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Flammable Liquids, Solvents and Adhesives SWMS

Flammable Liquids, Solvents and Adhesives SWMS

  • 100% Compliant with Australian WHS Acts & Regulations
  • Fully Editable MS Word & PDF Formats Included
  • Pre-filled Content – Ready to Deploy Immediately
  • Customisable – Easily Add Your Logo & Site Details
  • Includes 2 Years of Free Compliance Updates

Flammable Liquids, Solvents and Adhesives SWMS

Product Overview

This Flammable Liquids, Solvents and Adhesives Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) provides a structured process to identify, control and monitor risks when working with hazardous and combustible chemical products on site. It is a comprehensive document that covers multiple aspects of flammable liquids, solvent use and adhesive application to support WHS compliance and safe management of hazardous chemicals.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

  • Safe handling, decanting and storage of flammable liquids in accordance with SDS and site requirements
  • Application of solvents and chemical adhesives, including surface preparation, mixing and controlled use
  • Identification and control of chemical hazards in sealant use, bonding agents and gap fillers
  • Management and clean-up of combustible dusts generated during preparation, sanding or cutting activities
  • Segregation, labelling and storage of combustible liquids and solvent-based products in designated areas
  • Control of chemical hazards associated with paints, adhesives, resins and similar coating products
  • Ventilation and extraction controls to maintain safe indoor air quality during solvent and adhesive application
  • Use of local exhaust systems to extract combustible vapours, fumes and airborne contaminants at the source
  • Safe handling, transfer and spill response for fuels, brake fluid and other vehicular fluids
  • Management of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and volatile substances, including ignition source control
  • Selection, use and maintenance of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for chemical handling
  • Emergency procedures for spills, fires, exposure incidents and first aid involving hazardous chemicals
  • Safe waste management, disposal and decontamination of rags, containers and surplus flammable products
  • Training, supervision and authorisation requirements for workers using solvents, adhesives and flammable liquids

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for painters, automotive and mechanical workshops, construction and maintenance contractors, manufacturers, warehousing and logistics providers, and site supervisors responsible for the safe use of flammable liquids, solvents and adhesives.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Job Step / Activity Potential Hazards
Pre-start planning and permits
  • • Unidentified flammable liquid storage
  • • Unassessed chemical compatibility
  • • Incorrect classification of hazardous area
  • • Inadequate emergency preparedness
  • • Inaccurate chemical inventory
Delivery and receipt of chemicals
  • • Uncontrolled chemical unloading
  • • Drum impact and rupture
  • • Incorrect segregation of incompatible chemicals
  • • Exposure to harmful vapours on opening
  • • Manual handling strain
Storage of flammable and combustible liquids
  • • Improper storage of inflammable substances
  • • Accumulation of combustible liquids
  • • Inadequate spill containment
  • • Incompatible chemical storage
  • • Potentially explosive atmospheres in stores
Handling and decanting flammable liquids
  • • Flammable liquid spillage
  • • Electrostatic discharge ignition
  • • Vapour cloud formation
  • • Contact with skin or eyes
  • • Inhalation of volatile organic compounds
Mixing and preparing solvent-based products
  • • Polymer solutions mixing and application vapours
  • • Chemical reaction heat generation
  • • Combustible dust handling from powders
  • • Toxic catalyst or hardener exposure
  • • Explosion from dust or vapour
Applying solvents and chemical adhesives
  • • Solvent vapour inhalation
  • • Chemical hazards in sealant use
  • • Handling of toxic adhesive materials
  • • Skin sensitisation from resins
  • • Indoor air quality degradation
Controlling indoor air quality during use
  • • Accumulation of solvent vapours
  • • Exposure to volatile organic compounds
  • • Narcotic effects from volatile substances
  • • Headaches and respiratory irritation
  • • Oxygen displacement in confined areas
Handling vehicular fluids, fuels and brake fluid
  • • Handle fuels and chemicals
  • • Handle brake fluid exposure
  • • Handle vehicular fluids splashes
  • • Flammable liquids ignition
  • • Environmental contamination from spills
Using hot melt and heat-activated adhesives
  • • Burns from hot melt adhesives
  • • Fume generation from heated polymers
  • • Ignition of nearby combustibles
  • • Equipment electrical faults
Combustible dust and extraction of substances
  • • Combustible dust handling
  • • Manage risk of explosion from dust
  • • Dust cloud ignition
  • • Accumulation on surfaces
Waste management and solvent-soaked rags
  • • Handling solvent-soaked rags
  • • Spontaneous combustion in waste
  • • Uncontrolled release of vapours
  • • Environmental pollution from chemical waste
Emergency response and spill control
  • • Large flammable liquid spills
  • • Potentially explosive atmospheres
  • • Uncontrolled fire spread
  • • Chemical exposure during clean-up
Training, supervision and documentation
  • • Inadequate chemical handling competency
  • • Incorrect use of PPE and equipment
  • • Unrecognised signs of exposure
  • • Non-compliance with WHS regulations

Need to add specific site requirements?

Don't worry if a specific job step isn't listed above. Once you purchase, simply log in to your Client Portal and add your own custom job steps at no extra cost. We take care of the hard work—creating the hazards and control measures for free—to ensure your document is compliant within minutes.

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

  • Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice: Guidance on identifying, assessing and controlling risks from hazardous chemicals
  • Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice: Requirements for ventilation, amenities and safe work environments
  • How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Risk management principles applied to chemical and fire hazards
  • Preparation of Safety Data Sheets for Hazardous Chemicals Code of Practice: Reference for understanding and using SDS information
  • Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals Code of Practice: Requirements for correct labelling of chemical containers
  • Safe Work Australia – Guidance on the Storage and Handling of Flammable and Combustible Liquids: Best practice for storing and handling flammable liquids
  • AS 1940: The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids: Australian Standard for design and operation of storage and handling systems
  • AS/NZS 60079 (series): Explosive atmospheres: Requirements for managing ignition sources in hazardous areas where flammable vapours may be present
  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017

Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)
  • Operational guidelines, with a step-by-step approach to safe work
  • Possible hazards that may be encountered
  • Step-by-step safety procedures to follow
  • Before work starts – Guidelines and Checks
  • Safety measures and guides
  • Operational Safety Checks
  • Before and After Risk Ratings
  • Risk Assessment Matrix
  • High Risk Work Involved
  • Emergency Evacuation Procedure
  • Plant and Equipment
  • Qualifications and Permits
  • Specific Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • Company Personnel Sign-off form

$96.8

Safe Work Australia Aligned