Office Fit-Out SWMS

Office Fit-Out covers the fit-out of an office — installing the workstations, partitions, joinery, meeting rooms and finishes as part of an office fit-out. It is fit-out construction work in an occupied or new commercial premises, combining the general fit-out tasks — joinery, cabinetry, partitions, counters, fixtures, finishes — with the electrical fit-off and any services. The hazards are the manual handling of fixtures and joinery, the fixing into masonry with silica and dust, the electrical, the work at height, and the work in occupied or trading premises. This document is written on the basis that office fit-out is carried out with the manual-handling, silica, electrical, work-at-height and occupied-premises controls in place, and any electrical work by a licensed electrician.

Office Fit-Out is carried out as construction work in connection with the construction requirements, with the joinery and fixtures handled and installed, the silica from fixing into masonry controlled, the electrical fit-off carried out by a licensed electrician, the work at height controlled, and the occupied or trading premises managed. The manual handling, the silica, the electrical, the work at height, and the occupied premises are the considerations. This document coordinates the manual-handling, silica, electrical, work-at-height and occupied-premises controls so the office fit-out is carried out safely.

Hazards identified

8 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.

1. 1Engineering: use mechanical aids and team lifting for the heavy and awkward cabinets, joinery, panels, glass, fixtures and equipment, and manage the manual-handling and awkward-posture hazard with correct technique and the hierarchy of controls for hazardous manual tasks.
2. 2Engineering: control respirable crystalline silica and dust from drilling, cutting or grinding masonry, concrete, tiles, fibre-cement or stone at the source — on-tool dust extraction or water suppression — never dry-cutting uncontrolled, with respiratory protection, recognising the workplace exposure standard for silica reduces on 1 December 2026.
3. 3Administrative: have all electrical work — the fit-off of lighting, power, point-of-sale and equipment — carried out by a licensed electrician, with isolation and lockout of circuits, insulated tools and testing, and do not work on energised electrical equipment.
4. 4Engineering: provide fall prevention for work at height — platforms, scaffolds, elevating work platforms or appropriately rated ladders for light short-duration work — to the managing the risk of falls Code of Practice, with the higher-order controls used where practicable.
5. 5Administrative: manage the work in occupied, trading or public premises by segregating the work area from the public and occupants with barriers and signage, working out of hours where required, and protecting customers, occupants and the public from the work.
6. 6Engineering: use the power tools and plant — saws, drills, nail guns, routers and grinders — safely to the plant requirements and the manufacturer's instructions, with guarding in place and the tools maintained.
7. 7Administrative: manage the adhesives, sealants, paints, solvents and two-pack finishes to their safety data sheets, with ventilation in the enclosed premises, skin protection and ignition-source control where flammable.
8. 8Engineering: fix and secure the fixtures so they are stable, and manage the housekeeping and the work area.
9. 9Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001), with the trade, electrical, gas and other competencies required for the work, and any shopping centre or building induction.
10. 10Administrative: conduct a pre-start toolbox talk covering the day's work, identified hazards, the occupied-premises and public-proximity arrangements, required PPE and emergency procedures, and record attendance in the consultation section.
11. 11Administrative: consult workers and any health and safety representatives on the work and its risks, record the consultation, and keep this document available at the workplace.
12. 12PPE: eye protection to AS/NZS 1337.1, hearing protection where required, gloves appropriate to the task, and Class I or Class II safety footwear with protective toecap to AS/NZS 2210.3.
13. 13Administrative: review and update this SWMS whenever the work scope changes, after any incident or near miss, when a worker or health and safety representative raises a concern, when new hazards are identified, or at minimum every 12 months.
14. 14Administrative: confirm the work is completed safely, the installations are secure, the electrical and services are safe, and the premises are left clean and safe.

Applicable Codes of Practice

Worked example

Shop fitters are engaged to fit out office premises. The fixtures and joinery are handled with mechanical aids and team lifting. Silica and dust from fixing into masonry and cutting are controlled at the source with on-tool dust extraction or water suppression, never dry-cutting uncontrolled, with respiratory protection, recognising the silica exposure standard reduces on 1 December 2026. The electrical installation and fit-off are carried out by a licensed electrician under isolation. Fall prevention is provided for the work at height installing fixtures and lighting. The occupied or trading premises are managed by segregating the work area from the public. The power tools and plant are used safely, and the adhesives, sealants and finishes managed to their safety data sheets with ventilation. The fixtures are fixed and secured so they are stable. The fit-out is completed, the electrical confirmed safe, and the records retained.

Related legislation

• Model Work Health and Safety Act — primary duty of care; the duty to consult workers; the reckless-conduct offence; and notifiable-incident provisions, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations — the construction work, falls, electrical, hazardous manual tasks and plant provisions, and the Section 291 high risk construction work and SWMS duties where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
• The construction work, falls, electrical and hazardous chemicals Codes of Practice, and the relevant standards such as AS 1288 for glass, AS/NZS 5601.2 for commercial catering gas and AS/NZS 3000 for wiring, are called up by the relevant safety legislation for the fit-out.
• Electrical work is carried out by a licensed electrician, gas work by a licensed gasfitter, and plumbing work by a licensed plumber, under each state and territory's licensing schemes; work in shopping centres and occupied buildings is also subject to the centre or building rules.
• Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017, with the construction, falls, electrical and high risk construction work provisions applying in place of the model instruments.

Frequently asked questions