Welding and fabrication · Australia

SWMS for welding

By Safety PaperworkBuilt from Safe Work Australia and state regulator guidance · How we write and check theseUpdated 9 November 2026

A SWMS is required by law if welding includes any high risk construction work, such as working where someone could fall more than 2 metres. Many principal contractors ask for one either way.

It must list the hazards, the controls and how they will be put in place, monitored and reviewed, and the workers must be consulted and sign before starting. The main hazards are welding and cutting fumes, fire from hot works, public entering the work area and electric shock from leads and power tools.

Make this SWMS now Word template PDF

SWMS example: welding

This is a complete SWMS for welding, with 6 job steps. Open it in the builder to add your site, crew and signatures, change anything, and download a PDF. Or download the free Word template below and fill it in by hand.

Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)

On-site welding · Welding and fabrication · Example

Document SWMS-001 · Rev 1

High risk construction work covered

None for this task on its own. Tick any that apply on your site.

Job steps, hazards and controls

#	Job step	Hazards	Risk before	Controls	Risk after
1	Get a hot work permit and clear flammables from the area	Fire from hot works Flammable liquids and gases	Extreme	Use cold work methods where you can, such as bolting, press fittings or cutting with a saw instead of a torch. Eliminate Move anything that can burn at least 15 metres away (AS 1674.1), or protect it with fire blankets or screens. Isolate Fire from hot works: see step 6 for the full controls Administrative Use non-flammable or water-based products where you can. Substitute Keep ignition sources away: no smoking, no hot work and no running engines near flammables. Isolate Store fuels and solvents in approved, closed containers in a ventilated area away from the work. Engineering Refuel equipment outdoors with the engine off and cool. Administrative Keep only what you need for the day on site. Administrative Store gas cylinders upright, secured and outdoors. Administrative Keep a suitable fire extinguisher where flammables are used or stored. Administrative Wear chemical gloves and safety glasses when pouring or mixing. PPE	Medium
2	Set up welding screens to protect others from arc flash	Eye injuries Public entering the work area	High	Use tool guards and screens to stop flying particles. Engineering Use dust extraction and water to keep dust out of the air. Engineering Keep others out of the area when cutting, grinding or chipping. Administrative Keep an eye wash station or eye wash bottles on site. Administrative Wear safety glasses at all times, goggles for dust and chemicals, and a face shield for grinding. PPE Fence off the site with secure temporary fencing and lock the gates when you leave. Isolate Give pedestrians a safe, marked path around the work, with ramps for prams and wheelchairs. Isolate Use hoarding, covered walkways or catch fans where work is above public areas. Engineering Put signs at each entry: site name, contact number and "No unauthorised entry". Administrative Make the site safe at the end of each day: cover holes, lower plant, remove ladders and lock tools away. Administrative Use a spotter when moving plant or materials across public paths. Administrative	Low
3	Check leads and earth clamp, keeping leads dry	Electric shock from leads and power tools Slips and trips	High	Use battery-powered tools where you can. Substitute Plug all tools into an RCD-protected outlet or a portable RCD. Engineering Keep leads off the ground and out of water, using lead stands or hooks. Engineering Check leads, plugs and tools before every use. Tag out and remove anything damaged. Administrative Test and tag leads, tools and RCDs at the intervals in AS/NZS 3012 (every 3 months on construction sites). Push-button test portable RCDs before each use. Administrative Do not use tools in rain or wet areas unless they are rated for it. Administrative Wear safety boots and dry gloves. PPE Plan walkways and keep them clear of materials, hoses and leads. Eliminate Run leads and hoses overhead on hooks or stands, or along walls, not across walkways. Engineering Fill or cover holes, and lay boards or mats on muddy access paths. Engineering Clean up offcuts, packaging and spills as you go, not at the end of the day. Administrative Keep work areas, stairs and access paths well lit. Administrative Wear safety boots with good grip, laced up. PPE	Low
4	Weld with fume extraction or a respirator, especially on galvanised steel	Welding and cutting fumes Burns from hot surfaces	Extreme	Remove paint, galvanising and coatings from the weld area first, or use a process that makes less fume. Substitute Use fume extraction (local exhaust ventilation) close to the weld. Engineering Weld outdoors or in a well-ventilated area, and keep your head out of the fume plume. Engineering Never weld or cut in a confined space without testing the air and using forced ventilation. Administrative Wear a powered air respirator or fitted respirator when extraction is not enough. PPE Wear a welding helmet, welding gloves and flame-resistant clothing. PPE Isolate heating systems and let parts cool before you touch them. Eliminate Fit guards or insulation on hot pipes and equipment. Engineering Mark hot items with chalk or a "HOT" sign so others know. Administrative Keep a first aid kit and cool running water nearby for burns. Administrative Wear heat-resistant gloves and long sleeves. PPE	Medium
5	Grind welds with guards on	Angle grinder injuries Loud noise Eye injuries	High	Use a guarded saw or a different tool where you can. Substitute Keep the guard on and use the side handle. Never remove the guard. Engineering Use the right disc for the job, rated for the grinder's speed. Check it for cracks first. Administrative Only trained people change discs, with the grinder unplugged or the battery out. Administrative Keep both hands on the grinder and let the disc stop before putting it down. Administrative Use quieter tools and methods, such as cut-to-size materials, low-noise machines and battery tools. Substitute Keep noisy plant away from work areas, and use screens or distance between the noise and people. Isolate Keep tools maintained and use mufflers on compressors and generators. Engineering Limit time on noisy tools and rotate workers. Administrative If you have to shout to be heard 1 metre away, wear hearing protection. Administrative Keep exposure below 85 dB(A) over 8 hours. Give hearing tests to workers who often need hearing protection. Administrative Eye injuries: see step 2 for the full controls Administrative	Medium
6	Fire watch after finishing, then sign off the permit	Fire from hot works Fire and emergencies	Extreme	Use cold work methods where you can, such as bolting, press fittings or cutting with a saw instead of a torch. Eliminate Move anything that can burn at least 15 metres away (AS 1674.1), or protect it with fire blankets or screens. Isolate Use fire-resistant screens to stop sparks reaching people or gaps in walls and floors. Engineering Get a hot work permit before starting. Administrative Keep a charged fire extinguisher and fire blanket at the work spot. Administrative Keep a fire watch during the work and for at least 60 minutes after you finish. Administrative Check for smouldering behind walls, in ceilings and under floors before you leave. Administrative Wear flame-resistant clothing, welding gloves and eye or face protection. PPE Provide fire extinguishers suited to the site, checked and easy to reach. Engineering Keep exits and escape routes clear and signed. Engineering Have a site emergency plan: alarm, exits, assembly point and emergency contacts. Administrative Keep a stocked first aid kit and at least one trained first aider on site. Administrative Know the site address and how emergency services get in. Call 000. Administrative Go through the emergency plan with every worker and visitor at induction. Administrative Keep flammable materials and rubbish away from exits and escape routes. Administrative	Medium

PPE

Welding helmetWelding glovesSteel cap bootsOverallsHalf-face respirator (P2 or P3 filters)Hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs)Face shieldSafety glassesSafety gogglesHi-vis shirt or vestWork glovesCut-resistant gloves

Plant and equipment

WelderAngle grinderGenerator

Permits and plans

Hot work permit

Emergency

Call 000. Add the nearest hospital, the assembly point and the first aider for your site.

Sign-off

Supervisor and every worker sign to confirm they have read and understood this SWMS.

Free SWMS template for welding

Word (.docx) and PDF, A4 landscape, no email needed. Fill in your site details, then print or send it.

Word template (.docx)PDF template

Make yours in 2 minutes

Same document, filled in for your job. Answer a few yes or no questions, the crew signs on the phone, and you send the PDF.

Start this SWMS

Pre-start checklist for welding

Tick these off before work starts. They come from the hazards, permits and equipment in this job.

SWMS read, explained and signed by everyone on the job
Hot work permit issued, extinguisher at hand, fire watch arranged
Exclusion zone below the work and public kept out
First aider, first aid kit and emergency number (000) confirmed
PPE checked and worn: welding helmet, welding gloves, steel cap boots, overalls

The safe sequence of work

Get a hot work permit and clear flammables from the area
Set up welding screens to protect others from arc flash
Check leads and earth clamp, keeping leads dry
Weld with fume extraction or a respirator, especially on galvanised steel
Grind welds with guards on
Fire watch after finishing, then sign off the permit

Hazards to watch on welding

The hazards most specific to this job, and the step where each one comes up.

Step 4Welding and cutting fumesWelding, cutting and brazing give off metal fumes and gases that damage the lungs and can cause cancer.

Step 4Burns from hot surfacesTouching hot pipes, tools, bitumen, solder or freshly welded metal burns the skin.

Step 1Flammable liquids and gasesPetrol, solvents, thinners and LPG catch fire or explode when vapour reaches a spark, flame or hot surface.

Step 5Angle grinder injuriesThe disc shatters, binds or kicks back, causing deep cuts to legs and hands or eye injuries.

Step 6Fire and emergenciesA fire, injury or other emergency happens and workers cannot get out, raise the alarm or get first aid in time.

Step 3Electric shock from leads and power toolsDamaged leads, plugs or tools, or water near power, give the user an electric shock.

Highest risk on welding: Extreme before controls (B), down to Medium after controls (A), on the Australia 5 by 5 risk matrix (likely and major becomes unlikely and major).

What changes on your site

This example covers the job itself. Your site may add more. Add controls for any of these that apply (the builder asks you these as yes or no questions):

Will anyone work more than 2 metres off the ground?
Will anyone use a ladder or stepladder?
Will anyone work on a roof?
Is there a skylight, clear sheet, fibro or other fragile roofing?
Will you use a scaffold or mobile tower?

Why SWMS get rejected

Principal contractors send documents back for these reasons. This example avoids them, but check yours too.

It is generic: another site address, tasks that are not on this job, or no sign it was reviewed for this site. WorkSafe WA says a generic SWMS may not meet the regulations unless it is reviewed and amended for the workplace.
The HRCW boxes are not ticked, or the ticks do not match the tasks (for example a roof job with no falls box ticked).
Falls are controlled only by "be careful", training or a harness, with no edge protection or scaffold and no reason why higher controls are not reasonably practicable.
Workers will clip on to a harness but there is no rescue plan for someone left hanging.
The "how controls are implemented, monitored and reviewed" part is missing, or it says the same thing on every row.
No worker sign-on, no person responsible for compliance, or a date given to the principal contractor that is before they actually received it.
Licence or White Card details are missing for workers operating plant or doing licensed high risk work.

Questions

Do I need a SWMS for welding?

A SWMS is required by law if welding includes any high risk construction work, such as working where someone could fall more than 2 metres. Many principal contractors ask for one either way.

Who signs the SWMS?

The person conducting the business (PCBU) or their supervisor prepares it with the workers, and every worker doing the high risk work signs to show they were consulted and understand it. Give a copy to the principal contractor before work starts.

How long do I keep it?

Keep this SWMS, and every revised version, until the high risk construction work is finished, where workers and inspectors can see it on site. If a notifiable incident happens during the work, keep it for at least 2 years after the incident.

What PPE is needed for welding?

Usually Welding helmet, Welding gloves, Steel cap boots, Overalls, Half-face respirator (P2 or P3 filters), Hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs), Face shield, Safety glasses, Safety goggles, Hi-vis shirt or vest, Work gloves, Cut-resistant gloves. The site rules may add more, so check with the principal contractor.

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Toolbox talks for this job

Toolbox talkOverhead Power Lines Toolbox talkExtension Leads and Power Tools Toolbox talkHearing Protection and Noise Toolbox talkSlips, Trips and Falls

Blank SWMS template: free SWMS templates. Also for other countries: United Kingdom (RAMS) · United States (JHA) · Canada (FLHA)