Retaining Wall Construction SWMS

Product Overview

This Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is specifically developed for Retaining Wall Construction, providing a structured approach to identifying hazards and implementing effective controls on Australian worksites. It is a comprehensive document that covers multiple aspects of retaining wall design, setup, construction, and finishing to support strong WHS compliance and risk management.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Planning and design considerations for building retaining walls, including assessment of soil type, loads, and drainage requirements
• Construction of earth retaining structures, including stepped, tiered, and engineered retaining systems
• Installation of keystone block retaining walls, including safe handling, placement, and interlocking of modular blocks
• General retaining wall construction activities, including excavation, compaction, backfilling, and structural stability checks
• Selection and use of plant and equipment such as excavators, compactors, skid steers, and small cranes for wall construction
• Excavation near services and boundaries, including dial-before-you-dig checks and protection of underground utilities
• Management of work near edges, drops, and open excavations to prevent falls into trenches or over partially built walls
• Control of ground instability, surcharge loads, and potential wall collapse during and after construction
• Installation of drainage systems (ag pipes, scoria, weep holes, geotextile) to minimise hydrostatic pressure behind retaining walls
• Manual handling of blocks, formwork, reinforcement, and materials, with controls to reduce musculoskeletal injuries
• Use of concrete, mortar, and reinforcement, including mixing, placement, curing, and safe handling of cementitious products
• Traffic and pedestrian management around the work area, including delivery of blocks, aggregates, and concrete trucks
• Environmental controls for dust, noise, sediment runoff, and waste generated during retaining wall construction

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for landscapers, civil contractors, builders, concreters, block and brick installers, and site supervisors involved in retaining wall and earth retaining structure construction.

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 Regulation 2025
• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice: Guidance on preventing falls into excavations and from height during wall construction
• Excavation Work Code of Practice: Requirements for safe excavation, trenching, and managing ground collapse risks
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice: Controls for powered plant and construction noise
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice: Guidance on reducing musculoskeletal risks from handling blocks, formwork, and materials
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice: Minimum standards for site access, amenities, and environmental conditions
• AS 4678 – Earth-retaining structures: Structural design requirements and performance criteria for retaining walls and earth-retaining systems
• AS 3798 – Guidelines on earthworks for commercial and residential developments: Requirements for compaction, fill placement, and ground preparation

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Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)

• Operational guidelines, with a step-by-step approach to safe work
• Possible hazards that may be encountered
• Step-by-step safety procedures to follow
• Before work starts – Guidelines and Checks
• Safety measures and guides
• Operational Safety Checks
• Before and After Risk Ratings
• Risk Assessment Matrix
• High Risk Work Involved
• Emergency Evacuation Procedure
• Plant and Equipment
• Qualifications and Permits
• Specific Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Company Personnel Sign-off form