Laying of Pipes and Culverts SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers planning, excavation, placement, joining and backfilling work for pipes and culverts. It supports planning and managing risks from services, excavations, plant, suspended loads, pipe movement, dust and site conditions.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Plan the work sequence and site controls
• Receive pipes and culverts
• Locate and expose services
• Position plant and excavate
• Prepare trench bedding
• Lower pipes into trenches
• Join and align pipes
• Install culvert structures
• Backfill and compact
• Reinstate the area and demobilise

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out pipe and culvert installation 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 manage risks, provide safe plant and systems of work, consult workers, provide suitable training and supervise work.
• Model Code of Practice: Construction work — guidance for construction SWMS, essential services, excavation controls, trench support and securing excavations. Current service information must be obtained and made available before excavation; trenches of 1.5 m or deeper require appropriate support and access control.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of plant in the workplace — guidance for plant selection, inspection, maintenance, operator competence, traffic separation and exclusion zones.
• Model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks — guidance for applying the hierarchy of controls, consultation and review of controls.
• Model Code of Practice: Confined spaces — guidance where pits, manholes, pipes or culverts require entry; provide suitable training, permit controls and emergency arrangements.
• AS 4744.1 Excavation safety — guidance for trenching and protective systems.
• AS 2550 series Cranes, hoists and winches — safe use guidance for lifting operations.
• AS 4991 Lifting devices — guidance for lifting precast concrete elements.
• AS/NZS 1576 series Scaffolding and AS/NZS 1657 Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders — guidance where temporary access systems are used.
• AS 1742.3 Manual of uniform traffic control devices, Part 3: Traffic control for works on roads — guidance for work near traffic corridors.
• AS/NZS 1715 and AS/NZS 1716 — guidance for respiratory protective equipment.
• AS/NZS 2210.3 Safety, protective and occupational footwear; AS/NZS 1801 Occupational protective helmets; AS/NZS 4602.1 High-visibility safety garments; AS/NZS 1270 Hearing protectors.

---

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