Fire / Smoke Damage Restoration SWMS
SWMS template for fire / smoke damage restoration. Covers Soot cleaning, ozone treatment, structural drying. 8-state AU coverage, CIH-reviewed editable DOCX, available as an instant download.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Fire and smoke damage restoration involves entering structures compromised by combustion to remove soot, neutralise odours through ozone or hydroxyl treatment, and dry saturated building elements following firefighting operations. This work exposes restoration technicians to a complex mix of hazards including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soot residues, asbestos containing materials disturbed by fire damage, structural collapse risk from compromised framing, electrical hazards from damaged wiring, and chemical exposure from cleaning agents and ozone generators.
Under the model Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and WHS Regulation 2011 (and equivalent state legislation including the WHS Regulation 2017 NSW and OHS Regulations 2017 Vic), a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) carrying out fire damage restoration must prepare a Safe Work Method Statement before any High Risk Construction Work commences. Restoration work routinely triggers multiple HRCW categories under regulation 291, including work on or near energised electrical installations, work at heights exceeding 2 metres on damaged roofs, and work involving asbestos disturbance.
This SWMS has been reviewed by a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) and aligns with the Safe Work Australia Code of Practice: Construction Work, the How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code, and AS/NZS 4360 risk management principles. It is legally required documentation that must be available at the workplace, communicated to all workers, and reviewed if controls fail or the scope changes.
Hazards identified
6 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Carcinogenic exposure via inhalation and dermal absorption; long-term cancer risk and acute respiratory irritation
Mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer from inhalation of friable fibres liberated by thermal degradation
Fatal crush injuries, falls through compromised flooring, falling debris striking workers
Pulmonary oedema, severe respiratory damage and chemical pneumonitis above 0.1 ppm 8-hour TWA
Electrocution, arc flash burns and secondary falls from shock response
Serious injury or fatality from falls through fire-weakened roofing or from elevated platforms
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Engage a licensed asbestos assessor to conduct pre-restoration sampling in accordance with the Code of Practice: How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace before any disturbance work commences
- 2Confirm electrical isolation by a licensed electrician with lock-out/tag-out applied at the main switchboard, and use a contact voltage tester to verify de-energisation before entry
- 3Conduct a structural engineer's assessment of fire-affected load-bearing elements; prohibit entry to areas marked unsafe until shoring or remediation is complete
- 4Issue P2/P3 respiratory protection (or supplied-air respirators where ozone or PAH levels exceed workplace exposure standards per AS/NZS 1715 and AS/NZS 1716), with fit testing documented
- 5Provide Type 5/6 disposable coveralls, nitrile gloves and eye protection; establish decontamination zones with HEPA-filtered negative air machines per IICRC S520 principles
- 6Exclude all personnel from ozone treatment areas during generation cycles; lock and signpost rooms, and verify ozone levels return below 0.1 ppm using a calibrated photometric monitor before re-entry
- 7Implement fall protection in line with the Managing the Risk of Falls Code of Practice: temporary edge protection, harness systems anchored to engineered points, or elevated work platforms for roof access above 2 metres
- 8Maintain SDS for all cleaning chemicals on site, ensure compatibility (no mixing of chlorinated and ammonia-based products), and provide chemical-resistant PPE matched to the hazard
- 9Conduct daily toolbox talks covering atmospheric monitoring results, structural changes and emerging hazards; record attendance on the worker sign-on register
- 10Establish emergency procedures including evacuation routes, first aid response for chemical exposure, and contact details for poisons information (13 11 26) and emergency services
Applicable Codes of Practice
Mandates SWMS preparation before fire restoration work involving HRCW categories commences
Sets minimum standards for SWMS content, consultation and review during restoration projects
Required for managing asbestos disturbance in fire-damaged pre-2004 buildings
Governs fall prevention during roof and elevated structural drying work
Specifies RPE selection for soot, asbestos and ozone exposure scenarios
Performance standard for P2/P3 filters and supplied-air respirators used in restoration
Required for testing and tagging of fire-affected portable electrical equipment before reuse
Industry benchmark for soot cleaning, ozone treatment and structural drying methodologies
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Roof inspections, ceiling soot removal and elevated structural drying equipment installation routinely require working above 2 metres on potentially compromised surfaces
Removal of fire-damaged structural elements such as charred studs, joists or roof framing prior to drying constitutes demolition of load-bearing components
Fire damage in pre-2004 Australian buildings frequently degrades asbestos cement sheeting, vinyl tiles and insulation, releasing friable fibres during cleanup
Restoration occurs in buildings with damaged switchboards, wiring and appliances where energised conductors may be exposed or compromised
Failure to prepare and implement a compliant SWMS for HRCW under WHS Regulation r291 attracts penalties up to $6,000 for an individual and $30,000 for a body corporate, with significantly higher penalties for breaches causing serious injury or death under sections 31-33 of the WHS Act 2011 (Category 1 offences carrying up to $3 million for a body corporate and 5 years imprisonment for officers).
Who this is for
- →IICRC-certified fire and smoke damage restoration contractors
- →Insurance builders and make-safe response companies operating after fire events
- →Disaster recovery and emergency restoration PCBUs servicing residential and commercial claims
- →Cleaning contractors expanding into specialist soot, odour and structural drying services
- →Property managers and strata managers commissioning post-fire restoration works
- →Loss adjusters and insurance assessors verifying contractor WHS documentation
What you receive
- ✓Fully editable Microsoft Word (DOCX) SWMS template, CIH-reviewed and ready to customise with your business details
- ✓State-specific legislation schedule covering NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT and NT WHS/OHS regulations
- ✓Comprehensive hazard register with 6 fire restoration-specific hazards, consequences and risk priorities
- ✓Worker sign-on register for documenting consultation and acknowledgement under WHS Act s47
- ✓HRCW category checklist mapped to WHS Regulation r291
- ✓Pre-populated control measures aligned with the hierarchy of control under WHS Regulation r36
- ✓Emergency response and incident notification procedures
- ✓Delivery via secure download as an instant download confirmation
Worked example
A restoration crew is dispatched to a two-storey weatherboard home in suburban Melbourne following a kitchen fire that has caused heavy soot deposition throughout the ground floor and smoke damage upstairs. Before mobilising, the supervisor opens the SWMS, confirms HRCW categories 1, 6 and 14 apply, and arranges a licensed asbestos assessor to sample the fire-damaged eaves and vinyl flooring. A licensed electrician isolates the main switchboard and applies personal danger tags. On arrival, technicians don P3 half-face respirators (fit-tested per AS/NZS 1715), Type 5/6 coveralls and nitrile gloves before entering the affected zone. Negative air machines establish containment. After three days of soot cleaning and structural drying, the team sets up an ozone generator overnight, locks the property, posts warning signage, and uses a calibrated ozone monitor the following morning to confirm levels are below 0.1 ppm before the crew re-enters. Each shift is opened with a toolbox talk recorded on the sign-on register, ensuring the SWMS remains a living document and meeting the consultation obligations under section 47 of the WHS Act.
Related legislation
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth model)
- Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (model) and state equivalents
- Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic) and OHS Regulations 2017 (Vic)
- Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) and WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA)
- Hazardous Substances Information System (HSIS) — Safe Work Australia
- Environment Protection Act 1970/2017 (Vic) — contaminated waste disposal
- Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld) and equivalent state electrical safety legislation
- Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations — state-specific
Frequently asked questions
Is a SWMS legally required for fire and smoke damage restoration in Australia?
Yes. Where the work involves any of the 18 HRCW categories under WHS Regulation r291 — which fire restoration almost always does through asbestos disturbance, work at height, electrical work or structural demolition — a SWMS must be prepared before work commences and kept available at the workplace until the work is complete.
Does this SWMS cover all Australian states and territories?
Yes. The template includes a state-specific legislation schedule for NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT and NT. Victoria and WA have non-harmonised legislation (OHS Act 2004 and WHS Act 2020 respectively), and the schedule cross-references each state's equivalent provisions and regulators.
How quickly will I receive the SWMS after purchase?
The editable DOCX is delivered via secure download as an instant download confirmation, typically much faster during business hours. You can immediately customise it with your business name, ABN, project details and site-specific controls.
Has this document been reviewed by a qualified professional?
Yes. The SWMS has been reviewed by a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) with expertise in post-fire contaminant assessment, including PAH exposure, asbestos management and ozone safety. Content aligns with current Safe Work Australia Codes of Practice and AS/NZS standards.
How often should the SWMS be reviewed during a restoration job?
Under WHS Regulation r294, the SWMS must be reviewed and revised whenever a control measure is found to be ineffective, the work scope changes, a notifiable incident occurs, or a worker raises a health and safety concern. We recommend a documented daily review at the toolbox talk for fire restoration projects given the dynamic hazard profile.
Do I need additional documentation for asbestos work identified during restoration?
Yes. If asbestos is identified, a separate Asbestos Removal Control Plan is required for licensed removal work, and only Class A or Class B licensed removalists may undertake the work depending on whether the material is friable. This SWMS addresses the trigger and immediate controls but does not replace specialist asbestos documentation.