Manual Excavation and Hand Digging SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers manual excavation and hand digging, from planning and service information through to backfilling and close-out. It supports work planning and risk management for underground services, excavation stability, manual tasks, public access, ground conditions, hazardous atmospheres, water and incident response.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Plan the work, responsibilities and emergency response
• Obtain and review underground service information
• Set up public protection and inspect the work area
• Inspect ground conditions, tools and protective equipment
• Locate and pothole services
• Hand dig near services
• Carry out manual excavation
• Control trench stability and spoil
• Manage atmosphere, water and contaminated soil
• Respond to service incidents
• Backfill, reinstate, demobilise and close out

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out manual excavation and hand digging 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, consult workers, provide training and supervision, manage construction work and control excavation risks.
• Safe Work Australia, Model Code of Practice: Excavation Work, as adopted or approved in the relevant jurisdiction. The Code identifies planning, service-location, work-area security, falls, atmosphere, manual work and collapse prevention as excavation controls.
• Safe Work Australia, Model WHS Regulations, Part 6.3 Excavation Work, as adopted in the relevant jurisdiction: manage excavation risks; secure trenches at least 1.5 m deep; and support trench sides by shoring, shielding, benching or battering unless supported by current geotechnical advice.
• Safe Work Australia, Model Code of Practice: Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace, as adopted or approved in the relevant jurisdiction.
• Safe Work Australia, Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks, as adopted or approved in the relevant jurisdiction.
• AS 5488.1:2019 Classification of subsurface utility information—Classification of subsurface utility information, and AS 5488.2:2022 Subsurface utility engineering.
• AS 1319:1994 Safety signs for the occupational environment.
• AS 1742.3:2019 Manual of uniform traffic control devices—Traffic control for works on roads.
• AS/NZS 3012:2019 Electrical installations—Construction and demolition sites.
• AS 2865:2009 Confined spaces, where the excavation is assessed as a confined space or may develop a hazardous atmosphere.
• AS/NZS 1715:2009 and AS/NZS 1716:2012 for respiratory protective equipment where respiratory protection is identified by the risk assessment.
• AS/NZS 2210.3:2009 safety footwear, AS/NZS 1801:1997 occupational protective helmets, AS/NZS 1337.1:2010 eye and face protection, AS/NZS 1270:2002 hearing protectors, and AS/NZS 4602.1:2011 high-visibility safety garments.

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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