Air conditioning and refrigeration · Australia

SWMS for ducted air conditioning installation

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

Yes. Ducted air conditioning installation usually includes high risk construction work (work on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines; work on or near energised electrical installations or services), so a SWMS is required by law before work starts.

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 disturbing asbestos, electric shock from live wiring, falling through a floor opening or void and heat stress.

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SWMS example: ducted air conditioning installation

This is a complete SWMS for ducted air conditioning installation, 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)

Ducted air conditioner installation · Air conditioning and refrigeration · Example

Document SWMS-001 · Rev 1

High risk construction work covered

Work on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant linesWork on or near energised electrical installations or services

Job steps, hazards and controls

#	Job step	Hazards	Risk before	Controls	Risk after
1	Check the roof space for asbestos, cables and access	Disturbing asbestos Electric shock from live wiring Tight spaces: roof spaces and under floors	Extreme	Before work, check the asbestos register (workplaces built before 2004). For homes, or if there is no register, have a competent person identify asbestos or assume it is present. Eliminate Seal off the work area and keep everyone else out. Isolate If asbestos must be disturbed, keep it wet, use hand tools not power tools, and clean up with an H-class vacuum. Engineering Friable asbestos (Class A) and more than 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos (Class B) must be removed by a licensed removalist. Administrative Stop work straight away if you find suspect asbestos. Do not touch it and tell your supervisor. Administrative Wear a fitted P2 (or better) respirator and disposable coveralls. PPE Isolate the power before any work. Do not do live work except in the limited cases the WHS Regulations allow (r.157; in Qld, the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013). Eliminate Lock out and tag the isolation point with your own personal lock and danger tag. Isolate Electric shock from live wiring: see step 6 for the full controls Administrative Do as much of the work as you can from outside the tight space. Eliminate Turn the power off at the switchboard before entering where you can, as damaged cables may be live. Isolate Lay crawl boards across the joists so you cannot step through the ceiling. Engineering Set up ventilation and lighting in the space. Engineering Limit time in hot roof spaces and take breaks somewhere cool. Administrative	Medium
2	Work in the roof space early in the day, with breaks and water	Heat stress Confined space entry	High	Schedule heavy work for the cooler part of the day. Eliminate Provide shade over work and rest areas, and fans or cooling in roof spaces. Engineering Supply cool drinking water close by and drink a cup every 15 to 20 minutes. Administrative Take regular rest breaks in the shade, more often as it gets hotter. Administrative Let new and returning workers build up to full work in the heat over about a week. Administrative Watch each other for dizziness, headache, confusion or stopping sweating. Stop work, cool down and get help. Administrative Have a hot weather plan, including when work stops. Administrative Wear light, loose, long-sleeved clothing, a hat or brim, and sunscreen. PPE Do the work from outside the space where you can, using cameras or long-reach tools. Eliminate Isolate and lock out all pipes, power and moving parts going into the space. Isolate Test the air for oxygen, flammable and toxic gases before entry, and keep testing during the work. Engineering Use forced ventilation to keep the air clean. Engineering Issue a confined space entry permit before anyone goes in. Only trained workers enter. Administrative Keep a trained standby person outside at all times, in contact with those inside. Administrative Set up written first aid and rescue procedures and rescue gear before entry, and practise them (WHS Regulations r.74). Never go in to rescue without the right gear. Administrative Wear a harness for retrieval and the respirator the air test calls for. PPE	Medium
3	Lift the indoor unit into the roof with a hoist or team	Lifting and carrying heavy loads Falling tools and materials	High	Plan to avoid carrying: have materials delivered, and old items picked up, as close as possible to where they are used. Eliminate Use lighter or smaller loads: order smaller bags and shorter lengths, and drain or break down old items before moving them. Substitute Use trolleys, pallet jacks, hoists, vacuum lifters or plant instead of carrying by hand. Engineering Use a two-person lift for anything heavy, long or awkward. Plan the route first and clear it. Administrative Keep the load close, back straight and no twisting. Turn with your feet. Administrative Rotate tasks and take breaks on long lifting jobs. Administrative Wear gloves for grip and safety boots to protect your feet. PPE Barricade and sign the drop zone under overhead work so nobody walks beneath. Isolate Fit toe boards, kick plates and mesh screens on scaffolds and edges. Engineering Use catch fans, debris netting or covered walkways where people pass below. Engineering Tether hand tools when working at height. Engineering Keep platforms tidy. Do not stack materials near edges or above toe board height. Administrative Lower materials with a hoist, chute or rope. Never throw or drop anything down. Administrative Wear a hard hat anywhere objects could fall. PPE	Medium
4	Walk on joists or crawl boards only	Falling through a floor opening or void	Extreme	Cover every hole and penetration with a fixed, secured cover marked "HOLE" or "DANGER". Isolate Put guardrails with toe boards around stairwells, lift shafts, voids and open edges. Isolate Install stairs early and fit temporary handrails as soon as they go in. Engineering Never remove a cover or guardrail without approval. Put it back straight away. Administrative Inspect covers and barriers daily and after other trades have been through. Administrative Keep lighting good enough to see openings, especially on lower floors and in the evening. Administrative Use a harness clipped to a rated anchor when working right next to an open void. PPE	Medium
5	Install ducts, cutting with care and wearing gloves and a mask for insulation	Cuts from sharp edges General dust	Medium	Deburr or cover sharp edges, and fit edge protectors on exposed sheet metal. Engineering Use knives with retractable or self-retracting blades. Engineering Cut away from your body and keep your other hand clear. Administrative Put used blades in a blade bin or sharps container. Administrative Use two people to handle large sheets of metal or glass. Administrative Wear cut-resistant gloves and long sleeves. PPE Use low-dust products, such as dust-reduced or pre-mixed compounds. Substitute Seal off the work area with plastic sheeting in occupied buildings. Isolate Use tools with dust extraction and a vacuum for clean up. Engineering Lightly mist the area with water to keep dust down, away from anything electrical. Engineering Never dry sweep or blow dust off with compressed air. Administrative Wear a dust mask and safety glasses. PPE	Low
6	Connect refrigerant and power, test and commission	Refrigerant leaks Electric shock from live wiring Pressure testing	Extreme	Recover refrigerant into an approved cylinder before opening the system. Never vent it. Isolate Ventilate closed spaces and use a leak detector during the work. Engineering Only holders of a refrigerant handling licence (ARCtick) work on refrigerant systems. Administrative Check the licence covers the job: the restricted split licence only covers single-head splits under 18 kW, and adding refrigerant needs an ARC Refrigerant Trading Authorisation (RTA) for the business. Administrative With flammable refrigerants (such as R32 or R290), remove ignition sources and use spark-free tools. Administrative Wear cold-rated gloves and safety glasses or a face shield. PPE Isolate the power before any work. Do not do live work except in the limited cases the WHS Regulations allow (r.157; in Qld, the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013). Eliminate Lock out and tag the isolation point with your own personal lock and danger tag. Isolate Test before you touch: prove dead at the point of work with a voltage tester, proving the tester on a known live source before and after (AS/NZS 4836). Engineering Only licensed electricians do electrical work. Administrative Check for back feeds from solar, batteries and generators that can keep a circuit live after the main switch is off. Administrative Test with water instead of air or gas where the system allows it. Never put water in refrigerant pipework, which is tested with dry nitrogen. Substitute Keep people out of the test area with signs and barriers. Isolate Use a calibrated gauge and a relief valve set to protect the system. Engineering Test to the pressure the system calls for and hold it for the set time. Never go over. Administrative Release the pressure fully before tightening anything or fixing leaks. Administrative	Medium

PPE

Steel cap bootsSafety glassesCut-resistant glovesP2 dust maskSafety harness and lanyardHalf-face respirator (P2 or P3 filters)OverallsWork glovesInsulated electrical glovesArc-rated clothing and face shieldKnee padsHard hatSun protection (brim hat, long sleeves, SPF 50+)Face shield

Plant and equipment

Power drillHand toolsPlatform ladderCrane (Franna or mobile): HRWL for the crane class (e.g. C2, CN, C6), plus Dogging licence (DG) where slinging needs judgement or the load is out of the operator's viewElectrical test equipment

Permits and plans

Electrical isolation 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 ducted air conditioning installation

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 ducted air conditioning installation

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
Openings, voids and penetrations covered and marked
Isolation, lockout and test for dead done before work starts
Asbestos register or survey checked for the work area
Confined space permit, atmosphere test and standby person in place
Exclusion zone below the work and public kept out
Weather checked: water, shade and rest breaks planned
First aider, first aid kit and emergency number (000) confirmed
PPE checked and worn: steel cap boots, safety glasses, cut-resistant gloves, P2 dust mask

The safe sequence of work

Check the roof space for asbestos, cables and access
Work in the roof space early in the day, with breaks and water
Lift the indoor unit into the roof with a hoist or team
Walk on joists or crawl boards only
Install ducts, cutting with care and wearing gloves and a mask for insulation
Connect refrigerant and power, test and commission

Hazards to watch on ducted air conditioning installation

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

Step 1Tight spaces: roof spaces and under floorsCrawling through roof spaces, under floors or in tight ceilings leads to falls through the ceiling, heat stress, shocks and cuts.

Step 2Confined space entryBad air, toxic gas or engulfment in a tank, pit, sewer or manhole overcomes workers and the people who try to rescue them.

Step 6Refrigerant leaksRefrigerant gas causes frostbite, pushes oxygen out of small rooms, and some types catch fire.

Step 6Pressure testingA pipe, fitting or cap fails under test pressure and blows apart, hitting people nearby.

Step 2Heat stressHard work in hot weather or hot roof spaces causes heat exhaustion or heat stroke, which can kill.

Step 4Falling through a floor opening or voidA worker steps into an open hole, stairwell, lift shaft or penetration and falls to the level below.

Highest risk on ducted air conditioning installation: Extreme before controls (B), down to Medium after controls (A), on the Australia 5 by 5 risk matrix (possible and catastrophic 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?

Licences and legal requirements in Australia

This task can involve these high risk construction work categories under the WHS Regulations:

Work on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines
Work on or near energised electrical installations or services

Equipment on this job that needs a licence, ticket or training:

Crane (Franna or mobile): HRWL for the crane class (e.g. C2, CN, C6), plus Dogging licence (DG) where slinging needs judgement or the load is out of the operator's view

A SWMS must be prepared before any high risk construction work starts. It must list the high risk work, the hazards and risks, the control measures, and how those controls will be put in place, monitored and reviewed. It must be easy for the workers to read and understand.

Rules that apply: WHS Regulations, Chapter 8 (Asbestos); WHS Regulation 2011, Part 4.7 General electrical safety; WHS Regulation 2011, Part 4.3 Confined spaces; WHS Regulation 2011, Part 4.2 Hazardous manual tasks; WHS Regulation 2011, Part 3.2 (falling objects); WHS Regulation 2011, Part 4.4 Falls; Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989.

Each state has its own regulator and some extra rules: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Australian Capital Territory.

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 ducted air conditioning installation?

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 ducted air conditioning installation?

Usually Steel cap boots, Safety glasses, Cut-resistant gloves, P2 dust mask, Safety harness and lanyard, Half-face respirator (P2 or P3 filters), Overalls, Work gloves, Insulated electrical gloves, Arc-rated clothing and face shield, Knee pads, Hard hat, Sun protection (brim hat, long sleeves, SPF 50+), Face shield. The site rules may add more, so check with the principal contractor.

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Toolbox talks for this job

Toolbox talkExtension Leads and Power Tools Toolbox talkAsbestos Awareness Toolbox talkHeat Stress Toolbox talkConfined Spaces

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