Product Overview

Summary: This Foundations and Footings Construction SOP sets out a clear, step-by-step method for safely planning, excavating, forming, reinforcing and pouring foundations and footings on Australian construction sites. It helps builders control high‑risk groundworks, protect workers from excavation and concrete hazards, and demonstrate compliance with WHS and structural requirements from day one of the build.

Foundations and footings work is one of the highest-risk stages of construction, involving deep excavations, unstable ground conditions, heavy plant, reinforcement steel and wet concrete. This SOP provides a structured, WHS-aligned approach to planning and carrying out foundation and footing activities, from initial site assessment and dial-before-you-dig checks through to excavation, formwork, reinforcement placement, concrete placement, curing and backfilling. It focuses on controlling key hazards such as trench collapse, underground services strikes, falls into excavations, concrete burns and plant-pedestrian interactions, while still supporting productivity and build quality.

For Australian builders and contractors, inconsistent approaches to groundworks can lead to serious incidents, rework, costly delays and non-compliance with engineering designs and WHS legislation. This SOP solves those problems by standardising how foundations and footings are set out, checked and signed off, how exclusion zones and traffic management are implemented, and how environmental controls (sediment, slurry and spoil) are managed. It gives supervisors a practical tool to brief crews, verify controls are in place, and document that critical steps have been followed, supporting both safety outcomes and structural integrity of the finished building.

Key Benefits

• Ensure safe planning and execution of all foundation and footing activities in line with Australian WHS requirements.
• Reduce the risk of trench collapse, service strikes, falls and concrete-related injuries through clearly defined controls.
• Standardise site practices across crews and projects, improving build consistency and structural quality.
• Demonstrate compliance with engineering specifications, codes of practice and client requirements through documented procedures.
• Minimise rework, delays and regulatory scrutiny by embedding inspections, hold points and sign-offs into daily operations.

Who is this for?

• Site Supervisors
• Construction Project Managers
• Residential and Commercial Builders
• Civil Construction Supervisors
• WHS Managers
• Site Engineers
• Leading Hands and Forepersons
• Concrete Contractors
• Formwork and Steel Fixing Contractors
• Apprentice Carpenters and Labourers

Hazards Addressed

• Trench and excavation collapse leading to engulfment or crushing
• Contact with underground services (electricity, gas, water, telecommunications)
• Falls into excavations, pits and trenches
• Struck-by incidents from mobile plant, trucks and earthmoving equipment
• Manual handling injuries from handling formwork, reinforcement steel and trench shields
• Concrete burns and skin/eye irritation from wet concrete and cement products
• Exposure to silica dust from cutting, grinding or trimming concrete and masonry
• Slips, trips and falls on uneven, muddy or debris-covered ground
• Noise and vibration exposure from plant and compaction equipment
• Environmental contamination from concrete washout, slurry and uncontrolled spoil

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 References, Standards and Definitions
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Site Supervisor, Plant Operators, Workers)
• 4.0 Pre-Start Planning and Approvals
• 5.0 Site Assessment, Survey and Set-Out Requirements
• 6.0 Dial-Before-You-Dig and Underground Services Identification
• 7.0 Plant, Equipment and Tools – Selection and Pre-Use Checks
• 8.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements
• 9.0 Excavation and Trenching Procedures
• 10.0 Excavation Support, Shoring, Benching and Batter Requirements
• 11.0 Access, Egress and Fall Prevention Around Excavations
• 12.0 Traffic Management and Exclusion Zones for Plant Operations
• 13.0 Formwork, Edge Protection and Stability Controls
• 14.0 Reinforcement Steel Handling, Placement and Fixing
• 15.0 Concrete Delivery, Pumping and Placement Procedures
• 16.0 Managing Concrete Burns, Splash and Skin Protection
• 17.0 Compaction, Curing and Protection of Foundations and Footings
• 18.0 Inspection, Testing, Hold Points and Engineer Sign-Off
• 19.0 Backfilling, Compaction and Site Reinstatement
• 20.0 Environmental Controls (Spoil, Slurry, Washout and Sediment Management)
• 21.0 Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control Measures
• 22.0 Emergency Preparedness and Response (Collapse, Service Strike, Injury)
• 23.0 Training, Competency and Toolbox Talks
• 24.0 Documentation, Records and Review Requirements

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory variants)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (including excavation and construction work provisions)
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Excavation Work
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Construction Work
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• AS 3600: Concrete structures
• AS 2870: Residential slabs and footings
• AS/NZS 1170: Structural design actions
• AS 2159: Piling – Design and installation (where deep foundations are used)
• AS/NZS 3012: Electrical installations – Construction and demolition sites
• AS/NZS 4501: Occupational protective clothing
• AS/NZS 2210: Safety, protective and occupational footwear
• AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• AS/NZS 1801: Occupational protective helmets