Product Overview

This General Concreting Pouring and Footings SWMS is a comprehensive Safe Work Method Statement designed to identify hazards and implement effective controls for all stages of concrete works on site. It delivers end-to-end coverage of general concreting, concrete pouring and footings, supporting contractors and PCBU’s to maintain strong WHS compliance and reduce risk on Australian worksites.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Planning and sequencing of general concreting works, including site assessment, access, and traffic management
• Handling and storage of raw materials such as cement, water, aggregates and admixtures to minimise dust, spills and manual handling risks
• Safe manual mixing of cement and sand, including use of mechanical mixers, guarding and correct PPE
• Concrete placement and finishing, including screeding, bull-floating, edging, jointing and trowelling operations
• Ground slab and footing construction, including formwork, reinforcement placement and pre-pour inspections
• Laying of concrete floor slabs and concrete paths, including levelling, compaction of subgrade and control of trip hazards
• Fibre-reinforced concrete casting, including safe handling of fibres and controls for eye and skin protection
• Cold weather concreting practices, including protection from frost, curing management and extended setting times
• Hot weather concreting practices, including controls for rapid setting, hydration, worker heat stress and sun exposure
• Blanket laying and other curing methods over freshly placed concrete to prevent damage, cracking and thermal shock
• Controls for hydrated lime and cement exposure risks, including dust suppression, respiratory protection and skin/eye wash procedures
• Cleaning the site after pouring concrete, including safe wash-out of equipment, slurry management and environmental controls
• General concreting activities from set-up to demobilisation, including housekeeping and maintaining safe pedestrian routes
• Use of small plant and equipment associated with concreting (mixers, vibrators, screeds, saws) including noise and vibration controls
• Emergency response procedures for concrete splashes, chemical exposure, slips, trips and other concreting-related incidents

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for concreters, formworkers, builders, civil contractors, landscapers, and site supervisors responsible for managing concrete pours, slabs, paths and footings on Australian construction sites.

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 concreting operations
• Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls in Housing Construction – Relevant where concreting works occur near edges, penetrations or elevated areas
• Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace – Applicable to cement, hydrated lime, admixtures and other chemical products used in concreting
• Code of Practice: Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work – For noise generated by mixers, vibrators, saws and other concreting plant
• Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks – For lifting, carrying and placing formwork, reinforcement and concrete-related materials
• AS 3600 Concrete Structures – Design and construction requirements influencing safe work practices for concrete structures
• AS 1379 Specification and supply of concrete – Requirements for the supply and handling of pre-mixed concrete on site
• AS 3799 Liquid membrane-forming curing compounds for concrete – Guidance on curing products used during concrete finishing and protection
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017