Product Overview

This Hydro Excavation Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a comprehensive safety and procedural guide designed to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement controls for all hydro and vacuum excavation activities on site. It provides end-to-end coverage of hydrovac operations, ensuring WHS compliance and safer management of hydro excavation processes across a variety of plant and equipment types.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Planning and set-up of hydro excavation work areas, including site assessment, delineation, and traffic management
• Operation of hydro excavation processes for non-destructive digging around underground services and sensitive assets
• Use of hydrovac excavation units for controlled soil removal using high-pressure water and vacuum systems
• Safe operation of suction excavators, including hose handling, nozzles, and control panel use
• Set-up, towing, and operation of trailer mounted hydro excavators, including coupling, parking, and stability controls
• Operation of truck mounted hydro excavation units, including positioning, stabilisers, and boom/hose deployment
• Use of vacuum excavators for slurry and spoil removal, including suction hose management and blockage clearing procedures
• Identification, location, and protection of underground essential services (dial-before-you-dig, potholing, and verification)
• Management of high-pressure water hazards, including pressure control, exclusion zones, and guarding against injection injuries
• Control of noise, dust, and airborne contaminants generated during hydro excavation and vacuum operations
• Safe handling, containment, and disposal of slurry, mud, and excavated spoil in accordance with environmental requirements
• Manual handling risk controls for hoses, nozzles, fittings, and access covers associated with hydro excavation work
• Emergency response procedures for equipment failure, service strikes, spills, and worker injury during excavation

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for hydro excavation contractors, civil and utilities contractors, plumbing and electrical trades, vacuum truck operators, and site supervisors responsible for managing non-destructive digging activities.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Safe Work Australia – Excavation Work Code of Practice: Guidance on managing risks associated with excavation and trenching work.
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice: Requirements for the safe use and maintenance of hydro excavation and vacuum plant.
• Safe Work Australia – Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice: Controls for manual handling of hoses, components, and access covers.
• Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for risk management applied to hydro excavation operations.
• Safe Work Australia – Confined Spaces Code of Practice: Applicable where hydro excavation is conducted in or near confined spaces such as pits and chambers.
• AS/NZS 4024 Safety of Machinery (relevant parts): Principles for guarding and safe use of powered plant and equipment.
• AS/NZS 4801 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (superseded but commonly referenced): Guidance for systematic WHS management in contracting environments.
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017