Product Overview

This Civil Drainage Dewatering and Water Infrastructure SWMS is a comprehensive Safe Work Method Statement developed to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement controls for complex civil water and drainage works. It provides detailed, task-specific procedures covering multiple aspects of civil drainage, dewatering and water infrastructure construction to support WHS compliance and effective control of High Risk Construction Work.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Planning and sequencing of civil drainage, dewatering and water infrastructure works, including site establishment and traffic interfaces
• Construction and lining of canals and other hydraulic structures to manage erosion, stability and water flow hazards
• Installation of culverts and drainage structures, including excavation, lifting operations and backfilling activities
• Drainage system construction, including trenching, shoring, bedding, pipe laying and compaction controls
• Safe installation of grates, pits and access covers, including manual handling and pinch-point risk management
• Installing dewatering systems, including pumps, well points, discharge lines and electrical safety controls
• Management of slurry operations, including containment, pumping, disposal and environmental protection measures
• River and creek diversions, including temporary works, flow control, bank stabilisation and flood risk controls
• Laying and replacing sewer mains, including confined space entry considerations, gas monitoring and contamination controls
• Stormwater drain construction, including working in live services corridors and managing inflows during wet weather
• Relocation and protection of utilities, including identification of underground services and permit-to-dig processes
• Control of plant and equipment interactions, including excavators, loaders, trucks and lifting devices around open excavations
• Environmental and sediment control measures to prevent pollution of waterways during drainage and dewatering works
• Emergency response planning for inundation, trench collapse, spills, and uncontrolled water releases

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for civil contractors, drainage and pipeline crews, water infrastructure constructors, utilities providers, and site supervisors managing dewatering and civil water projects.

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 civil drainage and water infrastructure projects
• Code of Practice: Excavation Work – Requirements for managing risks from trenches, pits and other excavations used for drainage and pipeline installation
• Code of Practice: Confined Spaces – Controls for working in sewers, manholes, pits and other confined space environments
• Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces – Risk controls for working near open excavations, pits and structures where falls may occur
• Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks – Guidance to minimise musculoskeletal risks when handling pipes, grates, pumps and related components
• Code of Practice: Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work – Controls for high-noise civil works involving plant and pumping systems
• Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Plant in the Workplace – Requirements for safe use of excavators, lifting equipment, pumps and associated plant
• Code of Practice: Environmental Protection (where adopted by jurisdiction) – Principles for managing sediment, slurry, and water discharge to protect waterways
• AS/NZS 3500 Plumbing and Drainage – Technical requirements for the design and installation of plumbing and drainage systems
• AS 2865 Confined Spaces – Safety requirements for working in confined spaces such as sewer mains and pits
• AS/NZS 3000 Electrical Installations (Wiring Rules) – Electrical safety for temporary power and pump installations
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017