Plumbing · Australia

SWMS for gas fitting

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 gas fitting 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, fire from hot works, lifting and carrying heavy loads and gas and fuel lines.

Make this SWMS now Word template PDF

SWMS example: gas fitting

This is a complete SWMS for gas fitting, 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)

Gas fitting and appliance connection · 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	Only a licensed gasfitter does this work. Tell occupants and remove ignition sources	Gas and fuel lines Working in an occupied home or building	High	Isolate and purge the line before work, with the owner's approval. Eliminate Lock off and tag the isolation valve. Isolate Check for leaks with a gas detector before and during work, and ventilate the area. Engineering Only licensed gasfitters work on gas lines. Administrative Remove ignition sources: no smoking, no hot work and no sparking tools near the line. Administrative Know where the shut-off valve is and what to do if a leak happens. Administrative Wear safety glasses and gloves, and keep a fire extinguisher close by. PPE 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	Medium
2	Isolate gas at the meter, lock out and danger tag, and purge the line	Gas and fuel lines Stored energy Fire and emergencies	High	Gas and fuel lines: see step 1 for the full controls Administrative 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 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	Medium
3	Run and join new pipe, checking there are no electrical cables in the way	Electric shock from live wiring Injury from power tools Tight spaces: roof spaces and under floors	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 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 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
4	Connect the appliance and seal all joints	Gas and fuel lines Lifting and carrying heavy loads	High	Gas and fuel lines: see step 1 for the full controls Administrative 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	Medium
5	Pressure and leak test, then light and commission the appliance	Pressure testing Gas and fuel lines Fire from hot works	Extreme	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 Gas and fuel lines: see step 1 for the full controls Administrative 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	Medium
6	Issue the compliance certificate 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

Steel cap bootsSafety glassesWork glovesP2 dust maskHearing protection (earmuffs or plugs)Knee padsHard hatFace shieldWelding glovesOveralls

Plant and equipment

Hand toolsPipe press toolElectrical test equipmentPower drill

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 gas fitting

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 gas fitting

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
First aider, first aid kit and emergency number (000) confirmed
PPE checked and worn: steel cap boots, safety glasses, work gloves, P2 dust mask

The safe sequence of work

Only a licensed gasfitter does this work. Tell occupants and remove ignition sources
Isolate gas at the meter, lock out and danger tag, and purge the line
Run and join new pipe, checking there are no electrical cables in the way
Connect the appliance and seal all joints
Pressure and leak test, then light and commission the appliance
Issue the compliance certificate and clean up

Hazards to watch on gas fitting

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

Step 3Tight 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 5Pressure testingA pipe, fitting or cap fails under test pressure and blows apart, hitting people nearby.

Step 2Fire and emergenciesA fire, injury or other emergency happens and workers cannot get out, raise the alarm or get first aid in time.

Step 2Stored energyEnergy left in springs, hydraulics, compressed gas, raised loads or capacitors releases suddenly and crushes or injures workers.

Step 5Fire from hot worksSparks and heat from welding, grinding or flame torches set fire to timber, insulation, rubbish or fuel nearby.

Step 1, 2, 4, 5Gas and fuel linesDamaging or opening a gas or fuel line causes a leak, fire or explosion.

Highest risk on gas fitting: 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 gas fitting?

A SWMS is required by law if gas fitting 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 gas fitting?

Usually Steel cap boots, Safety glasses, Work gloves, P2 dust mask, Hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs), Knee pads, Hard hat, Face shield, Welding gloves, Overalls. The site rules may add more, so check with the principal contractor.

More plumbing SWMS

SWMSHot Water System Replacement10 steps SWMSDrain Unblocking and Jetting6 steps SWMSBathroom Plumbing Rough in6 steps SWMSBurst Pipe Repair6 steps SWMSToilet and Tap Installation5 steps SWMSBackflow Testing5 steps SWMSSewer Line Replacement6 steps

Related jobs in other trades

Air conditioning and refrigerationSplit System InstallationAlso involves electric shock from live wiring ConcretingConcrete Cutting and Core DrillingAlso involves electric shock from live wiring DemolitionInternal Strip OutAlso involves electric shock from live wiring ElectricalSwitchboard UpgradeAlso involves working in an occupied home or building TilingWet Area WaterproofingAlso involves working in an occupied home or building RoofingGutter ReplacementAlso involves injury from power tools

Toolbox talks for this job

Toolbox talkWorking at Heights Toolbox talkOverhead Power Lines Toolbox talkExtension Leads and Power Tools Toolbox talkWorking in Cold Weather

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