Paint Removal Stripping Heat Guns SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers paint removal and stripping with chemical strippers and heat guns, from reviewing coatings through to inspection and sign-off. It supports planning for hazardous coatings, vapours, heat, fire, access, waste containment and decontamination.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Review the scope, existing coatings and suitable stripping method
• Plan the work area and manage access, occupants, fire and trip hazards
• Set up ventilation for chemical vapours, fumes and air quality
• Inspect heat guns and electrical leads before use
• Prepare and apply chemical stripper while managing splashes, absorption, vapours and residues
• Strip coatings with heat and manage ignition, burns, fumes and lead exposure
• Scrape softened paint and remove paint from wood surfaces
• Manage elevated access, dropped objects and overreaching
• Contain waste and spills, including waste rags and contaminated debris
• Decontaminate and clean the area, then inspect for residual hazards before sign-off

Who is this for?

For contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out paint removal, stripping or heat-gun activities.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

The template includes references relevant to the documented work, including:

• Applicable Commonwealth, state or territory WHS/OHS legislation and regulations, including duties to manage risks, provide safe plant, control hazardous chemicals, manage lead risk work, prevent falls and provide information, training, instruction and supervision.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace (guidance; confirm adoption and status in the relevant jurisdiction).
• Model Code of Practice: Spray painting and powder coating (guidance; identifies paint strippers, solvents and surface-preparation products as hazardous-chemical risks, and identifies lead and heated isocyanate-containing coatings as significant risks).
• Model Code of Practice: How to manage and control asbestos in the workplace and Model Code of Practice: How to safely remove asbestos (guidance; check the asbestos register before disturbing building materials).
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces (guidance; establish and test rescue arrangements where fall-arrest systems are used).
• Model Code of Practice: Abrasive blasting (guidance; recognises heat guns, chemical strippers, manual scraping and power tools with dust collection as alternatives requiring their own risk controls).
• AS/NZS 1715 Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment; AS/NZS 1716 Respiratory protective devices; AS/NZS 1337.1 Personal eye-protection equipment; AS/NZS 2210.3 Safety footwear; AS/NZS 3012 Electrical installations—Construction and demolition sites; AS/NZS 3760 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment; AS 4361.1 Guide to hazardous paint management—Lead and other hazardous metallic pigments in industrial applications.

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Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)

• Task-specific job steps, hazards and control measures
• Initial and residual risk ratings
• Assigned responsible persons for each job step
• Plant, equipment and PPE requirements where applicable
• Permits, qualifications and high-risk construction work details where applicable
• Worker consultation, sign-off and review sections