Civil Works, Earthmoving and Excavations Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS)

People often ask, “Can I have a Safe Work Method Statement for Civil works, or excavations or earthmoving?” “A document that covers everything?”  The answer is not really. 

A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) needs to document step by step how you are going to do a particular job. Not all jobs are the same! Are you going to excavate a trench using an excavator, or clear a site using a skid steel loader?

The steps in undertaking each of these tasks are very different. Not only are the steps different, but the potential hazards and the hazard control measures are very different as well.

There are two variations of loaders available: the skid-steer and the posi-track. The main difference is that one has wheels while the other has tracks.

Civil and earthmoving work involves various hazards due to the nature of the tasks, heavy machinery, and the outdoor environment.

Tip truck safety necessitates adherence to safe loading and unloading procedures, proper maintenance of the vehicle, and cautious operation to prevent hazards like rollovers and spills.
Excavator safety involves adhering to proper operating procedures, maintaining equipment in good condition, and implementing precautionary measures to prevent hazards such as overturning, crush injuries, and excavation collapses.
  • Crush Injuries: Workers can be at risk of being crushed between or by heavy equipment if proper safety procedures are not followed.
  • Overturning Equipment: There is a risk of rollovers, especially on uneven terrain, which can result in serious injuries or fatalities.
  • Collapse: Trenches or excavations can collapse, leading to burying or trapping workers.
  • Falling Objects: Materials or equipment near the edge of a trench can fall in, posing a risk to workers below.
  • Falls from Heights: Workers may be exposed to falls when working on elevated surfaces, slopes, or near excavations.
  • Slips and Trips: Uneven or slippery surfaces can contribute to slips, trips, and falls.
  • Musculoskeletal Injuries: Lifting and moving heavy objects manually can result in musculoskeletal injuries if proper lifting techniques are not employed.
  • Exposure to Dust: Construction activities can generate dust containing hazardous materials, leading to respiratory issues.
  • Chemical Exposure: Contact with hazardous materials, such as concrete additives or construction chemicals, can pose health risks.
  • Hearing Damage: Operation of heavy equipment and machinery generates high noise levels, posing a risk of hearing damage to workers.
  • Contact with Power Lines: Overhead power lines can pose a risk of electrocution if equipment comes into contact with them.
  • Limited Escape Routes: Workers in confined spaces, such as utility trenches, may face challenges in escaping in case of emergencies.
  • Extreme Temperatures: Working in extreme heat or cold can lead to heat stress, hypothermia, or other weather-related illnesses.
  • Struck-by Vehicles: Workers on or near roadways are at risk of being struck by construction vehicles or other traffic.
  • Inadequate Signaling: Poor communication and signaling practices can lead to misunderstandings and accidents.
  • Combustible Materials: Construction sites may have combustible materials, and the use of equipment can pose a fire risk.
  • Vector-Borne Diseases: Working outdoors exposes workers to insects and other vectors that may transmit diseases.

Under the WHS act you must prepare a SWMS for High-Risk Construction Work. 

There are 18 high risk construction work activities defined in the WHS Regulations.

When undertaking Civil work common high-risk activities include:

  • Risk of a person falling more than 2 metres
  • Work on or near energised electrical installations or services
  • Work on or near pressurised gas mains or piping
  • Work in an area with movement of powered mobile plant

A SWMS provides a clear, step-by-step guide on how to perform a task safely.

It ensures that everyone involved understands the necessary steps, reducing the likelihood of accidents due to confusion or misunderstanding.
 
The JSEAsy Safety Management Software builds your site-specific SWMS for your civil job by adding templates of the steps you are going to take, in the order in which you are going to take them.
 

Watch a detailed demonstration video on how to create a new site-specific SWMS using existing templates.

Making SWMS has never been easier, just pick your job steps and the JSEAsy safety management software does all the hard work for you.

Backhoe and frontend loader safety requires thorough operator training, regular equipment maintenance, and strict adherence to safe operating practices to prevent accidents and injuries associated with excavation, lifting, and material handling.
This is an extract of an example Full SWMS Report generated from the JSEAsy EHS Software.

JSEA/ SWMS Example

Below is an example of templates you may insert into your site-specific SWMS for a typical road replacement job.

  1. Site Orientation/ Induction
  2. Claim Work Area
  3. Delivery and unloading of mobile plant.
  4. Safety check and operation of Excavator for trenching and excavations.
  5. Inspection and use of Motor Grader/ Road Grader
  6. Inspect and drive Tip Truck/ Dump Truck
  7. Installation of UPVC Pipe for stormwater
  8. Backfill Trenches with sand and original Spoil using an excavator.
  9. Compact trenches using a petrol-powered Wacker/ Leg Rammer.
  10. Safety inspection and use of wheeled front end loader
  11. Spread rubble around site using a wheeled front end loader.
  12. Safety inspection and compact area with Road roller (roller-compactor)
  13. Laying asphalt with paver which is filled from tipper.
  14. Tack coating (including use of hand lance) prior to laying asphalt.
  15. Laying blue metal paver which is filled from tipper.
  16. Move gravel by hand using a shovel.
  17. Compact area with Road roller (roller-compactor)
  18. Monitoring and Review of SWMS

Automating the process

When you insert a template, it automatically brings with it:

  1. The main process step
  2. The sub process steps associated in undertaking the task
    1. The potential hazards associated with undertaking the task (you can also delete or add any of these with a simple click)
    2. The Risk Rating for undertaking the task (You can also change this if you want to)
    3. The Hazard Control measure (you can also delete or add any of these with a simple click)
    4. The revised risk rating after applying the control (You can also change this if you want to)
    5. Any required PPE (you can also delete or add any of these with a simple click)
    6. Any applicable licences or qualifications required (you can also delete or add any of these with a simple click)
    7. Any preoperational inspections required (you can also delete or add any of these with a simple click)
    8. Any applicable legislation or codes of practice (you can also delete or add any of these with a simple click)
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Creating Site-Specific SWMS Reports with JSEAsy Safety Management Software

Creating a site-specific SWMS is easy using JSEAsy . Once created, you can print/ save a pdf of either a full or simplified SWMS report. 

Download an example of a full SWMS report generated from the JSEAsy EHS Software.

Download an example of a simplified SWMS report generated from the JSEAsy EHS Software.

The JSEAsy software comes preloaded with hundreds of templates (job steps) to build your site-specific SWMS with.

Safe Operating Procedures (SOP) and Plant and Equipment Risk Assessments (PERA) are also included in all versions.

The JSEAsy Premium EHS Software is your total WHS management system.

The JSEAsy safety management software is available for download and install on a PC, or hosted in the cloud

JSEAsy Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Software

Process: Click the Links below to learn more about JSEAsy Safety Management Software and the process.

View an Infographic about How JSEAsy Software works.

See the different versions of the JSEAsy software.

When you buy or Rent JSEAsy you have access to all of the latest version SWMS templates, for all trades and industries.

Download the JSEAsy latest version SWMS template register.

This is a register sorted by industry type and industry specific of all of the SWMS templates included in the latest version of the JSEAsy Safety Management Software.

Bulldozer safety entails comprehensive operator training, adherence to proper operating procedures, and regular equipment maintenance to mitigate hazards such as rollovers, crush injuries, and collisions on construction sites.
Thousands of SWMS templates included in the JSEAsy SWMS software.

Save time and Money!

Hundreds of templates included – 1 low price – Exceptional value!

When you buy or rent the JSEAsy Safety Software, not only to get all of the templates specifically for civil works but you also get all of the templates for all of the other industries and trades as well. Civil contractors don’t just push dirt!

You will also benefit from many of the automotive and mechanical templates for undertaking servicing and repairs. You may benefit from many other industry and trade templates like structural and fabrication for cutting, grinding, welding etc.. 

Order Now!

A list of all the templates included in all versions of the JSEAsy EHS software is shown below.

  • You can search by scrolling through the list of all templates.
  • You can apply filters to the list by selecting an Industry Type
  • You can further refine the list by selecting and industry type and an industry specific.
  • You can do key word searches for templates.  If you can’t find what you are looking for try:
    • Shortening the search term. For example, searching for “deliv” would show deliver and deliveries, but if you searched for deliveries, it would exclude deliver.
    • Look for a synonyms/ alternate word for what you are looking for. E.g. tube or pipe

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