SWMS for Landscapers, Pool Builders, Glaziers, Crane Operators, Scaffolders and Demolition

Every trade that does high risk construction work needs a SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) before the work starts, not just the big trades. This page covers six trades we work with that have their own particular hazards. For each one: when you need a SWMS, and what it should cover.

Jump to: Landscaping · Pool building · Glazing · Crane and concrete pump operators · Scaffolding · Demolition

A SWMS is legally required when the job includes high risk construction work, such as a fall risk over 2 metres, moving plant, trenches over 1.5 metres, work near energised services or a road in use, demolition, or asbestos. It’s also the first document a WHS inspector asks for on site.

Working on a site where someone else’s excavator, bobcat or other plant is operating? That’s still high risk construction work for your business, even though you’re not operating it. See working near someone else’s plant.

Landscaping SWMS

Landscaping looks low risk until you count the plant, the digging and the services underground. One of our landscaping clients dug through an underground electrical cable and cut the power to an entire subdivision. It could easily have been fatal.

You need a SWMS when you’re using or working around excavators, bobcats, mini loaders or trenchers, digging near underground services, excavating deeper than 1.5 metres, or working next to a road.

• Underground services: BYDA (Before You Dig Australia) plans, locating and potholing before digging, and remembering private services aren’t on the plans.
• Plant: exclusion zones, spotters, pre-starts and trained operators.
• Retaining walls: excavation collapse behind walls, engineered designs where needed, and lifting heavy blocks and sleepers.
• Cutting pavers, blocks and stone: silica dust controls and training (see silica).
• Chemicals like herbicides and pesticides: SDS, PPE and safe storage.
• Chainsaws, mowers and brush cutters: guarding, PPE, and noise and vibration.

More detail is on our excavation and earthmoving SWMS page.

Pool building SWMS

Pool building combines deep excavation, heavy plant, concrete spraying and a drowning hazard once the pool holds water.

You need a SWMS when the pool excavation is deeper than 1.5 metres, plant is moving on site, you’re working near services or the boundary, there’s a fall into the excavation, or there’s a risk of drowning once water is in the pool.

• Excavation collapse: batter or bench the walls, keep spoil and plant back from the edge, and inspect after rain.
• Falls into the excavation: barriers or fencing around the hole, and safe access in and out.
• Concrete spraying (shotcrete): hose and pump safety, rebound and eye protection, cement burns, and keeping the crew clear of the pump (see concreting).
• Temporary pool fencing as soon as the pool can hold water, as your state’s pool safety laws require, to protect children and the public.
• Silica dust from cutting coping, pavers and tiles.
• Pool chemicals (chlorine and acid): SDS, never mixing them, and PPE.
• Electrical: pumps, heaters and lighting near water, with RCD protection and licensed electricians.

Glazing SWMS

Glass is heavy, sharp and unforgiving. Some of the most serious glazing incidents happen before the glass is even installed, when it falls from racks, A-frames or trucks.

You need a SWMS when you’re installing glass where a fall could exceed 2 metres, working from EWPs or scaffold, using cranes or glass lifters, or working next to a road or footpath.

• Glass storage and transport: secure racks, A-frames and stillages, restraining glass during loading and unloading, and keeping people clear when unrestrained.
• Handling: vacuum lifters checked before every lift, enough people for the weight, and cut-resistant gloves and arm protection.
• Working at heights: installing from the inside where possible, edge protection, scaffold or EWPs, and harnesses where needed.
• Cranes and lifting: lift plans, licensed operators and doggers, and exclusion zones under the load.
• Breakage: clearing broken glass safely, and protecting the public below.
• Sealants and adhesives: SDS and ventilation.

Crane and concrete pump operator SWMS

If you operate a crane or concrete pump, you need your own SWMS for operating it, even when you’re working on someone else’s site. The site’s SWMS covers their crew; yours covers your machine and how it’s set up and used.

You need a SWMS when you’re operating powered mobile plant on a construction site (which is almost always), working near powerlines, or setting up on or next to a road.

• Licences: the right high risk work licence for the crane type or concrete placing boom, plus dogging or rigging licences for the people slinging and directing loads.
• Set-up: ground assessment, outrigger pads, and checking for trenches, pits and services under the outriggers.
• Powerlines: identifying them before set-up, exclusion zones, spotters, and contacting the network operator if you need to work closer.
• Lift planning: load weights, radius and load charts, and wind limits.
• Exclusion zones under loads, booms and around outriggers, and communication with doggers and the site.
• Pump hazards: hose whip, blockages and line clearing, and boom failure (see concreting).
• Inspections: daily pre-starts, plus the periodic and major inspections the plant requires.

Scaffolding SWMS

Scaffolders face the fall risks they’re there to protect everyone else from. A scaffolder’s SWMS covers erecting, altering and dismantling scaffold, which is very different from the SWMS of the trades who use it (see the scaffold example on our carpentry and builders page).

You need a SWMS when there’s a fall risk over 2 metres, which is almost every scaffold job, as well as when working near powerlines, next to roads, or around moving plant.

• Licences: a scaffolding high risk work licence (basic, intermediate or advanced) for scaffold where a person or object could fall more than 4 metres.
• Falls during erection: erecting sequence, advance guardrails or harnesses with suitable anchors, and full decks as you go.
• Stability: ground and base plates, ties and bracing to the design, and load ratings.
• Falling objects: exclusion zones below, toe boards, catch screens or gantries over footpaths, and tool lanyards.
• Powerlines: clearances, and the network operator for anything closer.
• Handover and inspection: handover certificate and tag, and inspections before use, after alterations or bad weather, and at regular intervals.

Demolition SWMS

Demolition is one of the highest-risk jobs in construction: unplanned collapse, falls, asbestos and live services are all common.

You need a SWMS when you’re demolishing load-bearing parts of a structure, there’s a fall risk over 2 metres, asbestos is likely to be disturbed, plant is moving, or services may still be live. Some demolition work also has to be notified to the regulator in advance, and some states (like NSW) need a demolition licence.

• Asbestos first: get an asbestos survey of buildings built before 1990 before demolition, and have asbestos removed by a licensed removalist before the main demolition.
• Structural collapse: a demolition plan, an engineer where needed, temporary propping, and demolishing in a planned sequence.
• Services: electricity, gas and water disconnected and confirmed before starting.
• Falls: edge protection, and controlling access to upper levels and openings.
• Plant and exclusion zones, plus protecting the public and neighbouring properties.
• Dust: silica and lead dust controls, and water suppression.

Make your SWMS work on site

• Read it and talk it through with the crew before work starts, then everyone signs. It isn’t a “tick, flick and sign here” exercise.
• Make it site-specific: this site, this ground, these services, this plant.
• Keep it on site, and review it when the job or conditions change.
• Give a copy to the builder or principal contractor before work starts. It’s your responsibility to provide it, not just when asked.

How we can help

SWMS Done For You: $240. Tell us about the job, whatever your trade, and we write a SWMS that fits your work, your plant and your crew. It arrives as a Word document within about 2 business days, ready to review, talk through, sign and take to site.

Not sure what you need? Talk to a real person

Questions

My trade isn’t listed. Do I need a SWMS?

If your work includes any high risk construction work, such as a fall over 2 metres, moving plant, excavation over 1.5 metres, work near services or roads, demolition or asbestos, then yes. Do I need a SWMS? explains it in plain English, or just call us.

I operate a crane or pump on someone else’s site. Whose SWMS applies?

Both. The site’s SWMS covers their crew and the site, and you need your own SWMS for operating your machine. The two should fit together.

Can the builder’s SWMS cover my work?

Usually not. The business doing the high risk work prepares the SWMS for that work, and a builder’s SWMS rarely covers a specialist trade’s tasks. Give your SWMS to the builder (principal contractor) before work starts.

Related guides

• SWMS by trade: Roofing · Electrical · Plumbing · Concreting · Excavation and earthmoving · Carpentry and building · Painting · Plastering and rendering
• Do I need a SWMS for every job?
• SWMS vs Risk Assessment (JSA) vs Take 5
• SWMS rules in each state: Queensland, NSW, Victoria, WA

General information based on the model Work Health and Safety Regulations used in Queensland, NSW, WA and most states. Victoria uses its own OHS laws, but SWMS rules there are very similar. This isn’t legal advice, so check the detail for your state or ask us.