Product Overview

This Surveying And Marking Locations Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is designed to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement effective controls for all surveying, set-out and marking activities on Australian worksites. It is a comprehensive document that consolidates multiple surveying and set-out tasks into one easy-to-use SWMS to support WHS compliance and safe, accurate surveying and marking operations.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Accurate marking out work for construction, civil and infrastructure projects to ensure correct positioning of structures and services
• Carrying out measurements using tapes, staffs, wheels and electronic devices while maintaining safe posture and manual handling techniques
• Depth check measurements for trenches, excavations and footings, including controls for working near edges and unstable ground
• Land surveying work across varied terrain, including risk controls for slips, trips, falls and environmental exposure
• Safe use and setup of laser levels, including tripod stability, line-of-sight management and preventing unauthorised interference
• Laying lines and grades for drainage, services and structural works to ensure correct falls and alignment without creating trip hazards
• Marking of boundaries in accordance with survey plans, including clear identification and protection of survey marks
• Measuring and marking out the site to identify building footprints, set-out lines, control points and reference marks
• Measuring and marking out the worksite in live construction environments, coordinating with other trades and plant movements
• Safe handling, transport, setup and use of optical levelling instruments to prevent damage, misalignment and manual handling injuries
• Placing boundary pegs, stakes and markers while controlling risks from hand tools, ground conditions and nearby plant
• Setting out profiles, string lines and batter boards for excavation and structural works, including housekeeping and exclusion zones
• Surveying near roads and live traffic, including traffic management interfaces, high-visibility PPE and safe access/egress
• Surveying tall structures, including working near edges, at heights and around mobile plant such as EWP or cranes
• General surveyor duties on active worksites, including communication protocols, job planning and emergency response considerations

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for surveyors, civil and building set-out crews, engineers, construction contractors and site supervisors responsible for surveying, measuring and marking locations 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 the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice: Guidance for surveying near edges, excavations and tall structures
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice: Requirements for safe access, amenities and environmental conditions during surveying activities
• Construction Work Code of Practice: Controls for surveying and marking out within active construction sites
• Traffic Management Code of Practice (where applicable in each state/territory): Principles for working near roads, vehicles and mobile plant during surveying
• AS/NZS ISO 31000 Risk Management – Guidelines: Framework for identifying, assessing and controlling surveying-related risks
• AS 5488 – Classification of Subsurface Utility Information: Guidance relevant to surveying and marking in areas with underground services