Comprehensive SWMS for planning, igniting, controlling, and mop-up of prescribed hazard reduction burns

Prescribed Burns Safe Work Method Statement

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This Safe Work Method Statement covers the planning and execution of prescribed burns for fuel reduction, ecological management, and asset protection. The scope includes burn planning, environmental assessment, ignition operations, fire containment, monitoring, mop-up, and post-burn evaluation under state bushfire legislation, the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, and AFAC Prescribed Burning Guidelines. Field crews operate in variable terrain and weather conditions, often using drip torches, incendiaries, tankers, slip-on units, and earthmoving equipment to prepare control lines. They manage risks from fire behaviour, smoke, heat stress, heavy machinery, and remote work environments. Implementing this SWMS ensures teams conduct burns safely, maintain control, protect the public, and document compliance with regulatory permits and environmental approvals.

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Overview

What this SWMS covers

Prescribed burning involves deliberate ignition of vegetation under planned weather and fuel conditions to achieve fuel reduction, ecological, or cultural objectives. Activities include developing burn plans, establishing control lines, briefing crews, implementing ignition patterns, controlling fire behaviour, and conducting post-burn patrols. Teams coordinate with land managers, emergency services, and the community while monitoring weather, using fire behaviour models, and maintaining water supply and communications. Crews rely on tankers, slip-ons, drip torches, ignition spheres, and earthmoving equipment to contain fire within defined perimeters.

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Why this SWMS matters

Poorly planned burns can escape containment, damage assets, and harm the environment or community. Following this SWMS ensures crews maintain situational awareness, apply controls for high-risk fire operations, and document compliance with statutory burn permits and environmental approvals.

Reinforce licensing, insurance, and regulator expectations for Prescribed Burns Safe Work Method Statement crews before they mobilise.

Hazard identification

Surface the critical risks tied to this work scope and communicate them to every worker.

Risk register

Dynamic fire behaviour and escape risk

High

Wind changes, spotting, or unexpected fuel loads can cause rapid fire spread beyond control lines.

Consequence: Uncontrolled wildfire, damage to property, injury or fatality of crew or public, and regulatory action.

Heat stress and dehydration

High

Prolonged work near radiant heat in PPE, combined with physical exertion, can lead to heat stress or heat stroke.

Consequence: Cognitive impairment, collapse, or medical emergency requiring evacuation.

Smoke exposure and reduced visibility

Medium

Smoke can irritate respiratory systems, reduce visibility on roads, and impact traffic.

Consequence: Respiratory illness, vehicle collisions, and public complaints or regulatory breaches.

Remote work and communication failure

Medium

Operations often occur in remote areas with limited radio coverage, increasing the difficulty of coordinating crews and responding to incidents.

Consequence: Delayed emergency response, lost personnel, and inability to issue critical instructions during incidents.

Slip, trip, and plant interaction

Medium

Uneven terrain, hidden stumps, and moving vehicles such as tankers or dozers create significant trip or collision hazards, especially at night.

Consequence: Sprains, fractures, vehicle rollovers, or struck-by injuries.

Control measures

Deploy layered controls aligned to the hierarchy of hazard management.

Implementation guide

Comprehensive burn planning and approvals

Administrative

Develop burn plans incorporating objectives, fuel assessments, weather parameters, contingency strategies, and permit conditions before ignition.

Implementation

1. Conduct site reconnaissance to assess fuels, control lines, and values at risk. 2. Prepare burn prescription specifying acceptable weather ranges, resources, and ignition techniques. 3. Obtain permits from fire authorities and inform neighbouring landholders. 4. Develop contingency plans, trigger points, and escape routes. 5. Brief all personnel on plan details before deployment.

Weather monitoring and go/no-go decision making

Administrative

Use accurate weather forecasts, onsite observations, and fire behaviour tools to confirm conditions remain within prescription before and during ignition.

Implementation

1. Monitor forecasts 7 days, 48 hours, and day-of-burn. 2. Record onsite measurements of temperature, humidity, wind, and fuel moisture. 3. Use Fire Danger Ratings and fire behaviour calculators to predict flame height and spread. 4. Establish go/no-go checklist requiring incident controller authorisation. 5. Suspend or cease ignition if parameters exceed limits or unexpected behaviour occurs.

Crew structure and communication

Administrative

Establish Incident Controller, Sector Leaders, and Crew Leaders with clear communication protocols across radio channels and contingency plans for failures.

Implementation

1. Assign ICS roles and ensure all personnel understand chain of command. 2. Conduct radio checks and maintain secondary communication methods such as mobile phones or satellite devices. 3. Implement check-in/out procedures and use crew tracking boards. 4. Allocate lookouts to monitor weather and fire behaviour. 5. Provide daily briefings and debriefings documenting lessons learned.

Personal protective equipment and hydration management

Administrative

Ensure all personnel wear bushfire-rated PPE and implement hydration/rest breaks to prevent heat stress.

Implementation

1. Issue AS/NZS 4824 compliant clothing, gloves, helmets, goggles, and boots. 2. Provide hydration packs and schedule rest cycles every 45–60 minutes under heavy work. 3. Monitor personnel for heat stress signs and rotate duties to lower intensity tasks. 4. Establish shaded rehab areas with medical support. 5. Record hydration and welfare checks on crew logs.

Control lines, plant coordination, and mop-up

Engineering

Prepare control lines, coordinate plant operations, and ensure thorough mop-up to prevent escapes.

Implementation

1. Construct and inspect firebreaks, trails, and mineral earth lines before ignition. 2. Position tankers, slip-ons, and dozers strategically with designated operators. 3. Maintain hose lines charged on critical sectors. 4. Mop up to specified depth (e.g., 30 m) and cold-trail hotspots. 5. Patrol perimeter until the Incident Controller declares the burn safe.

Download complete control procedures

Personal protective equipment

Bushfire PPE ensemble

Requirement: AS/NZS 4824 compliant jacket and trousers

When: Mandatory during burn operations, ignition, mop-up, and patrol.

Helmet and eye protection

Requirement: AS/NZS 1801 bushfire-rated helmet with AS/NZS 1337 eye protection

When: Worn whenever on the fireground or near active ignition.

Gloves

Requirement: AS/NZS 2161 heat-resistant leather gloves

When: During ignition, handling hoses, or clearing burning material.

Respiratory protection

Requirement: P2 disposable respirator or half-face respirator suitable for smoke

When: When exposed to dense smoke, ash, or dust during mop-up.

Hearing protection

Requirement: AS/NZS 1270 Class 3 hearing protection

When: When operating pumps, chainsaws, or machinery exceeding 85 dB(A).

Hydration pack and first aid kit

Requirement: Individually issued hydration backpack and field first aid kit

When: Carried during all field operations to support welfare and rapid response.

Step-by-step work procedure

Give supervisors and crews a clear, auditable sequence for the task.

Field ready
1

Pre-burn planning and approvals

Compile burn objectives, mapping, environmental assessments, and permit conditions. Submit notifications to regulatory bodies and community stakeholders.

Safety considerations

Verify weather prescriptions, resource requirements, and contingency plans before scheduling ignition.

2

Control line preparation and hazard mitigation

Construct and inspect control lines, remove hazardous trees, establish water points, and stage plant and equipment.

Safety considerations

Brief plant operators, manage traffic control, and clear escape routes from obstacles.

3

Crew briefing and role allocation

Conduct an Incident Action Plan briefing covering objectives, weather forecast, communications, safety zones, trigger points, and medical arrangements. Allocate crews to sectors and tasks.

Safety considerations

Confirm PPE compliance, test communication equipment, and designate lookouts.

4

Test fire and ignition operations

Perform a small test burn to confirm fire behaviour within prescription. Progress ignition along control lines using drip torches or aerial incendiaries following planned patterns.

Safety considerations

Maintain situational awareness, adjust ignition pace to conditions, and ensure water support is immediately available.

5

Active burn control and monitoring

Hold lines, monitor flame heights, manage hotspots, and adjust tactics in response to weather shifts. Relay observations to the Incident Controller and adapt resource deployment.

Safety considerations

Rotate crews to manage fatigue, maintain lookout positions, and apply water or hand tools to spot fires promptly.

6

Mop-up and patrol

Extinguish burning logs, stumps, and debris within the containment zone, cold trail the perimeter, and dismantle temporary ignitions. Continue patrols until the burn is declared safe.

Safety considerations

Use thermal imaging where available, maintain communication, and reassess hazards during night operations.

7

Post-burn evaluation and reporting

Document burn outcomes, map burnt area, record smoke management observations, and capture lessons learned for continuous improvement.

Safety considerations

Account for all personnel, secure the site, and address any environmental or community concerns raised during the operation.

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Frequently asked questions

What approvals are required for prescribed burns?

Requirements vary by jurisdiction but typically include permits from the rural fire authority, environmental approvals for smoke management, and consultation with landowners and cultural heritage custodians.

How is weather monitored during a burn?

Crews monitor Bureau of Meteorology forecasts, use onsite Kestrel readings, update Fire Danger Indices, and halt ignition if conditions exceed the prescribed limits.

What happens if a burn escapes containment?

Immediately enact the contingency plan, deploy suppression resources, notify the controlling agency, and complete incident reporting in accordance with state legislative requirements.

How are cultural and environmental values protected?

Include cultural heritage assessments, consult Traditional Owners, establish exclusion zones, and implement smoke dispersion strategies to meet environmental conditions.

What training is required for burn crews?

Personnel should hold nationally recognised competencies such as FWPCOT3325 Operate specialized machinery and PUAFIR units for bushfire operations, along with annual burn refresher training.

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Risk Rating

BeforeHigh
After ControlsLow

Key Controls

  • • Pre-start briefing covering hazards
  • • PPE: hard hats, eye protection, gloves
  • • Emergency plan communicated to crew

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