Bathroom Renovation Plumbing — Safe Work Method Statement
Safe Work Method Statement for plumbing work during bathroom renovations, including isolating services, stripping out fixtures, relocating wastes and water lines, rough-in, and fit-off of showers, vanities, toilets and baths in occupied homes.
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Plumbing in a bathroom renovation looks low risk but has some serious hazards because of the age of the house and the work around it. If the home was built before 1990, wall sheeting, floor sheets, vinyl backing and some waste pipes may contain asbestos. Disturbing material that contains or is likely to contain asbestos is high risk construction work, which is why this template lists it as HRCW. If an asbestos register or test shows no asbestos, record that and the work may not need a SWMS by law, but builders and principal contractors normally still require one.
The specific hazards are asbestos in fibre cement sheet behind tiles and in old cisterns and flues; crystalline silica dust from chasing walls, cutting tiles and removing mortar beds; cutting into live cables behind walls; and handling heavy cast iron or steel baths, often in small rooms and up stairs. Hot work for brazing copper creates fire risk in wall cavities. Primers, solvent cements and waterproofing membranes give off fumes in a small, closed room. Work in occupied homes means water is off for the family, and the bathroom floor is often the only route between rooms.
The plumbing must be done by a licensed plumber holding the licence required in your state or territory and comply with AS/NZS 3500. Asbestos removal over 10 square metres of non-friable material needs a licensed removalist; smaller amounts can be removed by a competent person following the asbestos removal code of practice. Waterproofing may need its own licence in some states, so check your state or territory regulator.
Your SWMS must cover how asbestos is identified before strip-out, dust control for cutting and chasing, isolation of water and electrical services, manual handling of baths and fixtures, and hot work.
Customise this template with the house age and asbestos status, the scope of plumbing changes, the strip-out sequence and who does it, the electrician for isolations, dust control equipment, hot work permit details, and the licence numbers of the plumbers.
Personal Protective Equipment
High Risk Construction Work Types
- •Work that involves, or is likely to involve, disturbing asbestos
Risk Assessment
1.Pre-start inspection and asbestos check
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disturbing asbestos in wall sheets, floor sheets or vinyl | Catastrophic | For homes built before 1990, treat fibre cement sheeting, vinyl floor backing and old flue or cistern materials as asbestos until tested. Arrange sampling before strip-out. Where asbestos is confirmed, remove it before plumbing work starts, by a licensed removalist where required. Record the result in the SWMS. | Low | Builder / Licensed Plumber |
| Occupants exposed to dust and work hazards | Moderate | Seal the bathroom door and any openings with plastic sheeting. Agree a clear route for occupants and keep children and pets out. Arrange temporary toilet access if the only toilet is affected. | Low | Licensed Plumber / Builder |
2.Isolate water, gas and electrical services
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding or scalding from live water lines during strip-out | Moderate | Turn off the water at the meter or the bathroom isolation valves and turn off the hot water unit before draining lines. Cap all open pipes at the end of each day. | Low | Licensed Plumber |
| Cutting into live cables in walls during strip-out or chasing | High | Have a licensed electrician isolate bathroom circuits, including heated towel rails, exhaust fans and lights, before demolition. Scan walls with a cable detector before chasing or cutting. Use tools with RCD protection. | Low | Licensed Electrician / Licensed Plumber |
3.Strip-out of fixtures, tiles and baths
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Back injury removing cast iron or steel baths | High | Plan the removal path before starting. Use at least two people and a trolley or stair climber for cast iron baths, or break them in place under a heavy cover while wearing eye and hearing protection. Do not carry baths down stairs single-handed. | Moderate | Licensed Plumber / Builder |
| Cuts from broken tiles, glass shower screens and porcelain | Moderate | Wear cut-resistant gloves and safety glasses. Tape glass panels before removal. Bag broken porcelain and tiles in heavy bags or bins. | Low | All Workers |
4.Chasing, cutting and rough-in
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silica dust from chasing walls and cutting tiles or mortar beds | High | Use wall chasers and saws with water suppression or an on-tool extraction shroud connected to an H-class vacuum. Wear a fit-tested P2 respirator. Clean up with an H-class vacuum or wet methods, never by dry sweeping. | Moderate | Licensed Plumber |
| Fire in wall cavities from brazing copper | High | Use press-fit or crimp fittings where possible. Where brazing is needed, use a heat shield behind the joint, keep a fire extinguisher and water spray at hand, wet surrounding timbers and check the cavity for smouldering for at least 30 minutes after hot work. | Low | Licensed Plumber |
5.Waterproofing and solvent use
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inhaling solvent cement, primer and membrane fumes in a closed room | Moderate | Read the safety data sheet for each product. Ventilate with the window open and a fan exhausting outside. Keep containers closed. Wear the gloves and respirator the SDS specifies. | Low | Licensed Plumber / Waterproofer |
| Skin contact with membranes and adhesives | Low | Wear nitrile gloves and long sleeves. Wash skin promptly after contact. | Low | All Workers |
6.Fit-off, testing and clean-up
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaks causing water damage or slip hazards after handover | Moderate | Pressure test water lines before close-in and check wastes for leaks under flow at fit-off. Set the tempering valve to the required outlet temperature and record it. | Low | Licensed Plumber |
| Dust left in the home | Moderate | Vacuum the work area and route with an H-class vacuum before removing sheeting. Dispose of asbestos waste to an approved facility in sealed, labelled bags. | Low | Licensed Plumber / Builder |
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.