Product Overview

This Joinery and Shaping Machinery Operation Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is developed to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement controls for the safe use of woodworking and joinery machinery in Australian workplaces. It is a comprehensive document that consolidates multiple joinery and shaping activities to support WHS compliance and the safe operation of high-risk woodworking machinery.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Safe bobbin turning and crafting techniques, including guarding, tool positioning, and operator body placement
• Creating dadoes and grooves using appropriate cutters, jigs, and dust extraction to minimise kickback and exposure to wood dust
• Operation of edge bander machines, including feeding, trimming, glue management, and safe clearing of jams
• Edge profiling tasks on shaping machines, with controls for cutter selection, spindle speeds, and safe workpiece support
• Safe use of electric planes, including cable management, depth setting, and handling to prevent contact with rotating blades
• Hand routing operations using fixed and plunge routers, with guidance on clamping workpieces and using guides and templates
• Operation of hinge borers for cabinet and door work, including drill alignment, clamping, and chip and swarf management
• Lathe wood turning practices, including tool rest adjustment, speed selection, and securing of irregular workpieces
• Levelling and flattening with surface jointers, including infeed/outfeed table settings and push stick and guard use
• Safe operation of morticers for cutting slots and mortises, including clamping, bit selection, and chip ejection controls
• Moulding operations on shaping machines, including cutterhead setup, guarding, featherboards, and anti-kickback measures
• Use of multi borers for repetitive drilling, with controls for workpiece positioning, clamping, and noise and dust exposure
• Operating jointers and planers, including feed techniques, snipe prevention, and exclusion zones around infeed/outfeed areas
• Planer blade changing operations, including isolation/lockout, handling of sharp blades, and correct torque and alignment checks
• General planer operation, including thickness setting, inspection of timber for defects, and housekeeping to prevent slips and trips
• Management of noise, vibration, and airborne wood dust through PPE, extraction systems, and maintenance of guards and controls

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for cabinetmakers, joiners, shopfitters, carpenters, furniture manufacturers, and site supervisors overseeing workshop-based woodworking and joinery operations.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice: Guidance on the safe use, guarding, and maintenance of machinery and equipment
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice: Requirements for controlling noise from woodworking and shaping machinery
• Managing the Risk of Dust Explosions in the Workplace Code of Practice (where applicable): Controls for wood dust extraction and housekeeping
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for hazard identification, risk assessment, and implementation of controls
• AS/NZS 4024 Safety of Machinery (series): Principles for machinery guarding, emergency stops, and operator safety interfaces
• AS/NZS 1715 & AS/NZS 1716: Selection, use, and performance of respiratory protective equipment for wood dust exposure
• AS/NZS 1270: Acoustic hearing protectors for controlling noise exposure from powered woodworking machinery