Pool Chemical Handling SWMS

Pool chemical handling and storage covers the handling, storage and management of pool water-treatment chemicals — receiving, storing, transporting and handling the chlorine, acid, alkali and other chemicals used to treat pool water. As with dosing, the defining hazard is the chemicals: pool chemicals are hazardous, can cause chemical burns and toxic exposure, and incompatible chemicals — particularly acid and chlorine-based products — must be kept apart because mixing them releases toxic chlorine gas. This document is written on the basis that pool chemical handling and storage is carried out with the chemical-handling, segregated-storage, exposure and spill controls in place.

Pool chemical handling and storage is carried out in connection with the hazardous chemicals Code of Practice, with the chemicals managed to their safety data sheets, incompatible chemicals segregated in storage, exposure controlled, and spill and emergency arrangements in place. The chemical-handling, the segregated storage, the exposure, and the spill and emergency are the considerations. This document coordinates the chemical-handling, segregated-storage, exposure and spill controls so the pool chemicals are handled and stored safely.

Hazards identified

9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

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

1. 1Administrative: manage the pool chemicals to their safety data sheets, assessing the hazards and applying the handling, storage, exposure and emergency controls for each chemical.
2. 2Administrative: segregate incompatible chemicals in storage — keeping acids and chlorine-based products and oxidisers apart — because incompatible chemicals together can react and release toxic chlorine gas, and never handle them together.
3. 3PPE: chemical-resistant gloves, eye and face protection, and protective clothing for the pool chemicals, with respiratory protection where vapour or gas is possible, per the safety data sheets.
4. 4Engineering: store the chemicals in suitable, ventilated, dry conditions in compatible containers, managing the fire and oxidising hazard of relevant chemicals.
5. 5Administrative: have spill and emergency arrangements — neutralising, containment, first aid and ventilation — in place, and manage spills promptly.
6. 6Engineering: use mechanical aids and correct technique for the chemical containers, and avoid eye and skin contact during handling with the protection worn.
7. 7Administrative: maintain a chemical register and the safety data sheets, and confirm the storage is compliant and segregated.
8. 8Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001), with the pool-construction, plumbing, electrical, gasfitting, confined space and any other competencies and licences required for the work.
9. 9Administrative: 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.
10. 10Administrative: 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.
11. 11PPE: 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.
12. 12Administrative: 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.
13. 13Administrative: ensure each part of the work is carried out by the appropriately licensed or competent person — pool builder, licensed plumber, licensed electrician and licensed gasfitter as relevant — under the applicable state or territory licensing scheme, with compliance certification where required.

Applicable Codes of Practice

Worked example

A pool technician is engaged to handle and store the water-treatment chemicals for a pool facility. The pool chemicals are managed to their safety data sheets, with the hazards assessed and the handling, storage, exposure and emergency controls applied for each chemical. Incompatible chemicals are segregated in storage — acids and chlorine-based products and oxidisers are kept apart — because incompatible chemicals together can react and release toxic chlorine gas, and they are never handled together. Chemical-resistant gloves, eye and face protection and protective clothing are worn, with respiratory protection where vapour or gas is possible. The chemicals are stored in suitable, ventilated, dry conditions in compatible containers, managing the fire and oxidising hazard. Spill and emergency arrangements — neutralising, containment, first aid and ventilation — are in place, and spills managed promptly. Mechanical aids are used for the containers, and eye and skin contact avoided. A chemical register and the safety data sheets are maintained. The storage is confirmed compliant and segregated, 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 excavation, confined space and electrical provisions where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
• The swimming pool safety standards AS 1926.1, AS 1926.2 and AS 1926.3, the electrical Wiring Rules AS/NZS 3000, the plumbing and drainage standards AS/NZS 3500, AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 for gas, and the hazardous chemicals and silica requirements, are called up by the relevant building, plumbing, electrical, gas and safety legislation, together with the National Construction Code and local council requirements.
• Pool construction, plumbing, electrical and gasfitting work is licensed under each state and territory's licensing schemes, with electrical work carried out by a licensed electrician and gas work by a licensed gasfitter, and compliance certification required for notifiable work; pool safety barrier requirements apply under state and territory pool-safety laws.
• Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017, with the high risk construction work, excavation, confined space and electrical provisions applying in place of the model instruments.

Frequently asked questions