Roof Restoration and Painting — Safe Work Method Statement
Safe Work Method Statement for restoring and recoating existing tiled and metal roofs, including pressure cleaning, tile replacement, ridge capping re-bedding and re-pointing, rust treatment and airless spray application of primers and roof membranes.
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Roof restoration is High Risk Construction Work under the model WHS Regulations whenever a worker could fall more than 2 metres, which covers almost every house and commercial roof. A SWMS must be in place before anyone goes on the roof. Restoration has a different risk profile to new roofing because you are working on a roof whose condition you don't know: cracked or brittle tiles, rusted sheets and purlins, fibreglass or polycarbonate skylights, and old fibre cement that may contain asbestos. Pressure cleaning and wet coatings make the surface slippery, and spraying means working with high-pressure equipment on a pitched roof.
Asbestos is the first check. Many homes built before 1990 have asbestos cement roofs, gables, eaves or flashings. The model WHS Regulations prohibit high-pressure water cleaning of asbestos, and this template does not cover cleaning or coating asbestos cement roofs. If the roof or any part of it is suspected asbestos cement, stop and get it identified. Any encapsulation or removal must be done under an asbestos-specific SWMS and, where required, by a licensed removalist. Treat all fibre cement and translucent sheets as fragile, and never walk on them.
Fall prevention should follow the hierarchy: perimeter scaffold or edge protection at the eaves first, then travel restraint from anchors, with fall arrest as the last option. If you use anchors, they must be designed for the purpose (single-point anchors are made to AS/NZS 5532) and installed and certified by a competent person, and workers must be trained in harness use with a rescue plan in place. A ladder alone is not a fall prevention system. Plan the spray sequence so nobody walks back across wet coating, and stop work in rain, dew or winds strong enough to move overspray or ladders.
Other hazards specific to restoration include airless spray injection injuries (these sprayers work at well over 200 bar), overspray drifting onto neighbours' cars and houses, silica dust when grinding out old ridge mortar or cutting tiles, heat on metal roofs, and the house's overhead service line at the point of attachment. Licensing for roof tiling, painting and restoration varies by state and can depend on job value, so check your state or territory regulator or building authority.
Customise this template with: the roof type, pitch and height; the asbestos status of the roof and any fibre cement; skylight and fragile area locations; the fall prevention system and anchor certification details; the coating system and SDS; the sprayer type and maximum pressure; the location of overhead service lines and solar panels; how neighbours and cars will be protected from overspray; and the rescue plan for a worker suspended in a harness.
Personal Protective Equipment
High Risk Construction Work Types
- •Risk of a person falling more than 2 metres
- •Work on or near energised electrical installations or services
Risk Assessment
1.Pre-start roof inspection and asbestos check
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disturbing asbestos cement roofing, flashings or gables | Catastrophic | Before quoting, identify the roofing material from the ground, a ladder or an EWP. For buildings built before 1990, check for asbestos cement sheeting, gable infills, eaves and flashings. If any material is suspected asbestos, do not pressure clean, sand, grind or walk on it. Have it sampled and identified by a competent person. If it is asbestos, this SWMS does not apply; use an asbestos-specific SWMS and engage a licensed removalist where required. | Low | Supervisor / Business Owner |
| Falling through fragile skylights, sheets or brittle tiles | Catastrophic | Map all skylights, translucent sheets, fibre cement and visibly cracked or brittle areas before anyone walks the roof. Cover or guard fragile areas with secured, load-rated covers or mesh, or barricade them. Walk only on the batten or purlin lines and on the lower third of tiles. Mark fragile areas on the job sheet and brief every worker before they go up. | Moderate | Supervisor / Roof Restorer |
| Contact with the overhead service line or solar array | High | Identify the point of attachment of the overhead service line and keep ladders, hoses and tools well clear of it. Where work is needed near the line, contact the local network operator to arrange a tiger tail or disconnection. Identify any solar panels and isolators. Do not pressure clean or spray directly at panels, isolators or cabling. Use non-conductive ladders near electrical lines. | Low | Supervisor |
2.Setting up roof access and fall prevention
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falls from the roof edge or during access | Catastrophic | Install perimeter scaffold or guardrail-type edge protection at the eaves where practicable before roof work starts. Where edge protection is not practicable, use travel restraint from certified anchors, set so the worker cannot reach the edge. Inspect harnesses, lanyards and SRLs before each use. Never work on the roof alone. Have a written rescue plan for a worker suspended in a harness and make sure the crew knows how to carry it out. | Moderate | Supervisor / Roof Restorer |
| Ladder slipping or moving at the gutter line | High | Set extension ladders on firm ground at a 4:1 angle, extending at least 1 metre above the stepping-off point, and tie off at the top. Use a ladder stand-off so the ladder does not bear on the gutter. Maintain three points of contact. Carry tools in a tool belt or haul them up by rope; never carry hoses or buckets while climbing. | Low | Roof Restorer |
3.Pressure cleaning the roof
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slipping on wet, mossy or algae-covered surfaces | Catastrophic | Clean from the top of the roof down so the worker stands on the dry section above the cleaned area. Stay connected to the fall prevention system the whole time. Stop cleaning if footing is lost or the crew is tired. Do not walk on cleaned areas until they are dry. | Moderate | Roof Restorer |
| Water injection injury or eye injury from the high-pressure lance | High | Use a lance with a dead-man trigger and never point it at people. Check hoses and fittings before use and retire damaged hoses. Release pressure before changing nozzles. Wear a face shield or goggles. Treat any skin penetration as a medical emergency and seek treatment immediately. | Low | Roof Restorer |
| Debris and wastewater blocking gutters or entering stormwater | Moderate | Fit downpipe filters or socks before cleaning. Collect debris from gutters as work proceeds. Use only cleaning chemicals approved for the roof surface and follow the SDS. Do not let chemical washwater flow into gardens, ponds or the street. | Low | Roof Restorer |
4.Repairs: tile replacement, re-bedding and re-pointing, rust treatment
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silica dust from grinding out old mortar and cutting tiles | High | Remove loose bedding mortar by hand where possible. Where cutting or grinding is needed, use a tool with water suppression or a dust shroud connected to an H-class vacuum. Cut tiles at a ground-level station, not on the roof. Wear a P2 respirator during grinding and cutting. | Low | Roof Restorer |
| Manual handling of ridge caps, mortar and tile stacks on a pitched roof | Moderate | Lift materials to roof level with a ladder hoist or materials hoist. Limit stacks to a few tiles spread across several battens. Mix mortar at ground level and send it up in half-full buckets. Use knee pads and rotate tasks to limit time kneeling on battens. | Low | Roof Restorer |
| Cuts from rusted sheet edges and fixings | Moderate | Wear cut-resistant gloves when removing screws and handling rusted sheets. Do not stand on rusted sheets until the purlin line is confirmed. Replace badly corroded sheets rather than coating them. Collect old screws and offcuts in a bucket, not loose on the roof. | Low | Roof Restorer |
5.Spraying primers, sealers and roof membranes
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-pressure injection injury from airless spray equipment | Catastrophic | Only trained workers operate airless sprayers. Engage the trigger lock whenever not spraying. Never place a hand or finger over the tip. Follow the manufacturer's pressure relief procedure before clearing tip blockages or changing tips. Check hoses for wear and keep them away from sharp edges. Any injection injury, however small, needs urgent hospital treatment. | Low | Spray Operator |
| Slipping on wet coating or being trapped on the roof by wet coating | Catastrophic | Plan the spray sequence before starting so the operator always works towards the access point and never walks back across wet coating. Stay connected to the fall prevention system. Do not apply coatings when rain or dew is expected or the roof is damp. Keep the hose handler at ground level feeding the hose. | Moderate | Spray Operator / Supervisor |
| Overspray drifting onto people, neighbouring property and vehicles | Moderate | Check wind speed and direction before spraying and stop if overspray is drifting off the roof. Notify neighbours, ask for cars to be moved, and cover windows, solar panels, paths and plants. Use shielding boards at roof edges near boundaries. Brush or roll areas close to boundaries. | Low | Spray Operator / Supervisor |
| Inhalation or skin contact with coating chemicals | Moderate | Read the SDS for every product. Wear the respirator type the SDS specifies, chemical-resistant gloves and coveralls. Mix and decant at ground level. Keep solvent-based products away from ignition sources. | Low | Spray Operator |
6.Heat and weather on the roof
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat stress and sunburn on exposed roofs | High | Start early and plan the hottest work for the coolest part of the day. Metal roofs in summer can cause burns, so check surface temperature before kneeling or sitting. Provide shade and cool water at ground level and take regular breaks. Workers watch each other for signs of heat illness. Stop roof work in extreme heat as set by the business heat policy. | Moderate | Supervisor / All Workers |
7.Pack-up and cleaning spray equipment
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical washwater entering stormwater and injection risk during flushing | Moderate | Flush sprayers into a container, never onto the ground or into drains. Relieve pressure and remove the tip before flushing, and hold the gun against the inside of the container. Dispose of washwater and leftover product as the SDS and local council require. Remove downpipe filters only after the gutters are clean. | Low | Spray Operator |
Relevant Codes of Practice
Worker Acknowledgement
By signing below, I confirm that I have read, understood and agree to comply with this Safe Work Method Statement.