Plumbing · Australia

SWMS for burst pipe repair

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 burst pipe repair 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 electric shock from live wiring, disturbing asbestos, fire from hot works and mould and droppings.

Make this SWMS now Word template PDF

SWMS example: burst pipe repair

This is a complete SWMS for burst pipe repair, 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)

Burst pipe and leak repair · Plumbing · 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	Shut off water at the main and isolate power anywhere water has reached	Electric shock from live wiring Slips and trips	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 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 Slips and trips: see step 6 for the full controls Administrative	Medium
2	Check for mould and sewage contamination in wet areas	Mould and droppings Sewage and wastewater	Medium	Fix the water leak and dry the area before removing mould. Eliminate Seal off the area with plastic sheeting and keep occupants out. Isolate Clean up with an H-class vacuum and wet wipes. Never dry sweep. Engineering Bag mouldy material on site and remove it promptly. Administrative Wash hands and face before eating and at the end of each shift. Administrative Wear a P2 (or better) respirator, gloves, goggles and disposable coveralls. PPE Flush and drain the line before opening it, and plan the job to avoid contact. Eliminate Use drain cameras, jetters and long-handled tools to keep hands out. Engineering Cover cuts with waterproof dressings. Never eat, drink or smoke before washing. Administrative Wash hands well and clean tools and boots after the job. Administrative Keep vaccinations such as tetanus and hepatitis A up to date, on medical advice. Administrative Wear waterproof gloves, goggles or a face shield, and coveralls. PPE	Low
3	Open up the wall or floor to reach the pipe, checking for asbestos first	Disturbing asbestos General dust Injury from power tools	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 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 Keep all guards fitted and working. Never tie back or remove a guard. Engineering Clamp or secure the work piece. Do not hold it by hand. Engineering Only trained, competent people use power tools, following the maker's instructions. Administrative Check tools before use. Unplug or remove the battery before changing blades or bits. Administrative No loose clothing, jewellery or long hair near spinning parts. Administrative	Medium
4	Cut out the damaged section and fit the repair, with a hot work permit if soldering	Fire from hot works Burns from hot surfaces Cuts from sharp edges	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 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	Medium
5	Turn water back on and check for leaks under pressure	Pressure testing Hot water and steam	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 Turn the system off and let it cool before work. Eliminate Isolate and lock off the heat source and valves, and release the pressure. Isolate Check the temperature, and open fittings slowly while facing away. Administrative Keep a first aid kit and cool water ready for burns. Administrative Wear heat-resistant gloves, long sleeves and a face shield. PPE	Low
6	Dry the area, clean up and advise on make good	Slips and trips Poor housekeeping and waste	Medium	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 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

Steel cap bootsWork glovesSafety glassesP2 dust maskHalf-face respirator (P2 or P3 filters)Safety gogglesOverallsChemical-resistant gloves (nitrile)Face shieldHearing protection (earmuffs or plugs)Welding glovesCut-resistant gloves

Plant and equipment

Hand toolsPipe press toolPower drillLPG gas torch

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 burst pipe repair

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 burst pipe repair

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
Asbestos register or survey checked for the work area
Hot work permit issued, extinguisher at hand, fire watch arranged
First aider, first aid kit and emergency number (000) confirmed
PPE checked and worn: steel cap boots, work gloves, safety glasses, P2 dust mask

The safe sequence of work

Shut off water at the main and isolate power anywhere water has reached
Check for mould and sewage contamination in wet areas
Open up the wall or floor to reach the pipe, checking for asbestos first
Cut out the damaged section and fit the repair, with a hot work permit if soldering
Turn water back on and check for leaks under pressure
Dry the area, clean up and advise on make good

Hazards to watch on burst pipe repair

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

Step 5Hot water and steamOpening hot water systems, boilers or steam lines scalds workers.

Step 2Mould and droppingsWater-damaged buildings, bird and rat droppings and dead animals hold mould and germs that cause breathing problems and infections.

Step 2Sewage and wastewaterContact with sewage spreads germs that cause stomach illness, hepatitis and skin infections.

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

Highest risk on burst pipe repair: 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 burst pipe repair?

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 burst pipe repair?

Usually Steel cap boots, Work gloves, Safety glasses, P2 dust mask, Half-face respirator (P2 or P3 filters), Safety goggles, Overalls, Chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile), Face shield, Hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs), Welding 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 talkAsbestos Awareness Toolbox talkSlips, Trips and Falls

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