Retaining Wall Construction Risk Assessment

Product Overview

This risk assessment covers retaining wall construction from planning, service locating and excavation through material handling, drainage work and emergency response. It supports planning and risk management by addressing ground stability, plant, services, dust, water, public and traffic-interface hazards.

Activities & Risks Covered

This assessment addresses activities and risks including:

• Plan the work, review site conditions and establish the site
• Locate and isolate underground and overhead services
• Excavate while managing ground stability
• Manage adjacent structures, temporary support and loading
• Operate plant and coordinate plant movements around workers
• Maintain safe access around excavation edges
• Handle wall materials, reinforcement and formwork
• Cut, drill and mix materials while managing dust and tool hazards
• Manage drainage, water ingress and changing environmental conditions
• Manage traffic, public access and emergency response

Who is this for?

For contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out retaining wall construction activities.

Activities & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

The template records model guidance used to inform the documented controls. Applicable WHS/OHS laws and adopted Codes vary by state or territory, so confirm the current local requirements when tailoring the assessment:

• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Construction work — 6.2 Workplace specific induction training; p. 41.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Excavation work — 2.3. Controlling the risks; p. 17.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing the work environment and facilities — 2. The work environment; p. 13.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces — 3.2 Identifying the hazards; p. 16.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of fatigue at work — Provide sufficient breaks while at work; p. 30.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: First aid in the workplace — 3. First aid equipment, facilities and training; p. 12.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Hazardous manual tasks — 4.1 The hierarchy of control measures; p. 31.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplace — Plant hazard identification — Traffic movements in the workplace; p. 17.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Work health and safety consultation, cooperation and coordination — 3. What is effective consultation?; p. 13.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work — 5. Controlling the risks; p. 29.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks — 4. Step 3 — How to control risks; p. 20.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing electrical risks in the workplace — 2.1 Identifying the hazards; p. 14.

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Standard Risk Assessment Features (Click to Expand)

• Activity-specific hazard identification and control measures
• Initial and residual risk ratings
• Assigned responsible persons for each activity
• Risk matrix and assessment classification
• Review, monitoring and sign-off fields
• Site-specific customisation before use