Brick And Block Laying SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers brick and block laying work from site establishment and material handling through to masonry construction, finishing, cleaning and demobilisation. It supports the identification and management of risks associated with access, manual tasks, dust, cutting, mortar, wall stability and falling objects.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Plan the work and establish the site, access arrangements and work boundaries.
• Receive, stack and move bricks, blocks and other materials safely.
• Set up scaffold and access arrangements for masonry work.
• Mix and transport mortar while managing dust, contact and equipment risks.
• Set out damp course and prepare the wall work area.
• Lay bricks, facework, blocks and Hebel while managing handling and wall stability.
• Install wall ties and reinforcement, including drilling and access work.
• Core fill blockwork and manage concrete, formwork and hose movement risks.
• Cut, split and dress masonry units while managing dust, blades and fragments.
• Rake and finish joints, clean masonry surfaces and inspect completed work.
• Remove waste, maintain housekeeping and demobilise the site.

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out brick, block and masonry work.

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.
• Model Code of Practice: Construction Work (guidance only; confirm whether adopted or approved in the relevant jurisdiction).
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces (guidance only; confirm jurisdictional status).
• Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks (guidance only; confirm jurisdictional status).
• Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace (guidance only; confirm jurisdictional status).
• Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace (guidance only; confirm jurisdictional status).
• Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Respirable Crystalline Silica in the Workplace. Bricks, blocks, mortar and autoclaved aerated concrete may contain crystalline silica, and cutting or grinding can constitute processing.
• Code of Practice: Working Safely When Cutting, Drilling and Grinding Concrete and Masonry Products; use effective wet suppression, on-tool extraction or isolation before relying on RPE.
• AS/NZS 1576 series Scaffolding; AS/NZS 4576 Guidelines for scaffolding; AS 4349 Masonry structures; AS 3700 Masonry structures; AS/NZS 1715 Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment; AS/NZS 1716 Respiratory protective devices; AS/NZS 3012 Electrical installations—Construction and demolition sites.

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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