Site Access Slopes and Uneven Terrain SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers managing access across slopes, uneven terrain, walkways, stairs, work areas and entry points. It supports planning, route control, monitoring of changing conditions and response to access incidents.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Review ground, surface, visibility and access conditions
• Establish controlled site entry points
• Prepare access slopes and manage loose or unstable ground
• Install and maintain walkways, stairs and level-change access
• Set travel routes for plant and pedestrians
• Manage deliveries and unloading on uneven surfaces
• Move through work areas while keeping access and egress clear
• Manage wet, muddy or contaminated ground conditions
• Work safely in congested spaces
• Use doors and access gates safely
• Monitor surface, visibility and site-condition changes
• Respond to access incidents, clean up and sign off

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses using or managing site access on slopes or uneven terrain.

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.
• Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: Construction work.
• Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces.
• Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplace.
• Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks.
• Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: Hazardous manual tasks.
• Applicable jurisdictional traffic-management requirements and principal contractor traffic-management plan.
• AS 1657:2018 Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders — Design, construction and installation.
• AS/NZS 2156 series Walking tracks — Classification and signage, where relevant to external access tracks.
• AS/NZS 2210.3 Personal protective equipment — Safety footwear.
• AS/NZS 4602.1 High visibility safety garments.
• AS/NZS 1801 Occupational protective helmets.
• AS/NZS 3012 Electrical installations — Construction and demolition sites, where temporary electrical lighting or equipment is used.

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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