Access Egress and Walking on Uneven Surfaces SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers access, egress and walking activities on uneven surfaces, including route preparation, material movement, surface work and clean-up. It supports planning for slips, trips, unstable footing, obstructed accessways, changing conditions and materials handling risks.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Review site access conditions
• Establish pedestrian routes
• Inspect stairs and landings
• Manage loose sand, debris and offcuts
• Position materials and equipment to maintain access
• Check footwear and protective equipment
• Walk across uneven work surfaces
• Move materials across uneven terrain
• Lay tiles across work surfaces
• Manage wet or contaminated areas
• Monitor changing ground and weather conditions
• Clean the work area and complete final checks

Who is this for?

For contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out work involving access, egress or uneven walking surfaces.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

The template includes references relevant to the documented work, including:

• Applicable Commonwealth, state or territory WHS/OHS legislation and regulations, including duties to provide and maintain a safe workplace, safe access and egress, information, training, instruction, supervision, consultation and risk control.
• Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks — apply the hierarchy of controls and review controls when conditions change.
• Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities — guidance for safe floors, accessways, lighting, housekeeping and workplace facilities.
• Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces — guidance for managing falls at the same level and falls from stairs, walkways and changes in level.
• Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: Construction Work — guidance for construction planning, worker consultation and SWMS preparation; model Codes must be checked for adoption and status in the relevant jurisdiction.
• AS 1657:2018 Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders — design, construction and installation guidance.
• AS/NZS 2210.3 Personal protective equipment—Safety footwear.
• AS/NZS 4602.1 High visibility safety garments for professional use.
• AS/NZS 3012 Electrical installations—Construction and demolition sites, where temporary electrical leads or equipment are used.
• Australian WHS guidance identifies uneven or damaged paths, wet surfaces, poor lighting, obstructions and loads that block vision as common slip, trip and fall hazards.

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Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)

• Task-specific job steps, hazards and control measures
• Initial and residual risk ratings
• Assigned responsible persons for each job step
• Plant, equipment and PPE requirements where applicable
• Permits, qualifications and high-risk construction work details where applicable
• Worker consultation, sign-off and review sections