Name: Tree Climbing Aerial Rigging and Removal SWMS
Brand: BlueSafe Online
SKU: prod_01KBPKY5CG2S9NKG88QW7H78NW
Price: 79.50 AUD
Availability: InStock

Product Overview

This SWMS covers tree climbing, aerial rigging and removal activities, including planning, ascent, canopy work, cutting, rigging, ground support and rescue preparation. It supports identifying hazards associated with trees, access, falling material, equipment and public areas before and during work.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

Plan the work and brief the SWMS
Protect access routes, traffic and public areas
Inspect plant, tools and personal protective equipment
Assess the tree and identify site hazards
Ascend using spurs and rope systems
Position and work safely in the canopy
Use chainsaws aloft and undertake overhead cutting
Prune or remove deadwood and high branches
Set up rigging for branch and stem removal
Lower, cut and remove rigged sections
Coordinate EWP and rope access activities where used
Complete ground operations, rescue preparation and demobilisation

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out tree climbing, aerial rigging and removal activities.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Job Step / Activity	Potential Hazards
Pre-start planning and SWMS briefing	Unclear scope of work Unidentified overhead or underground services Uncontrolled public access Inadequate worker competence Extreme weather conditions No rescue plan or emergency arrangements
Access, traffic and public protection	Vehicle collision with work zone Uncontrolled pedestrian entry Obstructed emergency access Falling branches onto public areas Inadequate traffic management
Plant, tool and PPE inspection	Rigging gear failure Chainsaw malfunction Defective climbing equipment Unsecured tools aloft Inadequate personal protection
Tree assessment and hazard identification	Hidden tree structural defects Dead or brittle branches Bee or wasp nests Powerline contact risk Unstable ground at tree base
Ascent using spurs and rope systems	Fall from height Gaff slip while spur climbing Rope abrasion on sharp edges Incorrect tie-in point selection Suspension intolerance
Climbing and work positioning in canopy	Limb break under load Swing falls and pendulum Entanglement in ropes Dropped tools and branches Climber overexertion
Chainsaw use aloft and overhead cutting	Kickback and loss of control Contact with moving chain Cutting above shoulder height Hot exhaust burns Flying wood chips
Deadwooding and pruning high branches	Brittle deadwood failure Uncontrolled limb drop Snapped or whipped branches Overhead pole saw use Debris striking climber or public
Rigging setup for branch and stem removal	Rigging anchor failure Overloading ropes or hardware Shock loading from falling limbs Swinging loads towards structures Entanglement with rigging lines
Lowering, cutting and removing rigged sections	Uncontrolled descent of loads Struck-by swinging branches Snagging of rigged pieces Cutting tensioned fibres Manual handling of heavy logs
EWP operation and rope access combination	EWP tip-over or collapse Contact with powerlines Falls from EWP basket Crushing between basket and tree Conflict between EWP and rope systems
Ground operations, chipping and clean-up	Contact with chipper feed rollers Thrown debris from chipper Noise-induced hearing loss Slips, trips and falls on debris Musculoskeletal strain from dragging branches
Emergency preparedness and rescue	Delayed rescue of injured climber Inadequate first aid response Uncontrolled site during emergency Contact with electrical hazards in rescue Post-incident psychological stress
Post-job review and demobilisation	Residual falling limb hazards Unreported damage to property Unsecured equipment in vehicles Fatigue while driving from site Incomplete documentation

Need to add specific site requirements?

Use the BlueSafe Portal to tailor this SWMS with site-specific details, job steps, hazards, controls and responsibilities before work starts.

Acceptance Guaranteed: If your client or principal requests changes during document review, BlueSafe will help revise the document at no extra cost and support resubmission until it is accepted.

Legislation & References

The template includes references relevant to the documented work, including:

WHS Act and WHS Regulations
Code of Practice: Tree Works 2026
Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace
Code of Practice: Work near Overhead and Underground Electric Lines 2026
Code of Practice: Elevating Work Platforms
AS/NZS 1891 Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices
AS 2550 Cranes, hoists and winches - Safe use
AS 1742.3 Traffic control for works on roads
Load Restraint Guide

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

Tree Climbing Aerial Rigging and Removal SWMS

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