Product Overview

This Steel Fixing SWMS is a site-ready Safe Work Method Statement designed to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement effective controls for steel fixing activities on Australian construction sites. It is a comprehensive document that consolidates multiple aspects of steel reinforcement handling, placement, tying, and associated site risks to support WHS compliance and safer management of High Risk Construction Work.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Selection, inspection, and safe handling of steel reinforcement bars and mesh on site
• Manual handling techniques to minimise musculoskeletal injuries when lifting, carrying, and positioning reo
• Use of mechanical aids (cranes, hoists, forklifts) for moving and placing reinforcing steel bundles
• Safe storage, stacking, and securing of reinforcing steel to prevent collapse or movement
• Cutting and bending of reinforcing steel using powered and manual equipment, including guarding and PPE requirements
• Use of reo tying tools, nips, and wire, including controls for hand and finger injuries and repetitive strain
• Working around protruding reo bars, including capping, marking, and exclusion zones to prevent impalement
• Working at height on formwork decks, reo mats, and edge zones with appropriate fall prevention controls
• Housekeeping and control of trip hazards created by reo offcuts, tying wire, tools, and materials
• Managing interaction with concrete pumps, formworkers, and other trades in congested work areas
• Noise, vibration, and dust controls when cutting or mechanically preparing reinforcing steel
• Emergency response planning, including first aid, incident reporting, and site-specific communication procedures

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for steel fixers, formworkers, concreters, principal contractors, and site supervisors responsible for managing reinforcing steel activities on construction projects.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Code of Practice: Construction Work – Guidance on managing risks associated with general and high risk construction work
• Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks – Requirements for identifying and controlling manual handling risks when lifting and placing reo
• Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces – Controls for working at height on decks, formwork, and reo mats
• Code of Practice: Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work – Guidance for noise created by cutting and mechanical preparation of steel
• AS/NZS 1576 Scaffolding (series) – Safe use of scaffolds where used to access steel fixing work areas
• AS/NZS 1891 Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices (series) – Requirements for harnesses and fall-arrest equipment where applicable
• AS 3600 Concrete Structures – General requirements for reinforcing in concrete structures (referenced for context of steel fixing activities)
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017