Telecommunications Tower SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers telecommunications tower activities, including planning, access, lifting, assembly, installation, inspection and sign-off. It supports planning the work and managing hazards involving structural integrity, height, suspended loads, RF and electrical energy, plant and changing conditions.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Plan tower work and emergency arrangements
• Establish exclusion zones around the work area
• Inspect plant and lifting gear
• Control RF and electrical hazards
• Prepare tower access and rescue arrangements
• Climb and access the tower
• Lift tower components
• Assemble or dismantle tower components
• Install or remove antennas
• Install cables and earthing
• Inspect and commission the installation
• Demobilise and sign off

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out telecommunications tower activities.

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, including duties to manage risks, provide safe systems of work, consult workers, control plant risks, manage falls, electrical risks and high risk construction work. Confirm the legislation, regulations and approved codes adopted in the jurisdiction before issue.
• Model Code of Practice: Construction Work; Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces; Model Code of Practice: Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace; Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace; Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks. Model codes are guidance and do not automatically have legal effect in every jurisdiction.
• Safe-design guidance applies to structures including masts and towers; obtain and follow current designer, engineer, manufacturer and supplier information for the full lifecycle of the structure.
• RF/EME guidance: obtain the current EME Guide, follow site exclusion-zone diagrams and consult the transmitter controller before any work within an RF exclusion zone; shut down or reduce transmitter power where required.
• Technical guidance: AS/NZS 1891 series Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices; AS/NZS 5532 Single-point anchor devices; AS 1418 and AS 2550 series Cranes, hoists and winches; AS 1418.10 Elevating work platforms; AS/NZS 3000 Electrical installations; AS/NZS 3012 Electrical installations—construction and demolition sites; AS/NZS 4836 Safe working on or near low-voltage electrical installations and equipment; AS/NZS 4602.1 High-visibility safety garments; AS/NZS 1801 Occupational protective helmets; AS/NZS 1337.1 Eye and face protection; AS/NZS 1270 Hearing protectors.
• Use the current ARPANSA Radiation Protection Standard for maximum exposure levels to radiofrequency fields and applicable carrier/site RF safety procedures.

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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