Do I need a SWMS for interior painting?

Only if a high-risk category applies — most ground-level interior work does not require one. Stairwell voids and atriums above 2 metres do. Many builders require a SWMS for all trades on site regardless, so having one ready usually saves the argument.

How do I know if old paint contains lead?

Assume paint applied before 1970 does until tested — Australian paint could legally contain high lead levels into the 1960s. Test kits are cheap; a lab test is definitive. The SWMS should make testing a hold point before any dry sanding of old coatings.

Can I spray outdoors near neighbours?

Overspray drift is a genuine hazard to people, cars and washing lines. Controls belong in the SWMS: shielding, wind limits for spraying, and notifying neighbours. Several councils also have local rules for spray application — check before quoting.

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Painting SWMS template

Interior and exterior painting including preparation and access equipment.

Use this template See a finished example

Painting reads as a low-risk trade until you list what the work actually involves: sustained ladder work at gable ends, sanding dust that may contain lead on anything pre-1970, and solvents in unventilated rooms. Exterior painting above 2 metres is high risk construction work, same as roofing.

This template covers interior and exterior painting including preparation: surface prep and sanding, access equipment, and application. The prep stage carries most of the real risk, and the document is structured to reflect that.

What this SWMS covers

The typical scope of work the document describes, step by step. The builder lets you add, remove and reword steps so the sequence matches your actual job.

1Site set up and surface protection
2Check for lead paint on pre-1970s surfaces
3Surface preparation and sanding
4Set up access equipment
5Apply undercoat
6Apply finish coats
7Clean up and remove waste

Hazards and example controls

The controls below are starting points ordered by the hierarchy of control — the builder helps you adapt them to the site and add your own.

Fall from ladder or EWP during exterior work

Prefer scaffold or EWP over ladders for sustained work at height
Secure ladders and maintain three points of contact
Do not overreach — move the ladder, not your balance

Dust from sanding, potentially lead-based

Test suspect pre-1970 paint before dry sanding
Wet sand or use on-tool extraction; P2 respirator for prep work
Contain and dispose of lead waste per regulator guidance

Solvent vapour exposure in enclosed rooms

Prefer low-VOC products where the spec allows
Ventilate continuously — windows open, fans running
Respirator with organic vapour cartridges for solvent-based work

Slips and trips on drop sheets and cords

Tape sheet edges and route cords away from walkways
Keep wet-surface signage up in occupied buildings

High risk construction work

Risk of falling more than 2 metres

Exterior painting triggers the fall category whenever work happens above a 2-metre fall risk — gable ends, two-storey walls, stairwells. Lead paint disturbance is not its own SWMS category, but it carries specific duties under WHS lead regulations that the document should reference.

All 18 high-risk categories explained

Common questions

Do I need a SWMS for interior painting?: Only if a high-risk category applies — most ground-level interior work does not require one. Stairwell voids and atriums above 2 metres do. Many builders require a SWMS for all trades on site regardless, so having one ready usually saves the argument.
How do I know if old paint contains lead?: Assume paint applied before 1970 does until tested — Australian paint could legally contain high lead levels into the 1960s. Test kits are cheap; a lab test is definitive. The SWMS should make testing a hold point before any dry sanding of old coatings.
Can I spray outdoors near neighbours?: Overspray drift is a genuine hazard to people, cars and washing lines. Controls belong in the SWMS: shielding, wind limits for spraying, and notifying neighbours. Several councils also have local rules for spray application — check before quoting.

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Start from this template and answer a few questions about the job — state, site, crew, method. Preview the whole document free; pay only when you download the PDF.

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Before you start

Users are responsible for reviewing and adapting the SWMS to the actual worksite, work methods and applicable regulatory requirements before work begins.