Geotechnical Investigation SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers geotechnical investigation activities from planning and site access through drilling, testing, sampling, monitoring and rehabilitation. It supports work planning and risk management for services, plant, ground conditions, dust, fluids, contaminated material, vehicles and open boreholes.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Complete planning and desktop review
• Conduct site induction and establish exclusion controls
• Arrange access and position plant
• Inspect plant before starting work
• Prove services and set up investigation locations
• Undertake drilling and core recovery
• Perform formation and soil testing
• Carry out groundwater flow testing
• Complete geophysical and seismic surveys
• Undertake geological survey and monitoring
• Collect contaminated substrate samples
• Log, transport and manage samples before rehabilitation

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out geotechnical investigation activities.

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, including duties to identify hazards, manage risks, consult workers, provide safe plant and systems of work, manage hazardous chemicals, and prepare/review a SWMS where high risk construction work applies.
• Model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks.
• Model Code of Practice: Construction work.
• Model Code of Practice: Excavation work — guidance includes securing trenches 1.5 m or deeper, and using shoring, shielding, benching or battering where collapse risk exists.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of plant in the workplace — guidance covers hazard identification, hierarchy of controls, maintenance and review of plant controls.
• Model Code of Practice: Hazardous manual tasks.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace.
• Model Code of Practice: Confined spaces — apply if a borehole, pit, excavation or related structure meets the confined-space definition; isolate services and use a permit system before entry.
• AS 1726 Geotechnical site investigations.
• AS 1289 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes.
• AS 3798 Guidelines on earthworks for commercial and residential developments.
• AS/NZS 2865 Confined spaces.
• AS/NZS 3012 Electrical installations — construction and demolition sites.
• AS/NZS 3760 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment.
• AS/NZS 4602.1 High-visibility safety garments.
• AS/NZS 1270 Acoustics — hearing protectors.
• AS/NZS 2210.3 Personal protective equipment — safety footwear.
• AS/NZS 1801 Occupational protective helmets.
• AS/NZS 1337.1 Personal eye protection.
• AS 1742.3 Manual of uniform traffic control devices — traffic control for works on roads.

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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