Excavation Work Over 1.5 SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers excavation work over 1.5 metres, including planning, excavation, ground support, access and reinstatement. It supports managing underground services, changing ground conditions, plant movement, falls, water ingress and work within the excavation.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Plan excavation work and identify site conditions
• Locate underground services before work starts
• Establish exclusion zones and control site access
• Inspect and position plant and equipment safely
• Excavate the initial cut and manage spoil
• Install ground support systems
• Provide safe access to the excavation
• Manage work within the excavation and inspect changing conditions
• Backfill, compact, reinstate and demobilise the site

Who is this for?

For contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out excavation work over 1.5 metres.

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 WHS Regulations guidance: excavation-work risk management, underground essential-services information, trench access control, trench-collapse controls, high-risk construction work, SWMS and emergency plans. Model provisions require risks from falls, collapse, falling objects and airborne contaminants to be managed, and require trenches at least 1.5 m deep to be secured and supported by shoring, shielding, benching or battering unless supported by current written geotechnical advice.
• Model Code of Practice: Excavation Work, used as guidance and adopted or varied in relevant jurisdictions; includes planning, services location, trench support, access, inspections and emergency arrangements.
• Model Code of Practice: Construction Work, used as guidance for high-risk construction work and SWMS preparation.
• AS 4744.1 Series: Steel shoring and trench lining equipment.
• AS 3798: Guidelines on earthworks for commercial and residential developments.
• AS/NZS 2865: Confined spaces, where the excavation is assessed as a confined space.
• AS/NZS 3012: Electrical installations—Construction and demolition sites.
• AS 1742.3: Manual of uniform traffic control devices—Traffic control for works on roads.

---

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