Plumbing in Operating Food Premises SWMS

Food premises plumbing covers plumbing work in operating food premises — restaurants, cafes, food manufacturers and food retail — installing, maintaining and repairing water, sanitary, drainage, trade waste and hot water systems in a setting where food safety and hygiene are paramount. The plumbing work is conventional, but the food setting imposes heightened controls: the drinking water supply must be protected against backflow from food equipment, trade waste apparatus must function, food-safety and hygiene must be maintained, and the work coordinated around food operations. This document is written on the basis that food premises plumbing is carried out by a licensed plumber with the backflow, trade-waste, food-safety and hygiene controls in place.

Food premises plumbing is carried out to the relevant parts of AS/NZS 3500, with backflow protection to AS/NZS 3500.1 because food equipment and connections present backflow hazards to the drinking water supply, trade waste pre-treatment to AS/NZS 3500.2 and the network utility's requirements, and hot water and Legionella controls. The work is carried out in an operating food premises, so food safety, hygiene, backflow protection and service continuity are heightened controls. This document coordinates the backflow, trade-waste, food-safety, hygiene and service controls so the plumbing work is carried out safely in the food setting.

Hazards identified

9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

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

1. 1Engineering: provide and confirm backflow protection matched to the hazard on food equipment and connections to AS/NZS 3500.1, because food equipment presents backflow hazards to the drinking water supply, and use approved materials.
2. 2Administrative: maintain food safety and hygiene during the work — protecting food, surfaces and equipment from dust, debris and contamination — and coordinate with food operations.
3. 3Engineering: install and maintain the trade waste pre-treatment apparatus to AS/NZS 3500.2 and the network utility's requirements so the trade waste discharge is compliant.
4. 4Administrative: manage the biological hazard with hygiene controls, washing facilities, gloves and protective clothing, and prohibition of eating, drinking and smoking until decontaminated.
5. 5Administrative: maintain water and services to food operations or provide temporary services, and control Legionella and hot water in the systems.
6. 6Administrative: coordinate the work with the operating food premises so occupants and operations are protected, maintaining services and access, and applying the facility's induction, permit and infection or safety controls.
7. 7Engineering: isolate and manage hot water, gas and stored energy so they do not cause harm, and control trips and access for staff and customers.
8. 8Administrative: ensure the work is carried out and certified by an appropriately licensed plumber or gasfitter under the relevant state or territory plumbing and gasfitting licensing scheme, with the relevant competencies and a compliance certificate issued where required.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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

Worked example

A licensed plumber is engaged to carry out plumbing work in an operating restaurant. Backflow protection matched to the hazard is provided and confirmed on the food equipment and connections to AS/NZS 3500.1, because food equipment presents backflow hazards to the drinking water supply, with approved materials. Food safety and hygiene are maintained during the work by protecting food, surfaces and equipment from dust, debris and contamination, coordinated with food operations. The trade waste pre-treatment apparatus is installed and maintained to AS/NZS 3500.2 and the network utility's requirements so the discharge is compliant. The biological hazard of sanitary, drainage and trade waste work is managed with hygiene controls and washing facilities. Water and services to food operations are maintained or temporary services provided, and Legionella and hot water controlled. Hot water, gas and stored energy are isolated and managed so they do not cause harm, and trips and access controlled. The work is completed safely, 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 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 AS 4032 valve standards, and the hazardous chemicals and electrical requirements, are called up by the state and territory plumbing, gas and safety legislation, together with the relevant network utility, healthcare and site requirements.
• Plumbing 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 and electrical provisions applying in place of the model instruments.

Frequently asked questions