Anaesthetic Gas Scavenging (AGSS) Install SWMS
A Safe Work Method Statement for anaesthetic gas scavenging (agss) install covering all key hazards, controls and regulatory requirements. This is classified as high-risk construction work under WHS Regulation 2025.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Anaesthetic gas scavenging system installation covers the installation of anaesthetic gas scavenging systems (AGSS) in healthcare facilities — the pipework, terminal units, receivers and the disposal system that captures and removes waste anaesthetic gases from operating theatres and procedure rooms to protect staff from occupational exposure. It is specialised medical gas work governed by the medical gas standard, and it carries the requirements of the medical gas pipeline system together with the specific purpose of protecting theatre staff from chronic exposure to waste anaesthetic gases. This document is written on the basis that anaesthetic gas scavenging systems are installed by specifically qualified and certified personnel to the medical gas standard, with the system tested and certified and the staff-exposure purpose met.
Anaesthetic gas scavenging systems are installed to AS 2896, the medical gas systems standard, which addresses anaesthetic gas scavenging together with the medical gas pipeline requirements, including the materials, identification, testing and certification of the system. The purpose of the system is to capture and dispose of waste anaesthetic gases to protect staff from occupational exposure, and the system must be tested and certified before it is used. This document coordinates the medical-gas-standard, staff-exposure, testing and certification controls so the scavenging system is installed, certified and protects staff.
Hazards identified
9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Chronic health effects in theatre staff from waste anaesthetic gas exposure where scavenging is inadequate
Patient or staff harm where the scavenging system is cross-connected to a gas pipeline
Inadequate capture and removal of waste anaesthetic gases
An unverified scavenging system placed in use
Falls and restricted-access hazards installing pipework and terminals
Disruption to and risk for patients and clinical operations during the work
Confusion where the scavenging terminals are not correctly identified
Musculoskeletal injury from materials and equipment
Exposure or release where the captured gas is not safely disposed of
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Engineering: install the anaesthetic gas scavenging system to AS 2896 — the pipework, terminal units, receivers and disposal — so waste anaesthetic gases are captured and removed to protect staff from exposure.
- 2Administrative: prevent cross-connection of the scavenging system with any medical gas pipeline through identification, segregation and the testing the standard requires, because a cross-connection would be hazardous.
- 3Administrative: test and certify the scavenging system to the standard — confirming the capture, removal and disposal perform — before the system is used.
- 4Engineering: provide fall prevention for work at height and in ceiling and service spaces installing pipework and terminals, to the managing the risk of falls Code of Practice.
- 5Administrative: confirm the correct identification of the scavenging terminals so there is no confusion with medical gas terminals.
- 6Administrative: coordinate the work in the occupied healthcare facility so patients and clinical operations are protected, and dispose of the captured waste anaesthetic gas safely.
- 7Engineering: use correct manual-handling and mechanical aids for pipework and components, and confirm the system protects staff from waste anaesthetic gas exposure on commissioning.
- 8Administrative: ensure the work is carried out and certified by an appropriately licensed gasfitter or plumber under the relevant state or territory gasfitting and plumbing licensing scheme, with a compliance certificate issued where required.
- 9Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001) before entering any construction workplace, with the gasfitting, plumbing and any confined space competencies and licences required for the work.
- 10Administrative: conduct a daily 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, 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 medical gas systems standard addressing anaesthetic gas scavenging, identification, testing and certification.
Fall-prevention controls for any work at height involved in the task.
The risk management process and hierarchy of controls applied to the hazards of the work.
Selection, fit testing and use of respiratory protection where atmospheric hazards, purging or confined conditions require it.
The work environment and the protection of theatre staff from waste anaesthetic gas exposure.
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Installing scavenging pipework and terminals at height and in ceiling and service spaces involves work where a person could fall more than 2 metres, which is high risk construction work requiring a SWMS before the work commences.
This is licensed gasfitting or plumbing work that, in the circumstances described, is high risk construction work — where there is a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres — 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 AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 and, where applicable, the LP Gas, medical gas and pipeline standards, which are called up by the state and territory gas safety legislation, with the excavation, confined space, pressurised-gas-main or work-at-height controls applied as relevant. A failure in this work can cause a major gas release, fire, explosion or patient harm, and breaches of the gas 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
- →Specifically qualified and certified medical gas personnel installing scavenging systems.
- →Medical gas contractors installing anaesthetic gas scavenging in healthcare facilities.
- →Mechanical and plumbing businesses certified for medical gas work.
- →Healthcare facilities and PCBUs requiring anaesthetic gas scavenging.
- →PCBU safety managers and supervisors coordinating the staff-exposure, cross-connection and certification 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 anaesthetic gas scavenging system installation hazards — each with a documented consequence, inherent risk rating on a 5x5 likelihood-consequence matrix, hierarchy-of-control measures, and residual risk rating.
- ✓Anaesthetic gas scavenging prompts referencing AS 2896, a cross-connection-prevention and identification section, a capture-and-removal testing section, and a certification and staff-protection record.
- ✓Licensing and compliance-certificate prompts for the relevant gasfitting and plumbing scheme, the Type B or medical gas certification where applicable, 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 certified medical gas specialist is engaged to install an anaesthetic gas scavenging system in a new operating theatre. The system is installed to AS 2896 — the pipework, terminal units, receivers and disposal — so waste anaesthetic gases are captured and removed to protect theatre staff from exposure. Cross-connection of the scavenging system with any medical gas pipeline is prevented through identification, segregation and the testing the standard requires. Pipework and terminals in the ceiling and service spaces are installed with fall prevention for the work at height, and a SWMS prepared. The scavenging terminals are confirmed correctly identified so there is no confusion with medical gas terminals. The work is coordinated with the occupied facility so patients and clinical operations are protected. The system is tested and certified — confirming the capture, removal and disposal perform — before it is used, and the captured waste anaesthetic gas is disposed of safely. The specialist confirms the system protects staff from exposure, obtains the certification, and retains the records.
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 and pressurised-gas provisions where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
- The gas installation standard AS/NZS 5601.1:2022, the LP Gas storage standard AS/NZS 1596, the medical gas standard AS 2896, and the relevant plumbing and drainage standards AS/NZS 3500, are called up by the state and territory gas and plumbing safety legislation, together with the Type B and medical gas certification requirements and the gas network operator's requirements where applicable.
- Gasfitting and plumbing work is licensed under each state and territory's gasfitting and plumbing licensing scheme, with Type B authorisation and medical gas certification required for that work, and compliance certification required for notifiable work.
- 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 excavation provisions applying in place of the model instruments.
Frequently asked questions
What is an anaesthetic gas scavenging system?
An anaesthetic gas scavenging system (AGSS) captures and removes waste anaesthetic gases from operating theatres and procedure rooms, through pipework, terminal units, receivers and a disposal system, to protect staff from occupational exposure. It is specialised medical gas work installed to AS 2896, and its purpose is to protect theatre staff from chronic exposure to waste anaesthetic gases.
Why is anaesthetic gas scavenging important for staff?
Theatre staff can be exposed to waste anaesthetic gases over time, which can have chronic health effects, so the scavenging system captures and removes those gases to protect staff from occupational exposure. The system is installed and tested to confirm it captures and removes the waste gases effectively, meeting its staff-protection purpose.
How is cross-connection prevented?
The scavenging system is kept separate from the medical gas pipelines through identification, segregation and the testing the standard requires, because a cross-connection between the scavenging system and a medical gas pipeline would be hazardous. The scavenging terminals are also confirmed correctly identified so there is no confusion with medical gas terminals.
Is the scavenging system tested and certified?
Yes. The scavenging system is tested and certified to AS 2896 — confirming the capture, removal and disposal of the waste anaesthetic gases perform — before the system is used. The testing and certification confirm the system protects staff from waste anaesthetic gas exposure, and the system is not used until it has been verified and certified.
Who can install an anaesthetic gas scavenging system?
Anaesthetic gas scavenging installation is specialised medical gas work carried out by specifically qualified and certified personnel to AS 2896. Because it is part of the medical gas system and protects staff from occupational exposure, the installation, testing and certification are carried out by certified personnel, with the system certified before it is used.