Pipeline Disinfecting & Commissioning SWMS
Pipeline and water-main disinfection covers the chlorination, dechlorination, sampling and AS/NZS 3500 commissioning of new and rehabilitated potable water mains, hospital water systems, and aged-care plumbing.
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Pipeline disinfecting covers the disinfection of water pipelines and systems before they are placed into service — disinfecting larger water pipelines, tanks and systems using chlorine-based or other approved disinfectants, holding for the required contact time, and flushing and confirming the water quality. Like water main disinfection, it uses concentrated disinfectant chemicals that are hazardous, requires the disinfectant to be neutralised before discharge to protect waterways, and is water-quality-critical. The larger scale of pipelines and tanks adds the hazards of the volumes involved, the potential for confined space entry into tanks, and the management of the larger disinfection process. This document is written on the basis that pipeline disinfecting is carried out by competent personnel with the chemical, water-quality, neutralisation, confined-space and environmental hazards controlled.
Pipeline disinfecting is carried out in connection with AS/NZS 3500.1 and the asset owner's or water utility's requirements, using approved disinfectants to disinfect the pipeline, tank or system. The disinfectant chemicals are hazardous chemicals requiring careful handling, the chlorinated or disinfected water requires neutralisation before discharge, and entry into tanks can be a confined space. The water quality is confirmed before the system is placed in service. This document coordinates the chemical, water-quality, neutralisation, confined-space and environmental controls so the pipeline is disinfected and the supply protected.
Hazards identified
9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Skin and eye chemical burns from the concentrated disinfectant
Respiratory harm from chlorine gas or vapour during handling
Harm to waterways and aquatic life from un-neutralised disinfected discharge
Oxygen deficiency, contaminated atmosphere and restricted egress in tanks
Contaminated drinking water where the system is not adequately disinfected
Hazardous reaction or release from incorrect chemical mixing
Water and chemical release from the large pressurised volumes
Exposure to the disinfected water during charging and flushing
Musculoskeletal injury from the chemicals and equipment
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Administrative: handle the disinfectant as a hazardous chemical to its safety data sheet, with the solution prepared, dosed and handled carefully, and the chemicals not incorrectly mixed.
- 2PPE: chemical-resistant gloves, eye and face protection, and respiratory protection appropriate to the chlorine or disinfectant where vapour or gas is possible, per the safety data sheet and AS/NZS 1715 and AS/NZS 1716.
- 3Engineering: disinfect the pipeline, tank or system to AS/NZS 3500.1 and the asset owner's requirements — charging with the disinfectant at the required concentration, holding for the required contact time, and flushing.
- 4Administrative: neutralise the disinfected water before discharge so it does not harm waterways, and dispose of or discharge the neutralised water in accordance with the environmental requirements.
- 5Administrative: where entry into a tank or system is required, apply the confined space entry permit, atmospheric testing, ventilation, standby and rescue controls to the confined spaces Code of Practice.
- 6Administrative: confirm the water quality before the system is placed in service, so it supplies safe drinking water, and manage the stored pressure and large water volumes.
- 7Engineering: use mechanical aids for the chemicals and equipment, and control contact with the disinfected water during charging and flushing.
- 8Administrative: ensure the work is carried out and certified by an appropriately licensed plumber or drainer under the relevant state or territory plumbing 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, 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 water services standard for the disinfection of the pipeline, tank or system before it is placed in service.
The management of the disinfectant as a hazardous chemical, including handling and exposure controls.
Atmospheric testing, ventilation, entry permit and rescue controls where the work involves entry into a confined space.
The materials and water-quality requirements for the system and the drinking water supply.
Selection, fit testing and use of respiratory protection where atmospheric, chemical or biological hazards require it for the work.
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Where pipeline disinfecting requires entry into a tank or system that may have a contaminated atmosphere, the work is high risk construction work requiring a SWMS before the work commences.
This is licensed plumbing, drainage or service work that, in the circumstances described, is high risk construction work — in or near a confined space — so a SWMS must be prepared before the work commences, kept readily accessible, reviewed as necessary, and given to the principal contractor if one is appointed. The work is carried out to the relevant AS/NZS 3500 plumbing and drainage standards, AS/NZS 1547 for on-site wastewater, and the confined space and hazardous chemicals requirements, which are called up by the relevant legislation, with the confined-space, biological, chemical and environmental controls applied as relevant. A failure in this work can cause an atmospheric incident, chemical or biological exposure, or harm to the water supply or waterways, and breaches of the relevant legislation and the primary duty of care under the model WHS Act are actively enforced, with offence categories running from failure-to-comply through to reckless conduct, and the most serious breaches carrying imprisonment for individuals. Body-corporate maxima are substantial and indexed; the current maximum follows the prevailing schedule of the responsible regulator.
Who this is for
- →Competent personnel disinfecting water pipelines, tanks and systems.
- →Water and civil contractors commissioning pipelines and tanks.
- →Plumbing and water businesses providing pipeline disinfecting.
- →Water utilities, asset owners and PCBUs requiring pipeline disinfection.
- →PCBU safety managers and supervisors coordinating the chemical, confined-space and environmental 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 pipeline disinfecting hazards — each with a documented consequence, inherent risk rating on a 5x5 likelihood-consequence matrix, hierarchy-of-control measures, and residual risk rating.
- ✓Pipeline disinfecting prompts referencing AS/NZS 3500.1 and the asset owner requirements, a chemical-handling and PPE section, a disinfection and contact-time section, and a neutralisation, confined-space and water-quality record.
- ✓Licensing, competency and permit prompts for the relevant plumbing, confined space and hazardous chemicals 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 water contractor is engaged to disinfect a new water pipeline and storage tank before they are placed in service. The disinfectant is handled as a hazardous chemical to its safety data sheet, with the solution prepared, dosed and handled carefully and the chemicals not incorrectly mixed, and chemical-resistant gloves, eye and face protection and respiratory protection worn. The pipeline and tank are disinfected to AS/NZS 3500.1 and the asset owner's requirements, charging with the disinfectant at the required concentration, holding for the required contact time, and flushing. The disinfected water is neutralised before discharge so it does not harm waterways, and disposed of in accordance with the environmental requirements. Where entry into the tank is required, the confined space entry permit, atmospheric testing, ventilation, standby and rescue controls apply. The water quality is confirmed before the system is placed in service, and the stored pressure and large volumes managed. The system is disinfected 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 and hazardous chemicals provisions where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
- The relevant plumbing and drainage standards AS/NZS 3500 (Parts 0–5), AS/NZS 1547 for on-site wastewater, AS/NZS 4233 for high-pressure water jetting, and the hazardous chemicals and environmental requirements, are called up by the relevant legislation, together with the relevant network utility and asset owner requirements.
- Plumbing and drainage work is licensed under each state and territory's plumbing licensing scheme, with the relevant competencies for confined space and chemical 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 and hazardous chemicals provisions applying in place of the model instruments.
Frequently asked questions
What is pipeline disinfecting?
Pipeline disinfecting is the disinfection of water pipelines, tanks and systems before they are placed into service, using chlorine-based or other approved disinfectants, holding for the required contact time, and flushing and confirming the water quality. It ensures the larger water system supplies safe drinking water, like water main disinfection but at the larger scale of pipelines and tanks.
What chemical hazards apply?
The disinfectants are concentrated hazardous chemicals that can cause chemical burns and respiratory harm from chlorine gas or vapour. They are handled as hazardous chemicals to their safety data sheet with chemical-resistant gloves, eye and face protection and respiratory protection, and the chemicals are not incorrectly mixed.
Why must the disinfected water be neutralised?
The disinfected water can harm waterways and aquatic life if discharged un-neutralised, so it is neutralised before discharge and disposed of in accordance with the environmental requirements. Neutralising the disinfected water before discharge prevents environmental harm, which is an essential part of the disinfection process.
Does pipeline disinfecting involve confined spaces?
It can, where entry into a tank or system is required during the disinfection. In those cases the confined space entry permit, atmospheric testing, ventilation, standby and rescue controls apply, and the work is high risk construction work requiring a SWMS, in addition to the chemical and water-quality controls.
How is the water quality confirmed?
The water quality is confirmed before the system is placed in service, so it supplies safe drinking water. Confirming the water quality after disinfection and flushing ensures the pipeline, tank or system is adequately disinfected and the drinking water is safe before the system is brought into use, to AS/NZS 3500.1 and the asset owner's requirements.