Steam Trap Servicing & Replacement SWMS
A Safe Work Method Statement for steam trap servicing & replacement 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.
Steam trap servicing covers the inspection, testing, servicing and replacement of steam traps — the devices that discharge condensate from steam systems while holding back steam. Servicing steam traps maintains the efficiency and safety of a steam system, but it carries the defining hazards of steam work: the steam and condensate are at high temperature and pressure and cause severe scalding and burns, the trap and pipework are extremely hot, and the system holds stored energy. This document is written on the basis that steam trap servicing is carried out by competent personnel with the steam, high-temperature, pressure and isolation hazards controlled.
Steam trap servicing is carried out in connection with the relevant pressure piping and pressure equipment standards, with the trap and the relevant section of the steam system isolated, depressurised and cooled before the trap is serviced or replaced, because steam at temperature and pressure causes severe injury. The hot trap and pipework, the high pressure and the stored energy are the defining hazards. This document coordinates the steam, high-temperature, pressure and isolation controls so the steam trap is serviced safely.
Hazards identified
9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Severe scalding and burns from a steam or hot-condensate release
Severe burns from the hot steam trap and pipework
Catastrophic release from the stored energy of the steam system
Steam and hot-condensate release where the trap is not isolated
Scalding from hot condensate discharged during servicing
Fire and burns from hot work on the steam system
Heat illness in the hot plant environment
Atmospheric and restricted-access hazards in enclosed plant spaces
Musculoskeletal injury from the trap and equipment
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Engineering: isolate, depressurise and cool the trap and the relevant section of the steam system before servicing or replacing the trap, confirming it is isolated and at a safe temperature and pressure.
- 2Engineering: service or replace the steam trap to the relevant pressure piping and pressure equipment standards, and confirm the trap discharges condensate and holds back steam.
- 3PPE: protection against the hot trap, steam and condensate, including appropriate gloves and protective clothing, in addition to the standard PPE.
- 4Administrative: manage the discharge of hot condensate during servicing so it does not scald, and never service a live, pressurised or hot trap without isolation and making safe.
- 5Administrative: where hot work is carried out, apply the hot-work precautions — permit, fire watch and extinguishing means.
- 6Administrative: manage heat illness in the hot plant environment, and apply confined space controls in enclosed plant spaces.
- 7Engineering: confirm the trap and the system are safe and functioning before the section is returned to service.
- 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 steam trap and pipework.
Fire precautions for any hot work — welding, brazing, soldering — carried out during the work.
Atmospheric testing, ventilation, entry permit and rescue controls where the work involves entry into a confined space.
The assessment and control of heat illness where work is carried out in hot conditions or environments.
The risk management process and hierarchy of controls applied to the hazards of the work.
Who this is for
- →Competent personnel servicing and replacing steam traps.
- →Industrial and mechanical services contractors on steam systems.
- →Plumbing and pipefitting businesses servicing steam traps.
- →Industrial and commercial PCBUs with steam systems.
- →PCBU safety managers and supervisors coordinating the steam, high-temperature and isolation 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 steam trap servicing hazards — each with a documented consequence, inherent risk rating on a 5x5 likelihood-consequence matrix, hierarchy-of-control measures, and residual risk rating.
- ✓Steam trap servicing prompts referencing the pressure piping standards, an isolation, depressurise and cool section, a hot-trap and condensate-discharge section, and a trap-function and return-to-service 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 technician is engaged to service and replace steam traps in an industrial steam system. The trap and the relevant section of the steam system are isolated, depressurised and cooled before the trap is serviced or replaced, confirmed isolated and at a safe temperature and pressure. The steam trap is serviced or replaced to the relevant pressure piping and pressure equipment standards, and confirmed to discharge condensate and hold back steam. Protection against the hot trap, steam and condensate is worn. The discharge of hot condensate during servicing is managed so it does not scald, and the trap is never serviced live, pressurised or hot without isolation and making safe. Where hot work is carried out, a permit, fire watch and extinguishing means are in place. Heat illness in the hot plant environment is managed, and confined space controls applied in enclosed plant spaces. The trap and system are confirmed safe and functioning before the section is returned to service, 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
What is a steam trap?
A steam trap is a device in a steam system that discharges condensate from the system while holding back steam. Servicing, testing and replacing steam traps maintains the efficiency and safety of the steam system, and it carries the defining hazards of steam work — the high-temperature, high-pressure steam and condensate.
How is the steam trap made safe before servicing?
The trap and the relevant section of the steam system are isolated, depressurised and cooled before the trap is serviced or replaced, confirmed isolated and at a safe temperature and pressure. Making the trap and system safe before servicing is the defining control, because steam at temperature and pressure causes severe scalding and burns.
What is the hazard of the condensate discharge?
The trap discharges hot condensate, which can scald during servicing, so the discharge of hot condensate is managed so it does not scald. Managing the hot-condensate discharge, alongside isolating and cooling the system, controls the scalding hazard of steam trap servicing.
Can a steam trap be serviced live?
No. The trap is never serviced live, pressurised or hot without isolation and making safe, because steam and hot condensate at temperature and pressure cause severe injury. The trap and the relevant section are isolated, depressurised and cooled before any servicing or replacement.
Who services steam traps?
Steam trap servicing is carried out by competent personnel in connection with the relevant pressure piping and pressure equipment standards, because of the high-temperature, high-pressure and stored-energy hazards of steam work. The trap and system are confirmed safe and functioning before the section is returned to service.