Industrial ovens in food processing facilities include rack ovens, tunnel ovens, rotary ovens, and convection ovens operating at temperatures from 150 to 350 degrees Celsius. Burns from contact with hot surfaces, steam release during door opening, and hot product handling are the most common injury types. Gas-fired ovens present additional hazards from gas leaks, pilot light failure, and incomplete combustion generating carbon monoxide. Heat stress affects workers in areas adjacent to large ovens, particularly during summer months. This template maps controls to the binding Managing Risks of Plant Code of Practice effective 1 July 2026.
WHS Regulation 2025 Part 4.7 — Plant
Work near hot surfaces and gas supply systems
Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace (binding 1 July 2026 under Section 26A)
Yes — effective 1 July 2026. Non-compliance is admissible as evidence of breach.
| Hazard | Consequence | Likelihood |
|---|---|---|
| Contact burns from hot oven surfaces, racks, and trays | Second and third degree burns | Likely |
| Steam burns when opening oven doors | Facial and hand burns, airway burns | Likely |
| Gas leak or incomplete combustion generating carbon monoxide | CO poisoning, explosion, death | Unlikely |
| Heat stress from sustained work near high-temperature ovens | Heat exhaustion, heat stroke, cardiac arrest | Possible |
| Manual handling of heavy oven racks and loaded trays | Burns combined with muscle strains and drops | Likely |
| Fire from oven malfunction or accumulated grease | Structural fire, burns, smoke inhalation | Unlikely |
Worker suffered severe injuries from food processing equipment during cleaning operations without adequate guarding.
2023 — SafeWork NSW v B&E Foods Pty Ltd [2023]
Fatal incident in food processing facility with inadequate safety controls and isolation procedures.
2025 — SafeWork NSW v Hilltop Meats Pty Ltd [2025]
Our WHS consultants build equipment-specific SWMS that address burn prevention, gas safety, and heat stress for your oven operations.
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