Excavation Near Underground Services (Potholing) SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers potholing and excavation near underground services, from planning and locating services through to reinstatement and close-out. It supports risk management for service strikes, plant movement, open holes, unexpected finds and exposed services.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Plan the scope and approvals
• Inspect the work area
• Locate and mark underground services
• Establish exclusion zones
• Complete plant pre-start checks
• Set up the pothole location
• Pothole suspected services
• Verify and protect exposed services
• Drill or install services
• Manage unexpected finds
• Respond to a service strike
• Backfill, reinstate and close out

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out potholing or excavation near underground services.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

The template includes references relevant to the documented work, including:

• Applicable Commonwealth, state or territory WHS/OHS legislation and regulations.
• Model Code of Practice: Excavation Work — guidance on planning, essential-services information, securing excavations, plant and ground-collapse controls.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace — guidance on plant selection, inspection, operator authorisation, traffic controls and emergency arrangements.
• Model Code of Practice: Work Near Overhead and Underground Electric Lines — guidance on asset-owner consultation, competent locating, non-destructive potholing and powered-plant no-go zones.
• Model Code of Practice: Construction Work — guidance on SWMS preparation and construction-work risk management; model Codes must be checked for adoption and status in the relevant jurisdiction.
• AS 5488, Classification of Subsurface Utility Information (SUI), as applicable.
• AS/NZS 3012, Electrical installations—Construction and demolition sites, as applicable.
• AS 1742.3, Manual of uniform traffic control devices—Traffic control for works on roads, as applicable.

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Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)

• Task-specific job steps, hazards and control measures
• Initial and residual risk ratings
• Assigned responsible persons for each job step
• Plant, equipment and PPE requirements where applicable
• Permits, qualifications and high-risk construction work details where applicable
• Worker consultation, sign-off and review sections