Wallpaper Hanging & Removal SWMS

Wallpaper hanging and removal involves surface preparation, stripping of existing wall coverings using steamers, chemical strippers or scoring tools, application of sizing and adhesives, and hanging of new material on internal walls and ceilings. Work is typically performed from stepladders, trestles or mobile scaffolds in occupied residential, commercial and heritage buildings. The task exposes workers to falls from height when accessing upper walls and ceilings, scalding from wallpaper steamers, chemical burns and respiratory irritation from strippers and adhesives, and — critically in pre-1990 buildings — the potential disturbance of asbestos-containing wall linings, textured ceiling coatings or backing papers.

Under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW), section 291 defines high risk construction work, and this scope triggers category (a) work carried out where there is a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres and category (d) work likely to involve the disturbance of asbestos. Section 299 requires a Safe Work Method Statement to be prepared before the work commences. Controls follow the hierarchy in section 36 — eliminate where feasible, otherwise substitute, isolate or engineer, then apply administrative controls and PPE.

Hazards identified

12 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

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

1. 1ELIMINATE: Where an asbestos register or pre-1990 building history indicates suspect materials, do not disturb the substrate — engage a Class A or Class B licensed asbestos removalist to clear the wall before wallpaper work commences, in accordance with WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) Chapter 8 and the Code of Practice: How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace.
2. 2SUBSTITUTE: Use low-VOC, solvent-free wallpaper pastes, strippers and primers labelled to the GHS 7 classification and Safety Data Sheets prepared under WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) sections 330 and 335, in preference to solvent-based products.
3. 3ISOLATE: De-energise and lock out the local circuit at the switchboard before wet stripping around switches, GPOs and light fittings; test dead with a licensed electrician where required under AS/NZS 3000:2018 Electrical Installations.
4. 4ENGINEER: Access walls above 2 m from a mobile scaffold erected and inspected in accordance with AS/NZS 1576.1:2019 and AS/NZS 1576.3:2015, or use industrial platform stepladders complying with AS/NZS 1892.1:2018 rated for the load — never use domestic ladders.
5. 5ENGINEER: Fit wallpaper steamers with insulated plates, drip-guards and thermostatic cut-outs; inspect hoses and pressure vessels before each use and tag out defective units.
6. 6ENGINEER: Use HEPA-filtered H-class vacuums complying with AS/NZS 60335.2.69:2017 to control dust from any sanding or making-good of substrates, and dampen surfaces before stripping to suppress fibres and dust.
7. 7ADMINISTRATIVE: Conduct pre-work asbestos identification — review the site asbestos register (WHS Reg 2025 s425) and, for buildings pre-1990 with unknown materials, arrange sampling by a licensed asbestos assessor before scoring, wetting or removing wall linings.
8. 8ADMINISTRATIVE: Establish a hazardous chemicals register and provide SDS at the work area; ventilate rooms with mechanical extraction when using strippers, and prohibit ignition sources near flammable solvents.
9. 9ADMINISTRATIVE: Implement a 3-point contact rule on ladders, restrict work to below shoulder height, and prohibit standing on the top two rungs; a second worker foots the ladder on smooth floors.
10. 10PPE: Provide chemical-resistant nitrile gloves (AS/NZS 2161.10.1:2020), safety eyewear (AS/NZS 1337.1:2010), P2 disposable respirators (AS/NZS 1716:2012) when sanding or handling strippers, and heat-resistant gauntlets when operating steamers.
11. 11PPE (asbestos contingency): If suspected asbestos is encountered mid-task, stop work immediately, isolate the area, notify the PCBU, and do not resume until a licensed removalist has cleared the material and a clearance certificate is issued under WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) section 474.
12. 12VERIFICATION: All workers hold a current White Card (CPCCWHS1001); the SWMS is developed in consultation with workers under WHS Act 2011 (NSW) section 47, signed on before commencement, and reviewed under WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) section 302 whenever controls change, an incident occurs, or a new hazard is identified.

Applicable Codes of Practice

High-Risk Construction Work triggered

Worked example

A two-person painting crew is engaged to strip and re-hang wallpaper in a 1960s semi-detached residence in Marrickville prior to sale. The scope covers three bedrooms and a hallway with 2.7 m ceilings. Because the building predates 1990, the PCBU obtains the vendor's asbestos report; the report identifies AC sheet in the hallway walls behind the existing paper. Work in the hallway is paused and a Class B licensed removalist is engaged to remove the AC sheeting and issue a clearance certificate before papering resumes. In the bedrooms, workers use a low-VOC stripper and steamer from an industrial platform stepladder rated to 150 kg. Circuits are isolated at the switchboard before wet stripping around GPOs. The SWMS is signed on by both workers, the register is kept in the site folder, and a review is triggered when the removalist's clearance is issued and the scope resumes.

Related legislation

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW)
• Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) — asbestos and chemical waste disposal
• Electricity Supply Act 1995 (NSW) and AS/NZS 3000:2018 — electrical isolation obligations
• Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966 (NSW) — labelling of scheduled chemicals
• Dangerous Goods (Road and Rail Transport) Act 2008 (NSW) — transport of flammable solvents

Frequently asked questions