Product Overview

This Concrete Works Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is designed to identify, assess, and control risks associated with concrete placement, finishing, and related site activities, helping your business maintain strong WHS compliance. It is a comprehensive document that covers multiple aspects of Concrete Works, from site preparation and formwork to concrete pouring, curing, and clean-up on Australian worksites.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Planning and sequencing of concrete works, including pre-start checks, permits, and coordination with other trades
• Site preparation, access, and housekeeping to manage trip hazards, restricted access, and safe material storage
• Selection, handling, and storage of cement, aggregates, admixtures, and reinforcement materials
• Safe use of formwork and falsework systems, including erection, bracing, inspection, and dismantling controls
• Placement and tying of reinforcing steel, mesh, and inserts while managing manual handling and impalement risks
• Operation of concrete pumps, lines, and booms, including exclusion zones, line blockages, and communication protocols
• Safe delivery and discharge of ready-mix concrete trucks, including traffic management and spotter requirements
• Manual handling of concrete via barrows, kibbles, and chutes, with controls to minimise sprains and strains
• Use of vibrators, screeds, and other powered tools for compaction and finishing of concrete surfaces
• Controls for working near edges, penetrations, and at heights during slab pours, decks, and elevated formwork
• Management of silica dust, cement-based skin irritation, and exposure to hazardous substances
• Housekeeping, wash-out, and environmentally responsible disposal of concrete waste and slurry
• Weather-related controls for hot, cold, or wet conditions affecting concrete curing and worker safety
• Emergency response procedures for concrete splashes, entrapment in forms, pump failures, and plant incidents

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for concreters, formworkers, steel fixers, construction contractors, and site supervisors involved in concrete placement and finishing on Australian construction sites.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice: Guidance on preventing falls during elevated concrete works and formwork activities
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice: Requirements for safe handling of cement, admixtures, and other hazardous substances
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice: Controls for powered equipment such as concrete saws, pumps, and vibrators
• Managing the Risk of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice: Safe use of concrete pumps, trucks, and associated construction plant
• Construction Work Code of Practice: Overarching guidance for planning and carrying out concrete works on construction sites
• AS 3600 Concrete Structures: Design and construction requirements for concrete structures
• AS 3610 Formwork for Concrete: Requirements for safe formwork design, erection, and removal