Product Overview

This Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) sets out the high-level hazards, controls and safe work methods for all wood joinery techniques and timber jointing activities in the workshop or on site. It is a comprehensive document that integrates multiple specialist joinery and jointing methods into one easy-to-use SWMS to support WHS compliance and consistent risk management.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Biscuit joining of boards, including alignment, clamping and safe operation of biscuit joiners
• Box joint formation tasks using hand tools, jigs and powered equipment such as table saws or routers
• Creation of detailed joinery items with fine tolerances, intricate layouts and precision cutting
• Dowel cradle fabrication, including jig set-up, securing stock and preventing kickback or movement
• Dowel insertion processes, from drilling and reaming through to gluing, clamping and curing
• General dowelling work, including repetitive jointing, dust control and manual handling of timber
• Execution of half-lap joints using saws, routers and chisels, with controls for cutting, chiselling and fitting
• Finger-jointing tasks, including machine set-up, guarding, feed systems and offcut management
• Hand-cut joinery such as traditional dovetails, housing joints and rebates using hand saws and chisels
• Joinery work with mortising machines, including bit selection, guarding, clamping and lock-out procedures
• Joining parts through dowel insertion in frames, panels and carcasses with accurate marking and drilling
• Pocket-screw joinery using dedicated jigs, drills and drivers, including securing workpieces and screw driving controls
• Processing blind dovetails with routers or hand tools, including layout, test fitting and safe cutting methods
• Production of mortise and tenon joinery using hand tools and machinery (e.g. mortisers, table saws, band saws)
• Production of tongue and groove joinery on edges and faces using spindle moulders, table saws or routers
• Safe use of woodworking machinery (saws, routers, sanders, drills) associated with joinery and jointing operations
• Control of wood dust, noise and vibration during repetitive joinery and timber jointing tasks

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for cabinetmakers, joiners, carpenters, shopfitters, furniture makers, timber manufacturers, and site supervisors overseeing wood joinery and timber jointing activities.

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 Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice: Guidance on guarding, isolation and safe use of woodworking machinery used for joinery and jointing
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice: Controls for noise generated by saws, routers, mortisers and other powered equipment
• Hazardous Chemicals (including Wood Dust) Codes of Practice (jurisdictional): Management of exposure to timber dust, adhesives and finishing products
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Risk management framework applied to all wood joinery and timber jointing tasks
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice: Ventilation, lighting, amenities and safe workshop layout for joinery operations
• AS/NZS 4024 Safety of Machinery (series): Principles for machinery safety, guarding and emergency stop systems on woodworking equipment
• AS/NZS 1269 Occupational Noise Management (series): Requirements for noise assessment, hearing protection and audiometric testing in noisy workshops