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

Prescribed Burns Safe Work Method Statement

2,000+ Australian Businesses Trust OneClickSWMS
Generate SWMS NowView Sample PDF

No credit card required • Instant access • Built on WHS frameworks for every Australian state

5 sec
Creation Time
100%
WHS-Aligned
2,000+
Companies
$3.6K
Fines Avoided

WHS penalties can reach $3.6M—proper SWMS documentation helps demonstrate compliance before work starts.

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.

Start Generating SWMSSee How It Works

Unlimited drafts • Built on WHS frameworks • Works across every Australian state

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.

Generate This SWMS

Plans from $15/month — no credit card required

Fully editable, audit-ready, and aligned to Australian WHS standards.

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.

Get risk assessment & procedures

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.

Related SWMS documents

Browse all documents

fire-services

Fire Alarm System Installation Safe Work Method Statement

Comprehensive SWMS covering preparation, cable installation, device mounting, control panel configuration, functional testing, and commissioning of automatic fire alarm systems in accordance with AS 1670 and WHS legislation.

View document

fire-services

Fire Detection-Alarms Testing

Testing and commissioning of fire detection and alarm systems following AS 1851 procedures including detector functional tests and system verification.

View document

fire-services

Fire Door Installation Safe Work Method Statement

Comprehensive SWMS covering preparation, frame fixing, leaf hanging, hardware installation, fire sealing, and certification of fire-rated doorsets in accordance with NCC and AS 1905.1.

View document

fire-services

Fire Extinguisher Installation and Maintenance Safe Work Method Statement

Comprehensive SWMS detailing preparation, mounting, recharge, hydrostatic testing, compliance inspection, and documentation for portable fire extinguishers and hose reels in line with AS 2444 and AS 1851.

View document

fire-services

Fire Sprinkler System Installation Safe Work Method Statement

End-to-end SWMS for fire sprinkler system prefabrication, mounting, hydraulic testing, and commissioning aligned with AS 2118 and WHS legislative requirements.

View document

fire-services

Portable Hydrants, Hose Reels & Extinguishers Inspection Safe Work Method Statement

SWMS outlining routine service, flow testing, recharge, and documentation for portable hydrants, hose reels, and fire extinguishers under AS 1851.

View document

Burn Planning, Legislative Requirements, and Authorisations

Prescribed burns in Australia are conducted under legislative frameworks that vary by state and territory but share common elements of mandatory planning, authorisation, and weather condition requirements. In Victoria, prescribed burns for fuel reduction are conducted primarily by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) and Country Fire Authority (CFA) under the Forest Act 1958 and Emergency Management Act 2013. In New South Wales, the Rural Fire Service administers hazard reduction burns under the Rural Fires Act 1997, with landowners requiring a Hazard Reduction Certificate before burning. Queensland regulates burns under the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990, requiring burn permits issued by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services. South Australia and Western Australia have comparable frameworks administered by the relevant state fire agencies. A Burn Plan must be prepared for every prescribed burn before ignition commences. The Burn Plan documents the burn objectives (fuel reduction, ecological management, or asset protection), the burn area and boundaries, the target fuel moisture and weather conditions under which ignition is permissible, the suppression resources required to manage the burn safely, escape routes and safety zones for all personnel, smoke management considerations for nearby communities, and the ignition sequence. The Burn Plan must be reviewed and approved by the supervising fire authority or landowner's fire management officer before implementation. Under Work Health and Safety Act 2011 requirements, a SWMS must also be prepared for prescribed burns as high-risk work involving open fire management. Weather conditions for prescribed burning are defined by fire weather indices including the McArthur Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI) and Grassland Fire Danger Index (GFDI), calculated from temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and drought factor. State fire agencies specify acceptable FFDI or GFDI ranges for each burn prescription, and burns must not proceed when weather conditions fall outside the specified window. Access to Bureau of Meteorology weather forecasts including local wind forecasts is mandatory before ignition. A burn escape plan must be established identifying the wind direction changes that would make the burn uncontrollable and the suppression actions and personnel withdrawal routes to be implemented if conditions deteriorate beyond the prescription.

Ignition Hazards, Fire Behaviour Risks, and Suppression Requirements

Fire and heat exposure is the primary hazard for personnel involved in prescribed burn operations. Direct flame contact and radiant heat can cause severe burns within seconds under conditions that can rapidly change during a burn. Personnel must maintain minimum safe distances from the fire edge based on flame height, slope, and wind conditions. The 'safety zone' concept requires that a cleared, non-combustible area large enough to accommodate all personnel and equipment with a safety margin must be identified before ignition — a commonly applied rule is that the safety zone diameter should be at least four times the expected flame height. All personnel must know the location of the nearest safety zone and the designated escape routes before ignition commences. Smoke inhalation hazards during prescribed burns are significant. Forest and grassland smoke contains carbon monoxide, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds. Extended exposure during burning operations can cause acute respiratory effects and is particularly dangerous for persons with pre-existing respiratory or cardiac conditions. Personnel working in smoke must wear P2 respirators to AS/NZS 1716 when smoke concentration is significant. Prescribed burn operations should be planned to minimise personnel smoke exposure through appropriate ignition sequences and wind direction consideration. Smoke dispersal must be considered for nearby populated areas, and smoke management authorities may need to be notified under state clean air legislation where burns will affect townships. Equipment and vehicle hazards arise during burn operations from overheating of vehicles caught in burn areas, contact of ignition equipment (drip torches, aerial ignition devices) with personnel, and failures of fire suppression equipment under operational conditions. Drip torches containing a mixture of diesel and petrol must be handled with care — refuelling must occur well away from the burn area with engines cold, using appropriate chemical-resistant gloves and eye protection. Vehicles entering burn areas must have spark arrestors on exhaust systems, fire shelters available for each occupant, and sufficient fuel to exit the burn area. Helitorch and aerial ignition must only be performed by trained operators in coordination with ground crews, with clear communication protocols established before operations commence.

Personnel Safety, PPE Requirements, and Emergency Procedures

All personnel participating in prescribed burn operations must have appropriate qualifications and currency for their assigned roles. Burn bosses or burn supervisors must be qualified and authorised by their employing agency to supervise ignition operations. Crew members must hold current wildfire suppression training appropriate to their state's agency requirements — in Victoria this includes Bushfire Operations Crew training, while in Queensland it covers Rural Fire Service crew competencies. First aid training at minimum Level 2 First Aid certification must be held by at least one person on each burn crew. All personnel must be physically fit and free of medical conditions that would impair their ability to safely undertake strenuous outdoor work in hot and smoky conditions. Personal protective equipment for prescribed burn operations is specialised and must meet the specific requirements for wildfire and prescribed burn operations. Fire-resistant personal protective clothing must comply with AS/NZS 4967 Test Methods for Wildfire Personal Protective Clothing, providing protection against brief flame contact and radiant heat. This typically consists of Nomex or similar aramid-blend shirts and trousers, leather boots with fire-resistant soles, leather gloves, and a hard hat with fire-resistant brim. Leather gloves protect against burns from direct heat, drip torch handles, and chain saw operations. Goggles provide eye protection against embers and ash. Personnel-issue fire shelters must be carried by all personnel working near the fire perimeter — fire shelter deployment is a last resort, but training in deployment must be current for all personnel. Emergency procedures for prescribed burn operations must be established and communicated to all personnel before ignition. The trigger conditions for declaring an emergency — including wind shift, FFDI exceeding prescription limits, fire escaping containment lines, or personnel becoming endangered — must be clearly defined. Upon declaring an emergency, a designated assembly point outside the burn area must be used to account for all personnel. Communication systems including two-way radios on designated channels and fallback satellite communicators must be tested before operations commence. Incident reporting requirements for any injury, equipment failure, or fire escape must comply with state agency requirements and WHS Act incident notification provisions. A post-burn debrief covering safety performance, hazards encountered, and improvements for future burns is an important safety culture element and must be documented.

Post-Burn Mop-Up, Monitoring, and Documentation

Post-burn mop-up operations present hazards that differ significantly from active ignition phase risks but remain serious. Following the main burn, smouldering stumps, logs, and root systems retain heat for days or weeks and can reignite if conditions become dry and windy. Personnel conducting mop-up must wear the same level of fire-resistant PPE as during active burning, as flare-up from smouldering materials can occur without warning. Mop-up operations involve physical exertion including digging, cutting, and using water-carrying equipment in terrain that may be uneven, covered with debris, and partially obscured by ash. Falling trees and branches (snags) in fire-affected areas present a struck-by hazard — dead trees can fail without warning and their condition is assessed using the standing dead tree protocols adopted by the relevant state agency. Heat stress is a major risk during mop-up operations, particularly in summer burns in open terrain. Workers perform heavy physical work in hot conditions wearing substantial PPE that reduces evaporative cooling. Heat stress risk management requires pre-hydration before commencing operations, access to cool water throughout the work period, scheduled rest breaks in shaded areas, and supervisor monitoring of personnel for signs of heat exhaustion including confusion, cessation of sweating, and elevated heart rate. Buddy systems where personnel monitor each other's condition are effective in detecting early signs of heat-related illness. Operations should be adjusted or ceased if ambient temperatures combined with work intensity create unacceptable heat stress risk. Documentation of prescribed burn outcomes supports improvement of future burn operations and demonstrates compliance with legislative and agency requirements. Post-burn documentation includes the actual area burned compared to the planned burn area, weather conditions at ignition and throughout the burn, suppression resources deployed and actions taken, any incidents or safety concerns identified, and the achieved fuel reduction outcomes. Fire behaviour observations recorded during the burn support refinement of fire behaviour models used in future burn planning. All documentation must be retained in the burn management record system for the required retention period specified by the relevant state agency. Where the burn was a hazard reduction burn under state legislation, a post-burn certificate or report may be required by the issuing authority confirming the burn was completed as planned and any conditions attached to the permit were met.

Trusted by 1,500+ Australian construction teams

Prescribed Burns SWMS Sample

Professional SWMS created in under a minute with OneClickSWMS

  • Instant PDF & shareable link
  • Auto-filled risk matrix
  • Editable Word download
  • State-specific compliance
  • Digital signature ready
  • Version history preserved
Manual creation2-3 hours
OneClickSWMS5 seconds
Save 99% of admin time and eliminate manual errors.
Generate SWMS Now

No credit card required • Instant access • Unlimited drafts included in every plan

PDF Sample

Risk Rating

BeforeHigh
After ControlsLow

Key Controls

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

Signature Ready

Capture digital signatures onsite and store revisions with automatic timestamps.

Continue exploring

Hand-picked SWMS resources
Fire ServicesExplore →Fire Door InstallationExplore →Portable Hydrants Hose Reels Extinguishers Inspection TestingExplore →Fire Extinguisher Installation MaintenanceExplore →Earthmoving EquipmentExplore →Height Access EquipmentExplore →

Ready to deliver professional SWMS in minutes?

Thousands of Australian construction teams use OneClickSWMS every week. Join them today.

Join 2,000+ Australian CompaniesExplore Safety Guides