Concrete Sleeper Retaining Wall SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers the construction of a concrete sleeper retaining wall, from planning and site setup to backfilling and handover. It supports planning each work stage and managing hazards related to services, excavations, plant, posts, sleepers and wall stability.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Review the design and plan the work
• Establish the site and access arrangements
• Locate underground services
• Position plant and unload materials
• Excavate and prepare post footings
• Install and allow steel posts to set
• Install concrete sleepers
• Install drainage and filter materials
• Backfill and compact
• Cut or modify sleepers
• Complete final inspection and handover

Who is this for?

For contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out concrete sleeper retaining wall work.

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: How to manage work health and safety risks (consultation, hazard identification, hierarchy of controls and review of controls).
• Model Code of Practice: Construction work.
• Model Code of Practice: Excavation work.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of plant in the workplace.
• Model Code of Practice: Hazardous manual tasks.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of respirable crystalline silica in the workplace; controlled processing requires effective isolation, enclosed filtration, wet suppression, on-tool extraction or local exhaust ventilation, with RPE where residual exposure remains.
• Code of Practice: Working safely when cutting, drilling and grinding concrete and masonry products; use suitable tools, wet suppression or rated extraction, RCD protection and protected leads.
• Guidance standards: AS 4678 Earth-retaining structures; AS 1726 Geotechnical site investigations; AS 3798 Guidelines on earthworks for commercial and residential developments; AS 2550 series Cranes—Safe use; AS 1418 series Cranes, hoists and winches; AS 4991 Lifting devices; AS/NZS 3012 Electrical installations—Construction and demolition sites; AS/NZS 1715 and AS/NZS 1716 Respiratory protective equipment; AS/NZS 1337.1 Eye and face protection; AS/NZS 1270 Hearing protectors; AS/NZS 2210.3 Safety footwear; AS/NZS 4602.1 High-visibility safety garments; AS 1801 Occupational protective helmets.

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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