Garden Maintenance and Softscaping SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers garden maintenance and softscaping activities, from site setup and vegetation work through to planting, indoor plant care and clean-up. It supports planning work steps and managing hazards associated with plant, tools, materials, water, chemicals and site conditions.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Set up the site and manage access, ground conditions, services and heat exposure
• Unload, position and inspect plant, tools and equipment
• Survey vegetation and fauna before starting work
• Clear vegetation and carry out mowing, edging and thatching
• Prune hedges and shrubs, and collect canopy seed
• Work safely near dams, water and unstable ground
• Prepare beds, excavate and manage underground-service risks
• Mix and apply products while managing exposure and contamination risks
• Plant materials, install turf and manage manual handling
• Maintain indoor plant areas and control slip, fall and electrical hazards
• Clean up waste, manage residual exposures and complete sign-off

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out garden maintenance and softscaping 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.
• Model Code of Practice: Construction Work (guidance only; confirm adoption and application in the relevant jurisdiction) .
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace (guidance only; includes hazard identification, hierarchy of controls, plant pre-starts, authorised operators and traffic controls) .
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces (guidance only; consider EWPs or scaffolds before ladders and use industrial ladders only for suitable short-duration light work) .
• Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace (guidance only; use SDS, maintain controls and manage chemical storage and handling systems) .
• Model Codes of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities; Hazardous Manual Tasks; Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work; Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace; First Aid in the Workplace; and How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks (guidance only; confirm adoption locally).
• Technical guidance: AS/NZS 2210 series safety footwear; AS/NZS 2161 series protective gloves; AS/NZS 1337 series eye protection; AS/NZS 1716 respiratory protective devices; AS/NZS 1270 hearing protectors; AS 4602.1 high-visibility garments; AS/NZS 4453.3 chainsaw legwear; AS/NZS 3012 electrical installations—construction and demolition sites; AS 2550 series cranes, hoists and winches; AS 4744.1 excavation safety; and AS/NZS 5532 anchor devices. Relevant PPE standard examples are reflected in current Australian safety guidance .

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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