Painting Risk Assessment
Interior, exterior, lead paint, spray painting, and heights
Painting Risk Assessment
One document — covers painting for this product type.
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Painting work becomes high-risk construction work under WHS Regulations s.291 when it involves working at heights of 2 metres or more, working with lead paint, or spray painting in confined areas.
Our painting SWMS pack covers 10 activities including interior painting, exterior painting at heights, lead paint removal, spray painting operations, surface preparation, and working from ladders, scaffolding, and elevated work platforms. Documents address hazards such as falls from height, chemical exposure from paints and solvents, lead dust inhalation, and fire risk from flammable coatings.
Key Hazards Covered
- Falls from ladders, scaffolding and EWPs
- Chemical exposure from paints, solvents and thinners
- Lead dust and fume inhalation during lead paint work
- Fire and explosion risk from flammable coatings
- Spray painting in confined or poorly ventilated areas
- Musculoskeletal injuries from overhead work
Relevant Australian Standards
- AS/NZS 4361.1 Guide to lead paint management (residential)
- AS/NZS 1891.1 Fall-arrest systems
- AS/NZS 1715 Respiratory protective devices
- AS 1940 Storage and handling of flammable liquids
Individual Documents — $33.95 each
Painting Risk Assessment — Common Questions
What is the difference between a risk assessment and a SWMS?
A risk assessment provides a broad overview of all hazards for a scope of work at a site. A SWMS is task-specific and legally required for high-risk construction work. Both are important but serve different purposes.
Do I need a risk assessment if I have a SWMS?
Yes. A SWMS covers specific high-risk tasks. A site-specific risk assessment covers all hazards at the site, including those not classified as high-risk construction work.
What risk matrix do your assessments use?
Our risk assessments use a 5×5 likelihood-consequence matrix, providing initial risk ratings before controls and residual ratings after controls are applied.
Last updated: March 2026