Antifouling Paint Application and Removal SWMS

Suits boat yards, marine painters and owners who apply or strip antifouling on vessel hulls on a slipway or hardstand. It follows the job from identifying the coating and supporting the vessel, through access, washing, removal, mixing and application, to cleaning up. It does not cover abrasive blasting or general painting.

A SWMS is required by law only for high risk construction work (WHS Regulation s 299), and painting a vessel hull is not by itself construction work. No item is pre-ticked. Tick the items that apply if the job is construction work, for example a fall of more than 2 m, a confined space or a contaminated or flammable atmosphere (s 291). Otherwise this works as a written safe work procedure and task risk assessment.

Learn More: What Is A Safe Work Method Statement?
Have you ever been asked to provide a SWMS on a project in Queensland? Read our guide to what a Safe Work Method Statement is and when you need one.

What Is Covered In Our Antifouling Paint Application and Removal SWMS?

The job steps run in the order the work is done, from pre-start checks to finishing up. The hazards and controls include:

• Toxic antifouling paint and biocide exposure
• Sanding dust from old antifouling and fibreglass
• Lead in older coatings
• Solvent vapour and fire
• Falls from ladders, scaffolds and lifts
• Vessel falling from stands or cradle
• Drowning at the slipway edge
• Pressure washer injection injuries
• Paint and dust reaching drains and water
• Noise from sanders and washers
• Wet leads and electric shock
• Overspray and drift to other people

High Risk Construction Work

No high risk construction work items (WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) s 291) are pre-ticked, because this work is not high risk construction work by itself. Tick the items that apply to your job, such as a fall risk of more than 2 metres or work where powered mobile plant is moving.

Licences, Training and Competency

• Training in the antifouling product, its label and SDS, and the PPE it calls for
• Fit testing and training for any tight-fitting respirator used
• Training in the access equipment used (ladders, trestles, mobile scaffold, scissor lift)
• High risk work licence for a boom-type elevating work platform of 11 metres or more, where one is used (a scissor lift needs no licence)
• Training in spray equipment, where antifouling is sprayed
• First aid training for at least one person on site
• Yard or marina induction, including the slipway, hardstand and winch rules

Legislation and Codes of Practice Referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals Code of Practice 2021
• Preparation of Safety Data Sheets for Hazardous Chemicals Code of Practice 2021
• Spray Painting and Powder Coating Code of Practice 2021 (when sprayed)
• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice 2021
• Confined Spaces Code of Practice 2021 (bilges and tanks need a separate SWMS)
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021
• First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2021
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld): chapter 7 part 7.2 (lead), which applies only to lead processes under s 392
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): s 139 (safety switches)

What You Get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (14 pages), laid out on A4 landscape pages
• Business, client, job and document details typed once and filled in on every page, plus a space for your logo
• The high risk construction work checklist, worded as WHS Regulation s 291, and the construction project question (s 292)
• A worker and health and safety representative consultation record
• Qualifications, plant, PPE, hazardous chemicals, safety equipment, permits, references and emergency arrangements filled in for this work
• A 5 x 5 risk matrix, and job steps with initial and residual risk scores and the people responsible
• Implementing, monitoring and review requirements, an additional controls log, revision history and a worker sign-on sheet

Review and adjust it for your site, your plant and the way your crew does the job, and talk it through with your workers before work starts. If you have any trouble downloading this SWMS, you can contact us at any time. Please make sure you read our Disclaimer before downloading this SWMS.