Painting · Australia

SWMS for lead paint removal

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

A SWMS is required by law if lead paint removal 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 fire from hot works, lead paint dust and fumes, public entering the work area and flammable liquids and gases.

Make this SWMS now Word template PDF

SWMS example: lead paint removal

This is a complete SWMS for lead paint removal, with 10 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)

Lead paint removal · Painting · 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	Test the paint, tell the occupants, and keep children and pregnant people away	Lead paint dust and fumes Working in an occupied home or building	High	Test old paint for lead before you sand, scrape, cut or heat it. Eliminate Use wet scraping, chemical strippers or shrouded tools with extraction instead of dry sanding. Never burn off lead paint with an open flame. Substitute Lead paint dust and fumes: see step 8 for the full controls Administrative Plan noisy, dusty or risky work for when the building is empty. Eliminate Close off the work area with barriers, plastic sheeting or locked doors, and put up signs. Isolate Keep fire exits and paths clear at all times. Administrative Tell occupants before you turn off power, water or gas, and before noisy or dusty work. Administrative Lock away tools, chemicals and materials each day, out of reach of children. Administrative Clean up dust and debris at the end of each day. Administrative	Low
2	Turn off heating and cooling and close windows and vents in the work area	Lead paint dust and fumes General dust	High	Seal off the work area with plastic sheeting and keep residents, children and pets out. Isolate Clean up with an H-class vacuum and wet wipes. Never dry sweep. Engineering Lead paint dust and fumes: see step 8 for the full controls Administrative 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
3	Seal the area with plastic and warning signs	Lead paint dust and fumes Public entering the work area	High	Wash hands and face before eating, drinking or smoking. Change out of dusty clothes before going home. Administrative Wear a P2 (or better) respirator, disposable coveralls and gloves. PPE Lead paint dust and fumes: see step 8 for the full controls Administrative 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
4	Put on coveralls and a fitted respirator, and set up a wash point	Lead paint dust and fumes Hazardous chemicals	High	Lead paint dust and fumes: see step 8 for the full controls Administrative Choose the least harmful product that does the job, for example water-based instead of solvent-based. Substitute Use chemicals in well-ventilated areas, or use fans and extraction in closed rooms. Engineering Hazardous chemicals: see step 6 for the full controls Administrative	Medium
5	Mist and wet scrape the paint; no dry sanding or open flame	Lead paint dust and fumes Hazardous chemicals	High	Lead paint dust and fumes: see step 8 for the full controls Administrative Read the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before use and keep a register of hazardous chemicals on site. Administrative Keep chemicals in labelled containers. Never decant into drink bottles. Administrative Hazardous chemicals: see step 6 for the full controls Administrative	Medium
6	Use chemical strippers with ventilation and chemical gloves	Hazardous chemicals Flammable liquids and gases	High	Choose the least harmful product that does the job, for example water-based instead of solvent-based. Substitute Use chemicals in well-ventilated areas, or use fans and extraction in closed rooms. Engineering Read the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before use and keep a register of hazardous chemicals on site. Administrative Keep chemicals in labelled containers. Never decant into drink bottles. Administrative Store chemicals away from heat, food and drink, and keep products that react with each other apart. Administrative Have eye wash and a spill kit nearby, and wash hands before eating. Administrative Wear chemical-resistant gloves and safety glasses or goggles as listed on the SDS. PPE Use a respirator with the right cartridge if the SDS calls for one. PPE 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
7	Use a heat gun only on low settings, below the temperature that makes lead fumes	Burns from hot surfaces Fire from hot works Lead paint dust and fumes	Extreme	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 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 Lead paint dust and fumes: see step 8 for the full controls Administrative	Medium
8	Clean with an H-class vacuum and wet wipes, never dry sweep	Lead paint dust and fumes Poor housekeeping and waste	High	Test old paint for lead before you sand, scrape, cut or heat it. Eliminate Use wet scraping, chemical strippers or shrouded tools with extraction instead of dry sanding. Never burn off lead paint with an open flame. Substitute Seal off the work area with plastic sheeting and keep residents, children and pets out. Isolate Clean up with an H-class vacuum and wet wipes. Never dry sweep. Engineering Wash hands and face before eating, drinking or smoking. Change out of dusty clothes before going home. Administrative Wear a P2 (or better) respirator, disposable coveralls and gloves. PPE 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
9	Bag waste, remove coveralls in the work area and wash before eating	Lead paint dust and fumes	High	Lead paint dust and fumes: see step 8 for the full controls Administrative	Low
10	Check the area is clean before removing plastic and letting occupants back in	Lead paint dust and fumes Working in an occupied home or building	High	Lead paint dust and fumes: see step 8 for the full controls Administrative Working in an occupied home or building: see step 1 for the full controls Administrative	Low

PPE

Safety glassesHalf-face respirator (P2 or P3 filters)OverallsChemical-resistant gloves (nitrile)Steel cap bootsWork glovesP2 dust maskHi-vis shirt or vestSafety gogglesWelding glovesFace shield

Plant and equipment

Heat gunH-class vacuumPower sanderHand tools

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 lead paint removal

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 lead paint removal

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: safety glasses, half-face respirator (P2 or P3 filters), overalls, chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile)

The safe sequence of work

Test the paint, tell the occupants, and keep children and pregnant people away
Turn off heating and cooling and close windows and vents in the work area
Seal the area with plastic and warning signs
Put on coveralls and a fitted respirator, and set up a wash point
Mist and wet scrape the paint; no dry sanding or open flame
Use chemical strippers with ventilation and chemical gloves
Use a heat gun only on low settings, below the temperature that makes lead fumes
Clean with an H-class vacuum and wet wipes, never dry sweep
Bag waste, remove coveralls in the work area and wash before eating
Check the area is clean before removing plastic and letting occupants back in

Hazards to watch on lead paint removal

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

Step 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10Lead paint dust and fumesPaint on buildings built before 1970 is likely to contain lead, and anything before 1997 may. Sanding, scraping or heating it releases dust or fumes that poison workers and families, especially children.

Step 7Burns from hot surfacesTouching hot pipes, tools, bitumen, solder or freshly welded metal burns the skin.

Step 6Flammable liquids and gasesPetrol, solvents, thinners and LPG catch fire or explode when vapour reaches a spark, flame or hot surface.

Step 7Fire from hot worksSparks and heat from welding, grinding or flame torches set fire to timber, insulation, rubbish or fuel nearby.

Step 1, 10Working in an occupied home or buildingResidents, staff or children wander into the work area and get hurt, or the work blocks exits or cuts off power or water while people are inside.

Step 2General dustDust from plasterboard, filler, cement and clean up irritates eyes and lungs and makes it hard to see.

Highest risk on lead paint removal: Extreme before controls (B), down to Medium after controls (A), on the Australia 5 by 5 risk matrix (possible and catastrophic becomes unlikely and moderate).

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 lead paint removal?

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 lead paint removal?

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

More painting SWMS

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Toolbox talks for this job

Toolbox talkWorking at Heights Toolbox talkLead Paint Safety Toolbox talkWorking in Cold Weather Toolbox talkHot Works Safety

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