Brick and Masonry Cleaning SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers brick and masonry cleaning, treatment, removal, replacement, repointing and site close-out. It supports planning and risk management by addressing access, chemicals, water, dust, falling materials, runoff and manual tasks.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Assess the work scope, masonry condition and potential material hazards
• Establish and control the work area
• Set up and manage access systems
• Inspect plant, tools, hoses and equipment
• Prepare cleaning chemicals and manage dilution and spills
• Pre-wet surfaces and test clean an area
• Clean brick and masonry surfaces
• Treat efflorescence salts and manage dust, chemical and runoff hazards
• Remove damaged masonry and manage instability and fragments
• Install replacement masonry and handle materials safely
• Repoint and finish joints
• Clean up, dispose of waste and demobilise the site

Who is this for?

For contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out brick and masonry cleaning or related repair activities.

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, manage risks, consult workers, provide information/training/supervision, control hazardous chemicals, plant, falls, airborne contaminants and construction-work risks.
• Model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace. The Code supports SDS review, compatibility controls and competent chemical-risk assessment.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of respirable crystalline silica in the workplace. Bricks, mortar, sandstone and other masonry products can be crystalline silica substances, and cutting, grinding, abrasive polishing and clean-up can generate respirable silica dust.
• Model Code of Practice: Abrasive blasting, where abrasive blasting is proposed. Silica-bearing masonry, surface coatings and blasting media must be assessed before work.
• Model Code of Practice: How to manage and control asbestos in the workplace; Model Code of Practice: How to safely remove asbestos.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work.
• Model Code of Practice: Construction work; Model Code of Practice: Scaffolds and scaffolding work; Model Code of Practice: Elevating work platforms.
• Guidance standards: AS/NZS 1576 Scaffolding; AS 4576 Guidelines for scaffolding; AS/NZS 1418 and AS 2550 for EWP plant and operation; AS/NZS 1891 fall-arrest systems; AS/NZS 5532 anchor devices; AS/NZS 1715 and AS/NZS 1716 respiratory protection; AS/NZS 60335.2.69 H-Class vacuum cleaners; AS/NZS 3012 construction electrical installations; AS/NZS 3760 in-service electrical inspection and testing.

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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