Compressed Air Reticulation (Plumbing Context) SWMS
A Safe Work Method Statement for compressed air reticulation covering all key hazards, controls and regulatory requirements.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Compressed air plumbing covers the installation and maintenance of compressed air pipework and distribution systems in industrial and commercial settings — the pipework, fittings, receivers and outlets that distribute compressed air for tools, process and equipment. Compressed air is a pressurised energy source, and the defining hazards are the stored energy and pressure of the system, the consequences of a sudden release or a fitting failure, the hazard of compressed air injection or impact, and the receiver as a pressure vessel. This document is written on the basis that compressed air plumbing is carried out by competent personnel with the pressure, stored-energy and release hazards controlled.
Compressed air plumbing is carried out in connection with the relevant pressure piping and pressure equipment standards, with the system isolated and depressurised before work, because compressed air holds significant stored energy. The stored energy and pressure, the consequences of a sudden release, the injection and impact hazard of compressed air, and the air receiver as a pressure vessel are the defining hazards. This document coordinates the pressure, stored-energy, release and pressure-vessel controls so the compressed air pipework is worked on safely.
Hazards identified
9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Sudden release and injury from the stored energy of the compressed air system
Whip, impact or projectile injury from a fitting failure under pressure
Injection injury or impact from the compressed air
Air release where the system is not isolated and depressurised
Pressure-vessel hazard from the air receiver
Fire and burns from hot work on the compressed air pipework
Hearing damage from the compressed air system and releases
Falls and plant hazards during the work
Musculoskeletal injury from the pipework and equipment
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Engineering: isolate and depressurise the compressed air system before the work, confirming it is isolated and at zero pressure, because compressed air holds significant stored energy.
- 2Engineering: install and maintain the compressed air pipework, fittings and receivers to the relevant pressure piping and pressure equipment standards, with rated fittings correctly secured.
- 3Administrative: never use compressed air against the body and never work on a pressurised system, controlling the injection and impact hazard, and manage the air receiver as a pressure vessel.
- 4Engineering: secure fittings and pipework against whip and projectile failure, and confirm connections are rated and secured for the pressure.
- 5Administrative: where hot work is carried out, apply the hot-work precautions — permit, fire watch and extinguishing means.
- 6Engineering: manage the noise hazard, provide fall prevention for work at height, and use mechanical aids for the pipework and equipment.
- 7Administrative: pressure test and commission the system before it is returned to service, confirming it is leak-tight and the fittings are secure.
- 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 pressure piping and pressure equipment standards for the compressed air pipework and receivers.
Fire precautions for any hot work — welding, brazing, soldering — carried out during the work.
The control of noise from the compressed air system and releases.
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.
Who this is for
- →Competent personnel installing and maintaining compressed air pipework.
- →Industrial and mechanical services contractors on compressed air systems.
- →Plumbing and pipefitting businesses working on compressed air.
- →Industrial and commercial PCBUs with compressed air systems.
- →PCBU safety managers and supervisors coordinating the pressure and stored-energy 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 compressed air plumbing hazards — each with a documented consequence, inherent risk rating on a 5x5 likelihood-consequence matrix, hierarchy-of-control measures, and residual risk rating.
- ✓Compressed air prompts referencing the pressure piping standards, an isolation and depressurise section, a stored-energy and fitting-failure section, and a pressure-vessel and commissioning 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 competent pipefitter is engaged to install and maintain compressed air pipework in an industrial facility. The compressed air system is isolated and depressurised before the work, confirmed isolated and at zero pressure, because compressed air holds significant stored energy. The pipework, fittings and receivers are installed and maintained to the relevant pressure piping and pressure equipment standards, with rated fittings correctly secured. Compressed air is never used against the body and the system is never worked on pressurised, controlling the injection and impact hazard, and the air receiver is managed as a pressure vessel. Fittings and pipework are secured against whip and projectile failure, and connections confirmed rated and secured for the pressure. Where hot work is carried out, a permit, fire watch and extinguishing means are in place. The noise hazard is managed, fall prevention provided for work at height, and mechanical aids used. The system is pressure tested and commissioned before return to service, confirmed leak-tight and the fittings secure, 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
Why is compressed air a hazard?
Compressed air is a pressurised energy source that holds significant stored energy, so a sudden release or a fitting failure can cause whip, impact or projectile injury, and compressed air can cause injection or impact injury if used against the body. The system is isolated and depressurised before work, and never worked on pressurised.
How is the compressed air system made safe before work?
The compressed air system is isolated and depressurised before the work, confirmed isolated and at zero pressure. Isolating and depressurising the system before any work is the defining control, because the stored energy of compressed air can release suddenly and cause injury.
Why must compressed air never be used against the body?
Compressed air can penetrate the skin and cause a serious injection injury, and can cause impact injury, so it is never used against the body. Controlling the injection and impact hazard, by never using compressed air against the body, is an important safety rule in compressed air work.
What is the air receiver?
The air receiver is the pressure vessel that stores the compressed air, and it is managed as a pressure vessel because of its stored energy. The receiver is installed and maintained to the relevant pressure equipment standards, and managed as a pressure vessel, as part of the compressed air system.
Who works on compressed air pipework?
Compressed air plumbing is carried out by competent personnel in connection with the relevant pressure piping and pressure equipment standards, because of the pressure and stored-energy hazards. The system is isolated and depressurised before work, and pressure tested and commissioned before return to service.