Civil Drainage Dewatering and Water Infrastructure SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers civil drainage dewatering and water infrastructure work, from planning and site setup through excavation, installation, testing and handover. It supports planning and risk management for ground conditions, water, services, plant, trenches, pipes and discharge.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Plan work sequencing, service conflicts and emergency response
• Set up the site and isolate affected services
• Position plant and complete pre-start checks
• Excavate, support trenches and manage spoil
• Install dewatering systems, pumps, hoses and discharge controls
• Lay pipes and culverts, and construct pits and hydraulic structures
• Carry out river diversion and waterway work
• Complete sewer and utility connections
• Test, commission, backfill, reinstate and hand over the work

Who is this for?

For contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out civil drainage, dewatering and water infrastructure 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.
• Model Code of Practice: Construction Work.
• Model Code of Practice: Excavation Work. The Code identifies dewatering, groundwater, contaminated water, water in-rush and ground collapse as excavation hazards.
• Model Code of Practice: Confined Spaces.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace. It addresses the risk-management process, plant maintenance and the interaction of people with mobile plant.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work.
• Model Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks.
• AS 2865 Confined spaces; AS 4744.1 Steel shoring and trench lining equipment; AS/NZS 3012 Electrical installations—construction and demolition sites; AS 2550 series Cranes, hoists and winches; AS 4991 Lifting devices; AS 1742.3 Traffic control devices for works on roads; AS/NZS 1715 and AS/NZS 1716 Respiratory protective equipment; AS/NZS 1337.1 Eye and face protection; AS/NZS 2210.3 Safety footwear; AS/NZS 4602.1 High-visibility safety garments; AS/NZS 1270 Hearing protectors; AS/NZS 1801 Occupational protective helmets.
• Model WHS laws and model Codes of Practice are guidance unless adopted or otherwise given legal effect in the applicable jurisdiction. Confirm local regulator, road authority, environmental authority and asset-owner requirements before work starts. The Construction Work Code requires PCBUs to consult, cooperate and coordinate overlapping contractor activities.

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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