Aquaculture Fish Farming and Marine Agriculture SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers fish farming and marine agriculture work, from planning and vessel access through husbandry, harvesting, maintenance and sign-off. It supports planning and risk management for marine, plant, chemical, electrical, waste and underwater work activities.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Complete pre-start planning and task briefings
• Access vessels and cages and conduct vessel and plant pre-starts
• Handle and distribute feed
• Carry out routine fish husbandry
• Inspect and maintain nets
• Retrieve cages and floating structures
• Harvest and transfer fish
• Undertake chemical treatment and cleaning
• Perform diving, underwater repairs and pump maintenance
• Manage waste, mortality, biosecurity and demobilisation

Who is this for?

For contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out aquaculture fish farming and marine agriculture 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.
• Use the locally adopted or applicable version of the Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks as guidance for consultation, hazard identification, control selection and review.
• Use the locally adopted or applicable model Codes of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplace; Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace; Managing electrical risks in the workplace; Hazardous manual tasks; Managing the work environment and facilities; First aid in the workplace; Managing the risk of falls at workplaces; and Work health and safety consultation, cooperation and coordination as relevant guidance.
• Use the locally adopted or applicable model Code of Practice: Managing risks in stevedoring as guidance for vessel loading, unloading, lifting and waterside interface work; it identifies relevant Marine Orders for navigation, emergency procedures, cargo handling equipment and cargo stowage.
• For occupational diving, apply applicable WHS/OHS requirements and AS/NZS 2299.1 Occupational diving operations—Standard operational practice; conduct a competent-person risk assessment before each diving operation.
• Apply applicable marine safety, vessel survey, harbour master, fisheries, aquaculture licence, biosecurity, dangerous goods and environmental protection requirements for the operating location.
• Technical guidance: AS/NZS 1900 Anchors for chain and wire rope; AS 2319.1 Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices; AS/NZS 1891 series Industrial fall-arrest systems; AS/NZS 1337.1 Eye and face protection; AS/NZS 1715 Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment; AS/NZS 1801 Occupational protective helmets; AS/NZS 2210.3 Safety footwear; AS/NZS 1270 Hearing protectors; AS/NZS 4602.1 High-visibility safety garments; and AS 4991 Lifting devices.

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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