Product Overview

This Concrete Placement SWMS is a site-ready Safe Work Method Statement designed to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement effective controls for all stages of concrete placement activities. It is a comprehensive document that brings together concrete finishing, vibration, and associated tasks to support WHS compliance and safe management of high risk construction work involving concrete.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Planning and coordination of concrete placement works, including site set-up, delivery scheduling, and traffic management
• Safe use and positioning of concrete pumps, delivery chutes, and hoppers to minimise splash, entrapment, and crushing risks
• Manual handling of formwork components, screeds, tools, and concrete hoses to reduce strain and musculoskeletal injuries
• Concrete finishing activities, including screeding, trowelling, edging, and surface finishing in wet and dry conditions
• Use of hand and power tools by concrete finishers, including powered trowels, screeds, and cutting tools
• Operation of concrete vibrators, including safe start-up, handling, insertion, and withdrawal techniques to prevent entanglement and electric shock
• Management of noise, vibration, and exposure to hand–arm vibration from concrete vibrators and finishing equipment
• Controls for slips, trips, and falls on wet concrete surfaces, reinforcement, and uneven ground
• Working around reinforcing steel, formwork edges, penetrations, and step-downs to prevent impalement and fall-related injuries
• Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for concrete placement, including eye, skin, respiratory, and foot protection
• Hazardous chemical exposure management, including contact with wet concrete, admixtures, release agents, and cement dust
• Environmental controls for washout, slurry management, and preventing concrete spills into drains or sensitive areas
• Emergency response procedures for concrete burns, entrapment in setting concrete, electric shock, and plant incidents

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for concrete contractors, concrete finishers, formworkers, civil and building construction crews, and site supervisors overseeing concrete placement and finishing activities.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Code of Practice: Construction Work – Guidance on managing risks associated with construction activities, including concrete placement and finishing
• Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces – Requirements for preventing falls around formwork, edges, and penetrations during concrete works
• Code of Practice: Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work – Controls for noise from concrete vibrators, pumps, and powered finishing equipment
• Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace – Management of exposure to cement, admixtures, and other concrete-related substances
• Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks – Risk controls for lifting, carrying, and handling tools, hoses, and materials during concrete placement
• AS 3600 Concrete Structures – Relevant considerations for safe construction practices in concrete structural work
• AS/NZS 1576 Scaffolding (where applicable) – Safe access and working platforms for elevated concrete placement and finishing
• AS/NZS 3012 Electrical installations – Construction and demolition sites – Electrical safety for concrete vibrators, pumps, and associated equipment
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017