This Bar Operations and Glassware Handling SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled and covers running a bar safely, from cellar work and keg changes to glass washing, service and close-down. It sets out the hazards, control measures and risk ratings before and after controls for 27 activities, from the pre-shift briefing to lock-up and emergency response. It's written by WHS specialists, aligned to Australian WHS legislation, and fully editable in Microsoft Word.
 
Who it's for
Pubs, hotels and taverns
Bars, nightclubs and small venues
Clubs, RSLs and function centres
Event and festival bar operators
Restaurants and cafes with a licensed bar
You don't need to be in construction to use a SWMS. Plenty of venues use one as the written risk assessment for a task, the same way others use a JSA or Safe Work Procedure.
 
Use it to
Show clients, insurers and auditors how you manage the risks
Apply for tenders, contracts and supplier panels
Get through prequalification with Avetta, Cm3 and other contractor portals
Induct new workers and train them in the task
 
What this SWMS covers
RSA competency, pre-shift briefings and fitness for work on late-night shifts
Cellar entry with CO2 and nitrogen checks, and cool room entrapment and cold stress
Deliveries, moving kegs on stairs and ramps, and falls through open cellar hatches
Carrying and collecting glassware, and safe clean-up of broken glass
Ice well contamination and cuts, and glass washing chemicals, scalds and breakages
Steam wands and urns, blenders, garnish knives and allergens in drinks
Slips, repetitive strain, heat stress and flaming service behind the bar
Keg changeover, gas cylinder handling and caustic beer line cleaning
Bottle bins, glass recycling, needlestick risk and chemical waste
Refusal of service, patron aggression, glass used as a weapon and sexual harassment
Crowd pressure at the bar, noise exposure, close-down and lock-up after dark
Emergency response to serious bleeding, CO2 exposure, chemical splash, burns or assault
 
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 27 work activities
Risk ratings before and after controls, with a 5x5 risk matrix and the hierarchy of controls
PPE requirements checklist and high risk construction work checklist
Plant and equipment list, materials, and maintenance checks for gas systems, cool room releases and bar appliances
Relevant Australian Standards, including AS 5034 for beverage dispensing gases and AS 4332 for gas cylinders
Training notes covering RSA, sign-off for keg, gas and line cleaning work, and conflict de-escalation
Site specific hazards section for anything unique to your job
Worker sign-off sheet and worker consultation record
 
Why use this template
Saves hours compared with writing a SWMS from a blank page
Covers the most common hazards and control measures for this work, ready to use out of the box
Fully editable, so you can add, remove or change anything to suit your site and how your team works
Helps your business stay compliant, with risk ratings, worker sign-off and consultation records already set up
 
How it works
Buy online and download straight away. You'll also get an email with your link.
Add your logo, ABN, project and site details.
Check it suits your site and task, edit anything you need to, and consult your workers before you finalise it.
Brief your team and collect signatures.
 
Common questions
Do I need a SWMS for bar work?
No. Bar work isn't high risk construction work, so a SWMS isn't a legal requirement. You still have to manage the risks, including CO2 build-up in the cellar and patron aggression, and a SWMS is a practical way to record how. Clients, insurers and prequalification portals often ask for one.
Does it cover CO2 in the cellar?
Yes. It covers checking the cellar atmosphere before entry, weekly testing of the cellar gas detector, gas cylinder handling and regulator changeover, and the emergency response to a collapse in the cellar.
Can I change it?
Yes. It's a Microsoft Word file, so you can add, remove or change any hazard, control or rating, and add your own logo and details.
Does it suit my state?
Yes. It's written to the model WHS laws and suits all states and territories, including Victoria under the OHS Act and Regulations.
What if it doesn't suit my work?
You're covered by our 30-day money-back guarantee if it isn't fit for purpose.