Introduction to Water Damage Restoration

Every water damage site is a workplace. Under the Australian Model Work Health and Safety Act, the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) has a primary duty to ensure workers and others at the workplace are not exposed to health and safety risks. In a water damage restoration context, this duty encompasses electrical hazards, contamination exposure, manual handling injury, and slip and fall risk — all of which are present to some degree on every job.

PPE requirements scale with contamination category. Minimum PPE for Category 1 losses is nitrile gloves and eye protection. Category 2 losses add a P2 respirator and disposable coverall where aerosolisation of contaminated water is likely. Category 3 losses require full PPE: disposable coverall, rubber boots, chemical splash goggles, P2 respirator, and gloves. Confirm the water category before donning PPE — if you are uncertain of the category, default to Category 2 minimum until confirmed.

Safe work method statements (SWMS) are required for certain high-risk activities encountered in water damage work including work in confined spaces, work at heights (accessing roof cavities), and work involving asbestos. Identify these risks during pre-job planning and ensure the appropriate documentation and controls are in place before work begins.

Incident reporting: under the Model WHS Act, certain incidents (serious injuries, dangerous occurrences) must be reported to the WHS regulator. Know the notification threshold for your state or territory and have the reporting process clearly understood before an incident occurs.

Reference: Safe Work Australia Model WHS Act and Regulations | IICRC S500