Air conditioning and refrigeration · Australia

SWMS for refrigerant recovery and regas

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

Yes. Refrigerant recovery and regas 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 electric shock from live wiring, fire from hot works, confined space entry and refrigerant leaks.

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SWMS example: refrigerant recovery and regas

This is a complete SWMS for refrigerant recovery and regas, 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)

Refrigerant leak repair and regas · 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	Hold the right refrigerant licence or certification for the work	Refrigerant leaks	Medium	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 Refrigerant leaks: see step 3 for the full controls Administrative	Low
2	Isolate power, lock out and danger tag	Electric shock from live wiring	Extreme	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 If live work cannot be avoided, use a permit, a safety observer and insulated tools. Administrative Wear insulated gloves, arc-rated clothing and a face shield when testing or working near live parts. PPE	Medium
3	Recover refrigerant into a cylinder, never vent it	Refrigerant leaks Stored energy	Medium	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 Release or block all stored energy before work: release the pressure in pipes, tanks and hoses, bleed hydraulics, release springs, lower loads. Eliminate Lock out and tag all energy sources with personal locks. Isolate Put mechanical blocks or props under raised parts like buckets, tipper bodies and doors. Engineering Test that the system is dead and nothing can move before you start. Administrative Follow the maker's procedure, for example for garage door and roller door springs. Administrative Wear safety glasses and gloves. PPE	Low
4	Braze repairs under a hot work permit with nitrogen purge	Fire from hot works Burns from hot surfaces Confined space entry	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 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 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	Medium
5	Pressure test, evacuate and recharge	Pressure testing Refrigerant leaks	Medium	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 Wear safety glasses or a face shield. PPE Refrigerant leaks: see step 3 for the full controls Administrative	Low
6	Record refrigerant used and clean up	Poor housekeeping and waste	Medium	Order materials to size and send packaging back where you can. Eliminate Put skip bins and waste chutes close to the work. Engineering Clean as you go, and do a full clean up at the end of each day. Administrative Keep exits, stairs and walkways clear at all times. Administrative Stack materials neatly on level ground, away from edges. Administrative Wear gloves when handling waste. PPE	Low

PPE

Safety glassesWork glovesSteel cap bootsFace shieldInsulated electrical glovesArc-rated clothing and face shieldWelding glovesOveralls

Plant and equipment

Hand toolsElectrical test equipmentLPG gas torch

Permits and plans

Electrical isolation permitHot 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 refrigerant recovery and regas

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 refrigerant recovery and regas

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
Isolation, lockout and test for dead done before work starts
Hot work permit issued, extinguisher at hand, fire watch arranged
Confined space permit, atmosphere test and standby person in place
First aider, first aid kit and emergency number (000) confirmed
PPE checked and worn: safety glasses, work gloves, steel cap boots, face shield

The safe sequence of work

Hold the right refrigerant licence or certification for the work
Isolate power, lock out and danger tag
Recover refrigerant into a cylinder, never vent it
Braze repairs under a hot work permit with nitrogen purge
Pressure test, evacuate and recharge
Record refrigerant used and clean up

Hazards to watch on refrigerant recovery and regas

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

Step 4Confined 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 1, 3, 5Refrigerant leaksRefrigerant gas causes frostbite, pushes oxygen out of small rooms, and some types catch fire.

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

Step 5Pressure testingA pipe, fitting or cap fails under test pressure and blows apart, hitting people nearby.

Step 3Stored energyEnergy left in springs, hydraulics, compressed gas, raised loads or capacitors releases suddenly and crushes or injures workers.

Step 4Fire from hot worksSparks and heat from welding, grinding or flame torches set fire to timber, insulation, rubbish or fuel nearby.

Highest risk on refrigerant recovery and regas: Extreme before controls (B), down to Medium after controls (A), on the Australia 5 by 5 risk matrix (possible and catastrophic becomes rare and catastrophic).

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

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: Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989; WHS Regulation 2011, Part 4.7 General electrical safety; AS 1674.1 Safety in welding and allied processes (fire precautions); WHS Regulation 2011, Part 4.3 Confined spaces.

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 refrigerant recovery and regas?

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 refrigerant recovery and regas?

Usually Safety glasses, Work gloves, Steel cap boots, Face shield, Insulated electrical gloves, Arc-rated clothing and face shield, Welding gloves, Overalls. The site rules may add more, so check with the principal contractor.

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Toolbox talks for this job

Toolbox talkHot Works Safety Toolbox talkConfined Spaces

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