Product Overview

This Brick Saw Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a site-ready safety document designed to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement controls for the safe use of brick and masonry saws. It is a comprehensive, pre-filled template that covers multiple aspects of brick saw operation to support WHS compliance and safe management of High Risk Construction Work.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Safe setup, positioning, and stabilisation of brick saws and masonry cutting equipment on site
• Selection and inspection of brick saws, masonry saws, and brick cutting machines prior to use
• Cutting with a brick saw, including correct feed pressure, blade alignment, and workpiece support
• Masonry saw cutting techniques to minimise kickback, binding, and uncontrolled movement of materials
• Operation of brick cutting machines, including start-up, shut-down, and emergency stop procedures
• Selection, fitting, and inspection of cutting blades and discs suitable for masonry and brick materials
• Management of dust, silica exposure, and noise through water suppression, extraction, and PPE
• Control of electrical risks, including use of RCDs, safe cable routing, and inspection of power leads
• Manual handling of bricks, blocks, pavers, and masonry units to reduce strain and crush injuries
• Guarding, isolation, and lock-out procedures during blade changes, maintenance, and cleaning
• Housekeeping around the cutting area, including slurry, offcut, and trip hazard management
• Safe work practices when operating in shared work areas and around other trades and mobile plant
• Emergency response procedures for lacerations, eye injuries, electric shock, and inhalation incidents

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for bricklayers, blocklayers, stonemasons, landscapers, construction contractors, and site supervisors overseeing the use of brick and masonry saws on Australian worksites.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Model Code of Practice: Construction Work – Guidance on managing risks associated with construction activities, including cutting masonry materials
• Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace – Requirements for the safe use, guarding, and maintenance of brick and masonry saws
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces – Controls for slips, trips, and falls around wet cutting areas and uneven surfaces
• Model Code of Practice: Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work – Risk controls for high noise levels generated by brick and masonry cutting
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace – Guidance on managing exposure to respirable crystalline silica and other hazardous dusts
• Model Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks – Framework for hazard identification, risk assessment, and implementation of control measures
• AS/NZS 3012 Electrical installations – Construction and demolition sites – Requirements for temporary electrical installations, including RCD protection for powered saws
• AS/NZS 2161 Occupational protective gloves – Selection and use of hand protection when handling bricks and operating cutting equipment
• AS/NZS 1337 Personal eye protection – Requirements for safety eyewear and face shields during cutting operations
• AS/NZS 1716 Respiratory protective devices – Selection and use of respiratory protection for dust and silica control
• AS/NZS 1270 Acoustics – Hearing protectors – Selection of hearing protection for high-noise cutting tasks
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017