Product Overview

This Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) details the step-by-step procedures, hazards, and controls for safe spray painting in airless booths on Australian worksites. It is a comprehensive document that consolidates multiple spray painting, booth operation, and maintenance activities to support robust WHS compliance and risk management.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Safe operation of airless spray painting equipment within enclosed paint booths
• Selection, handling, and controlled use of adhesives during adhesive spraying tasks
• Airless spraying techniques to minimise overspray, rebound, and worker exposure
• Application of primers with sprayers, including surface preparation and curing considerations
• Identification and safe clearance of clogs in spray guns, hoses, and nozzles
• Decommissioning of paint booths, including isolation, cleaning, and disposal of residual materials
• Operation of paint spray equipment, including start-up, shutdown, and emergency stop procedures
• Paint booth air evacuation, extraction system checks, and ventilation performance verification
• Controls to prevent and manage paint fume inhalation, including respiratory protection and exposure limits
• Inspection and repair of air leaks in airless sprayers, hoses, and fittings to prevent atomised mist release
• Spray application of flammable and combustible liquids, including ignition source control and static discharge management
• Large-scale, commercial spray painting operations, including work sequencing and segregation of work areas
• Storage, decanting, and labelling of paints, thinners, and solvents in accordance with hazardous chemicals requirements
• Housekeeping, spill response, and waste management for paint residues, filters, and contaminated PPE
• Pre-start inspections, maintenance, and tagging-out of defective spray painting and booth equipment

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for commercial spray painters, industrial coatings contractors, manufacturing facilities, automotive and panel repair shops, and site supervisors responsible for spray painting airless booth operations.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace – for storage, handling, and use of paints, solvents, and flammable liquids
• Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities – for ventilation, lighting, and amenity requirements in spray booths and surrounding areas
• Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks – for the risk management process applied to spray painting activities
• Code of Practice: Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work – where compressors, extraction systems, and spray equipment generate hazardous noise
• Code of Practice: First Aid in the Workplace – for first aid provisions relating to chemical exposure, inhalation, and skin contact
• AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment – for appropriate respirator selection and maintenance for paint fumes and mists
• AS/NZS 1716: Respiratory protective devices – for performance requirements of respiratory protective equipment used during spraying
• AS/NZS 2161: Occupational protective gloves – for hand protection against solvents, thinners, and paints
• AS 1940: The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids – for safe storage and decanting of flammable paints and solvents
• AS/NZS 60079 (series): Explosive atmospheres – for electrical equipment and controls in hazardous areas around spray booths
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017