Medical Gas Plant Room Install & Service SWMS

Medical gas plant room work covers the installation, modification and maintenance of the medical gas source plant in healthcare facilities — the manifolds, cylinder banks, bulk medical gas storage, medical air compressor plant, medical vacuum plant and the alarms and controls that supply the medical gas pipeline. It is critical and hazardous work: the plant room is the source of the medical gas supply to the whole facility, it contains high-pressure gases and oxygen-enrichment fire hazards, and a loss or contamination of supply affects patients across the facility. This document is written on the basis that medical gas plant room work is carried out by specifically qualified and certified personnel to the medical gas standard, with the supply continuity, oxygen-hazard and certification controls in place.

Medical gas plant room work is carried out to AS 2896, the medical gas systems standard, which sets the requirements for the source plant — manifolds, cylinder banks, bulk storage, compressor and vacuum plant, and alarms — together with the testing and certification of the supply. The plant room contains high-pressure medical gases and oxygen, bringing high-pressure and oxygen-enrichment fire hazards, and the continuity of supply to patients across the facility is critical. This document coordinates the medical-gas-standard, supply-continuity, high-pressure, oxygen-hazard and certification controls so the plant room work is carried out without loss of supply or an oxygen incident.

Hazards identified

9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

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

1. 1Administrative: carry out the plant room work to AS 2896, maintaining the continuity of medical gas supply — using reserve and alternative supply, and planned changeover — so the facility supply is not lost while the work is carried out.
2. 2Engineering: control the oxygen-enrichment and fire hazard — scrupulous cleanliness, oxygen-clean materials and practice, and no oils or contaminants — to prevent fire in an oxygen-enriched atmosphere.
3. 3Engineering: manage the high-pressure medical gas at the manifolds, cylinder banks and bulk storage, isolating and depressurising before work and controlling the stored pressure.
4. 4Administrative: prevent cross-connection and contamination at the source plant through identification and the anti-confusion and purity testing the standard requires, and certify any modified supply before it is used.
5. 5Administrative: verify the alarms and monitoring on the source plant function, so a supply or pressure problem is detected.
6. 6Engineering: use correct manual-handling and mechanical aids for cylinders and plant, and restrain cylinders against falling.
7. 7Administrative: coordinate the work with the facility so patients are protected, and obtain and record the certification for any modified supply before patient use.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
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, 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 certified medical gas specialist is engaged to modify the manifold and cylinder bank plant in a hospital medical gas plant room. The work is carried out to AS 2896, maintaining the continuity of medical gas supply through reserve and alternative supply and planned changeover, so the facility supply is not lost while the work is carried out. The oxygen-enrichment and fire hazard is controlled with scrupulous cleanliness, oxygen-clean materials and practice, and no oils or contaminants. The high-pressure medical gas at the manifolds and cylinder banks is managed, isolating and depressurising before work and controlling the stored pressure. Cross-connection and contamination are prevented through identification and the anti-confusion and purity testing the standard requires, and the modified supply is certified before it is used. The alarms and monitoring are verified to function. Cylinders and plant are handled with correct technique and mechanical aids, and restrained against falling. The work is coordinated with the facility so patients are protected, the certification obtained and recorded before patient use, 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 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