Excavation Near Underground Services (Potholing) SWMS
- 100% Compliant with Australian WHS Acts & Regulations
- Fully Editable MS Word & PDF Formats Included
- Pre-filled Content – Ready to Deploy Immediately
- Customisable – Easily Add Your Logo & Site Details
- Includes 2 Years of Free Compliance Updates
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Product Overview
This Excavation Near Underground Services (Potholing) Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is developed to help workers and PCBUs identify, control, and minimise the risks associated with locating and working around buried utilities and assets. It is a comprehensive, task-specific document that addresses multiple aspects of potholing, service locating, and excavation near underground services to support WHS compliance and prevent underground services strikes.
Activities & Specific Tasks Covered
This document includes specific risk controls for:
- Planning and preparation for excavation works in the vicinity of underground services, including review of Dial Before You Dig and service plans
- Inspecting and assessing the work area for underground services, surface clues, and potential conflict with existing assets
- Underground utility checks in treed landscapes, including managing root systems and hidden service routes
- Potholing excavation methods to safely expose buried services using hand tools, vacuum excavation, or other low‑impact techniques
- Excavating near underground services and assets while maintaining minimum approach distances and protective measures
- Groundworks in the vicinity of underground services, including trenching, backfilling, and compaction around exposed utilities
- Control measures to prevent damage to underground utilities during excavation, including mechanical plant exclusion zones and spotters
- Managing potential damage to utilities, including immediate response, isolation, and notification procedures
- Drilling into subsurface to install or locate services, with controls to avoid striking pipes, conduits, or cables
- Excavating to install new services while protecting existing pipework, cabling, and associated infrastructure
- Unearthing hidden pipe work and other unknown services, including safe exposure, identification, and support
- Dealing with unexpected finds such as buried objects, unknown services, or contaminated materials
- Reacting to buried artefact discoveries, including stop‑work, securing the area, and notification of relevant authorities
- Underground services strike prevention, including use of service locators, permits, and supervision of plant operators
- Working close to buried services, including safe use of hand tools, mechanical equipment, and barriers to protect assets and workers
Who is this for?
This SWMS is designed for civil contractors, plumbers, electricians, utility installers, landscapers, service locators, and site supervisors involved in any excavation or potholing work near underground services on Australian worksites.
Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered
| Job Step / Activity | Potential Hazards |
|---|---|
| Pre‑start planning and consultation |
|
| Site survey and underground services locating |
|
| Service plan review and risk assessment |
|
| Site establishment and traffic control |
|
| Surface marking and exploratory hand digging |
|
| Non‑destructive potholing excavation |
|
| Identifying and protecting exposed services |
|
| Mechanical excavation near buried services |
|
| Drilling or boring into subsurface |
|
| Installing or adjusting underground services |
|
| Dealing with unexpected finds and buried objects |
|
| Underground services strike response |
|
| Working in treed and root‑affected landscapes |
|
| Backfilling and reinstatement of excavation |
|
| Inspection, documentation and close‑out |
|
Need to add specific site requirements?
Don't worry if a specific job step isn't listed above. Once you purchase, simply log in to your Client Portal and add your own custom job steps at no extra cost. We take care of the hard work—creating the hazards and control measures for free—to ensure your document is compliant within minutes.
Legislation & References
This document was researched and developed to align with:
- Safe Work Australia – Excavation Work Code of Practice: Guidance on planning and undertaking excavation work safely, including service location and trenching controls
- Safe Work Australia – Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace Code of Practice: Requirements and controls for working near underground electrical cables and associated equipment
- Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing control measures
- Safe Work Australia – Construction Work Code of Practice: WHS duties and risk controls for construction activities, including excavation and service installation
- AS/NZS 3000:2018 Electrical Installations (Wiring Rules): Requirements relevant to protection and separation of underground electrical services
- AS/NZS 2566 Buried Flexible Pipelines: Guidance on installation and protection of underground pipelines during excavation and backfilling
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011
- Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)
- Operational guidelines, with a step-by-step approach to safe work
- Possible hazards that may be encountered
- Step-by-step safety procedures to follow
- Before work starts – Guidelines and Checks
- Safety measures and guides
- Operational Safety Checks
- Before and After Risk Ratings
- Risk Assessment Matrix
- High Risk Work Involved
- Emergency Evacuation Procedure
- Plant and Equipment
- Qualifications and Permits
- Specific Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Company Personnel Sign-off form
Suitable for Industries
Building and ConstructionCivil Construction and EarthworksPlumbing and Gasfitting
$96.8
Includes all formats + 2 years updates
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Excavation Near Underground Services (Potholing) SWMS
- • 100% Compliant with Australian WHS Acts & Regulations
- • Fully Editable MS Word & PDF Formats Included
- • Pre-filled Content – Ready to Deploy Immediately
- • Customisable – Easily Add Your Logo & Site Details
- • Includes 2 Years of Free Compliance Updates
Excavation Near Underground Services (Potholing) SWMS
Product Overview
This Excavation Near Underground Services (Potholing) Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is developed to help workers and PCBUs identify, control, and minimise the risks associated with locating and working around buried utilities and assets. It is a comprehensive, task-specific document that addresses multiple aspects of potholing, service locating, and excavation near underground services to support WHS compliance and prevent underground services strikes.
Activities & Specific Tasks Covered
This document includes specific risk controls for:
- Planning and preparation for excavation works in the vicinity of underground services, including review of Dial Before You Dig and service plans
- Inspecting and assessing the work area for underground services, surface clues, and potential conflict with existing assets
- Underground utility checks in treed landscapes, including managing root systems and hidden service routes
- Potholing excavation methods to safely expose buried services using hand tools, vacuum excavation, or other low‑impact techniques
- Excavating near underground services and assets while maintaining minimum approach distances and protective measures
- Groundworks in the vicinity of underground services, including trenching, backfilling, and compaction around exposed utilities
- Control measures to prevent damage to underground utilities during excavation, including mechanical plant exclusion zones and spotters
- Managing potential damage to utilities, including immediate response, isolation, and notification procedures
- Drilling into subsurface to install or locate services, with controls to avoid striking pipes, conduits, or cables
- Excavating to install new services while protecting existing pipework, cabling, and associated infrastructure
- Unearthing hidden pipe work and other unknown services, including safe exposure, identification, and support
- Dealing with unexpected finds such as buried objects, unknown services, or contaminated materials
- Reacting to buried artefact discoveries, including stop‑work, securing the area, and notification of relevant authorities
- Underground services strike prevention, including use of service locators, permits, and supervision of plant operators
- Working close to buried services, including safe use of hand tools, mechanical equipment, and barriers to protect assets and workers
Who is this for?
This SWMS is designed for civil contractors, plumbers, electricians, utility installers, landscapers, service locators, and site supervisors involved in any excavation or potholing work near underground services on Australian worksites.
Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered
| Job Step / Activity | Potential Hazards |
|---|---|
| Pre‑start planning and consultation |
|
| Site survey and underground services locating |
|
| Service plan review and risk assessment |
|
| Site establishment and traffic control |
|
| Surface marking and exploratory hand digging |
|
| Non‑destructive potholing excavation |
|
| Identifying and protecting exposed services |
|
| Mechanical excavation near buried services |
|
| Drilling or boring into subsurface |
|
| Installing or adjusting underground services |
|
| Dealing with unexpected finds and buried objects |
|
| Underground services strike response |
|
| Working in treed and root‑affected landscapes |
|
| Backfilling and reinstatement of excavation |
|
| Inspection, documentation and close‑out |
|
Need to add specific site requirements?
Don't worry if a specific job step isn't listed above. Once you purchase, simply log in to your Client Portal and add your own custom job steps at no extra cost. We take care of the hard work—creating the hazards and control measures for free—to ensure your document is compliant within minutes.
Legislation & References
This document was researched and developed to align with:
- Safe Work Australia – Excavation Work Code of Practice: Guidance on planning and undertaking excavation work safely, including service location and trenching controls
- Safe Work Australia – Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace Code of Practice: Requirements and controls for working near underground electrical cables and associated equipment
- Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing control measures
- Safe Work Australia – Construction Work Code of Practice: WHS duties and risk controls for construction activities, including excavation and service installation
- AS/NZS 3000:2018 Electrical Installations (Wiring Rules): Requirements relevant to protection and separation of underground electrical services
- AS/NZS 2566 Buried Flexible Pipelines: Guidance on installation and protection of underground pipelines during excavation and backfilling
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011
- Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)
- Operational guidelines, with a step-by-step approach to safe work
- Possible hazards that may be encountered
- Step-by-step safety procedures to follow
- Before work starts – Guidelines and Checks
- Safety measures and guides
- Operational Safety Checks
- Before and After Risk Ratings
- Risk Assessment Matrix
- High Risk Work Involved
- Emergency Evacuation Procedure
- Plant and Equipment
- Qualifications and Permits
- Specific Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Company Personnel Sign-off form
$96.8