Product Overview

Summary: This Concrete Cutting and Drilling Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, step-by-step framework for undertaking concrete cutting and core drilling tasks safely, efficiently and in line with Australian WHS requirements. It helps businesses control high‑risk hazards such as silica dust, noise, vibration and blade failure, while supporting consistent work quality on every job.

Concrete cutting and drilling are routine activities on Australian construction, civil and demolition sites, yet they involve some of the most serious and often underestimated risks – from airborne respirable crystalline silica and flying debris, through to entanglement, electric shock and catastrophic blade or bit failure. This Concrete Cutting and Drilling Safe Operating Procedure sets out a practical, work-ready method for planning, setting up and carrying out these tasks safely, whether you are using handheld saws, road saws, wall saws or core drilling rigs.

Developed with Australian WHS obligations in mind, the SOP provides a consistent approach that supervisors and workers can follow on every job. It covers pre-start inspections, verification of services (including underground and in-slab services), dust suppression and extraction methods, safe handling of slurry, noise and vibration controls, and clear lock‑out/tag‑out practices. By implementing this procedure, businesses can demonstrate due diligence, reduce the likelihood of serious incidents, and support workers with clear, unambiguous instructions – ultimately protecting people, plant, reputation and project timeframes.

Key Benefits

• Ensure compliance with Australian WHS laws and guidance on managing respirable crystalline silica and high‑risk construction work.
• Reduce the likelihood of injuries from flying debris, kickback, entanglement, slips on slurry and contact with rotating blades or drill bits.
• Control exposure to dust, noise and vibration, helping to prevent long-term health conditions and workers’ compensation claims.
• Standardise how concrete cutting and drilling tasks are planned, authorised, supervised and documented across multiple sites and crews.
• Support faster onboarding and competency development for new workers through clear, step-by-step instructions and defined responsibilities.

Who is this for?

• Concrete Cutters and Drillers
• Construction Site Supervisors
• Project Managers
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Civil Construction Contractors
• Demolition Contractors
• Facilities and Maintenance Managers
• Plant and Equipment Coordinators
• Principal Contractors
• Small Construction Business Owners

Hazards Addressed

• Exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust during dry cutting or drilling
• Contact with rotating blades, drill bits and moving parts
• Kickback and loss of control of handheld saws and drills
• Flying debris, fragments and shrapnel from concrete and blades
• Excessive noise leading to noise-induced hearing loss
• Hand-arm vibration from prolonged use of powered cutting and drilling equipment
• Electric shock from cutting or drilling into live electrical services
• Striking concealed services such as gas, water or telecommunications
• Slips, trips and falls caused by slurry, offcuts, hoses and leads
• Manual handling injuries from lifting and positioning heavy saws, rigs and concrete sections
• Burns and contact injuries from hot surfaces, blades and exhausts
• Fire or explosion risk when cutting near flammable materials or in poorly ventilated spaces

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Plant and Equipment Covered (Saws, Drills, Rigs and Accessories)
• 6.0 Pre-Start Planning and Job Hazard Analysis (JHA/SWMS Interface)
• 7.0 Service Location and Isolation Requirements (Dial Before You Dig, Scanning and Lock-out/Tag-out)
• 8.0 Required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and RPE
• 9.0 Dust, Slurry and Silica Exposure Control Measures
• 10.0 Noise and Vibration Control Measures
• 11.0 Step-by-Step Procedure – Concrete Cutting
• 12.0 Step-by-Step Procedure – Core Drilling
• 13.0 Housekeeping, Slurry Management and Waste Disposal
• 14.0 Plant Inspection, Maintenance and Tagging Requirements
• 15.0 Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control Table
• 16.0 Emergency Procedures (Injury, Electric Shock, Striking Services, Fire)
• 17.0 Training, Induction and Competency Verification
• 18.0 Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
• 19.0 Document Control and Recordkeeping

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Act
• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Risk of Respirable Crystalline Silica from Engineered Stone in the Workplace: Code of Practice (as guidance for silica control in concrete work)
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Hazardous Manual Tasks: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace: Code of Practice
• AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• AS/NZS 1716: Respiratory protective devices
• AS/NZS 1270: Acoustics – Hearing protectors
• AS/NZS 3012: Electrical installations – Construction and demolition sites
• AS 2550 series: Cranes, hoists and winches – Safe use (as applicable to lifting and positioning heavy equipment)
• AS 1319: Safety signs for the occupational environment