Who this is for
- →Licensed plumbers working in hot conditions and environments.
- →Plumbing businesses with workers in hot conditions.
- →Outdoor, roof and plant-room plumbing contractors.
- →Plumbing businesses and PCBUs responsible for workers in heat.
- →PCBU safety managers and supervisors coordinating the heat-illness controls.
What you receive
- ✓Editable Microsoft Word document (.docx) fully compatible with Microsoft Word 2016 and newer, Google Docs, and LibreOffice Writer.
- ✓Title page with editable fields for PCBU name, ABN, site address, project name, principal contractor details, and document revision date.
- ✓Hazard register with the hot conditions and heat stress plumbing hazards — each with a documented consequence, inherent risk rating on a 5x5 likelihood-consequence matrix, hierarchy-of-control measures, and residual risk rating.
- ✓Heat stress plumbing prompts referencing the heat illness guidance, a heat-illness-assessment section, a hydration, rest and acclimatisation section, and a hot-environment and monitoring record.
- ✓Licensing, competency and permit prompts for the relevant plumbing, gasfitting, confined space and specialist work, and a respiratory protection selection and fit-test record per AS/NZS 1715 where relevant.
- ✓Worker consultation record per the model WHS Act consultation duty and a worker sign-on register (blank, expandable).
- ✓Applicable legislation and Codes of Practice schedule pre-populated for the model WHS jurisdiction with a state-variance reference table covering the harmonised states, plus Victoria.
- ✓Emergency procedure template and a revision log.
Worked example
A licensed plumber is engaged to carry out plumbing work outdoors and in a hot roof space during hot weather. The heat illness risk for the work and conditions is assessed and controlled — recognising that heat illness can be serious or fatal — through the work environment, work organisation, hydration, rest and acclimatisation. Hydration is provided and regular drinking encouraged, with rest breaks in cool or shaded areas, and the work scheduled to avoid the hottest part of the day where practicable. In the hot roof space, ventilation and cooling are provided where practicable and exposure limited, with the confined space controls applied where the roof space is a confined hot environment. Workers are monitored for signs of heat illness, with recognition and response to heat illness, and acclimatised to the heat. Hot surfaces and hot water are managed, and sun protection provided outdoors. The reduced capacity, judgement and fatigue from the heat are managed, and the plumbing work carried out safely. The work is completed safely, 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 — Section 291 high risk construction work and the SWMS preparation and review duties, and the confined space, excavation, demolition and electrical provisions where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
- The relevant plumbing and drainage standards AS/NZS 3500 (Parts 0–5), AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 for gas, the pressure piping and pressure equipment standards, the AS 4032 valve standards, and the hazardous chemicals, demolition and asbestos requirements, are called up by the relevant legislation, together with the relevant network utility, insurer and site requirements.
- Plumbing, drainage and gasfitting work is licensed under each state and territory's plumbing and gasfitting licensing scheme, with the relevant competencies for the specialist work, and compliance certification required for notifiable work; 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 high risk construction work, confined space, excavation and demolition provisions applying in place of the model instruments.
Frequently asked questions
What is the defining hazard in hot conditions plumbing?
The defining hazard is heat illness — heat stress, heat exhaustion and heat stroke — which can be serious or fatal, from working in hot conditions and environments such as outdoors in hot weather, roof spaces and plant rooms. The heat illness risk is assessed and controlled in addition to the controls for the plumbing work itself.
How is heat illness controlled?
Heat illness is controlled through the work environment, work organisation, hydration, rest and acclimatisation — providing hydration, rest breaks in cool or shaded areas, scheduling work to avoid the hottest part of the day, providing ventilation and cooling where practicable, and limiting exposure. The heat illness controls recognise that heat illness can be serious or fatal.
What about hot roof spaces and plant rooms?
Roof spaces, plant rooms and confined hot environments can be extremely hot, so ventilation and cooling are provided where practicable, exposure limited, and the confined space controls applied where the environment is a confined hot space. The hot enclosed environments are a particular heat illness consideration.
How is heat illness recognised?
Workers are monitored for signs of heat illness, with recognition and response to heat illness, and acclimatised to the heat. Monitoring for and recognising heat illness, and responding to it, is important because heat illness can progress to serious heat stroke if not recognised and addressed.
Who manages heat stress in plumbing work?
Plumbing work in hot conditions is carried out by a licensed plumber with the heat-illness, hydration, rest and work-organisation controls, in addition to the controls for the plumbing work itself. The heat illness risk is assessed and controlled because heat illness can be serious or fatal.