Product Overview

This Sealing Joints Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is designed to identify hazards and implement clear, practical controls for sealing joints on construction and maintenance sites, helping you maintain strong WHS compliance. It is a comprehensive document covering multiple aspects of Sealing Joints SWMS, from preparation and application through to clean-up and environmental controls.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Preparation of work areas, including barricading, signage and exclusion zones around joint sealing operations
• Selection and inspection of sealants, primers, applicators and associated tools prior to use
• Safe use and handling of chemical sealants, solvents and primers, including decanting and storage
• Application of sealants to horizontal and vertical joints in concrete, masonry, asphalt and similar substrates
• Use of hand tools, caulking guns and mechanical applicators for accurate and controlled joint sealing
• Managing fumes, vapours and airborne contaminants when working with solvent-based or polyurethane products
• Working at heights or on elevated surfaces while sealing joints, including use of ladders and mobile scaffolds
• Manual handling of sealant cartridges, bulk containers, gas bottles and equipment to minimise strain and injury
• Control of fire and explosion risks where flammable sealants or cleaning agents are used
• Preventing slips, trips and falls around freshly sealed joints and wet product areas
• Environmental controls to prevent spills, overspray and wash-out entering drains or sensitive areas
• Clean-up, waste segregation and disposal of empty containers, rags and surplus sealant in line with site requirements
• Emergency response procedures for exposure, spills, fire and loss of containment of hazardous substances

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for concreters, joint sealing contractors, civil and building contractors, maintenance teams, and site supervisors responsible for managing sealing joints activities on Australian worksites.

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 Regulations 2017
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice: Guidance on safe storage, handling and use of chemical sealants, solvents and primers
• Managing the Risk of Falls in Housing Construction Code of Practice: Controls for working at heights while sealing joints on elevated surfaces
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing controls for joint sealing tasks
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice: Guidance for controlling noise from powered applicators and associated equipment
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice: Risk management for repetitive application work and manual handling of products and equipment
• AS 1940: The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids: Requirements for storing and handling flammable sealants and cleaning agents
• AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment: Guidance where respiratory protection is required for fumes or vapours
• AS/NZS 2161 series: Occupational protective gloves: Selection of appropriate hand protection for handling sealants and solvents