Sliding & Bi-fold Door Maintenance SWMS

Sliding and bifold door maintenance covers the maintenance and repair of sliding and bifold doors in commercial and retail premises — servicing, adjusting and repairing the door panels, tracks, rollers and mechanisms, including automatic and glass doors. The hazards are the manual handling of the heavy door panels, the glass in glass doors, the pinch and crush from the door mechanism, and any electrical work on automatic doors. This document is written on the basis that sliding and bifold door maintenance is carried out with the manual-handling, glass, pinch-crush and electrical controls in place.

Sliding and bifold door maintenance is carried out in connection with the manual handling and general requirements, with the heavy door panels handled safely, the glass in glass doors managed to AS 1288, the pinch and crush from the mechanism managed, and any electrical work on automatic doors carried out by a licensed electrician. The manual handling, the glass, the pinch and crush, and any electrical are the considerations. This document coordinates the manual-handling, glass, pinch-crush and electrical controls so the sliding and bifold door maintenance is carried out safely.

Hazards identified

9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

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

1. 1Engineering: use mechanical aids and team lifting for the heavy and awkward cabinets, joinery, panels, glass, fixtures and equipment, and manage the manual-handling and awkward-posture hazard with correct technique and the hierarchy of controls for hazardous manual tasks.
2. 2Administrative: manage the glass in glass doors to AS 1288, with care, edge protection and the correct safety glass where replaced.
3. 3Engineering: manage the pinch and crush from the door mechanism and tracks, keeping hands clear and controlling the door.
4. 4Administrative: have any electrical work on automatic doors carried out by a licensed electrician.
5. 5Engineering: support the door so it cannot fall from the track during maintenance, and isolate automatic doors so they cannot move during maintenance.
6. 6Administrative: manage the work in occupied, trading or public premises by segregating the work area from the public and occupants with barriers and signage, working out of hours where required, and protecting customers, occupants and the public from the work.
7. 7Engineering: manage the spring and tension in the door mechanism, and use the tools and adjustment safely.
8. 8Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001), with the trade, electrical, gas and other competencies required for the work, and any shopping centre or building induction.
9. 9Administrative: conduct a pre-start toolbox talk covering the day's work, identified hazards, the occupied-premises and public-proximity arrangements, 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, 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: confirm the work is completed safely, the installations are secure, the electrical and services are safe, and the premises are left clean and safe.

Applicable Codes of Practice

Worked example

A worker is engaged to maintain sliding and bifold doors in a retail premises. The heavy door panels are handled with mechanical aids and team lifting. The glass in the glass doors is managed to AS 1288, with care, edge protection and the correct safety glass where replaced. The pinch and crush from the door mechanism and tracks are managed, keeping hands clear and controlling the door. Any electrical work on automatic doors is carried out by a licensed electrician. The door is supported so it cannot fall from the track during maintenance, and automatic doors are isolated so they cannot move during maintenance. The occupied or trading premises are managed by segregating the work area from the public. The spring and tension in the door mechanism are managed, and the tools and adjustment used safely. The door maintenance is carried out safely, confirmed working, 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 — the construction work, falls, electrical, hazardous manual tasks and plant provisions, and the Section 291 high risk construction work and SWMS duties where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
• The construction work, falls, electrical and hazardous chemicals Codes of Practice, and the relevant standards such as AS 1288 for glass, AS/NZS 5601.2 for commercial catering gas and AS/NZS 3000 for wiring, are called up by the relevant safety legislation for the fit-out.
• Electrical work is carried out by a licensed electrician, gas work by a licensed gasfitter, and plumbing work by a licensed plumber, under each state and territory's licensing schemes; work in shopping centres and occupied buildings is also subject to the centre or building rules.
• Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017, with the construction, falls, electrical and high risk construction work provisions applying in place of the model instruments.

Frequently asked questions