Vacuum Truck SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers planning, collecting, transporting, discharging and cleaning up vacuum truck work. It supports risk management by addressing waste, atmosphere, vehicle, hose, vacuum, spill, contamination, fuel and fatigue hazards.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Plan the work and assess the waste and potential atmosphere
• Arrive, establish the work zone and manage traffic and access
• Conduct truck pre-start checks and position and secure the truck
• Prepare suction equipment and manage hoses, couplings and spills
• Test the atmosphere and source before collection
• Commence vacuum collection and manage tank, hose and waste hazards
• Manage blockages, emergencies, loading completion and isolation
• Transport and discharge waste
• Clean hoses, decontaminate, refuel, maintain and demobilise

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out vacuum truck 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 eliminate or minimise risks so far as is reasonably practicable, consult workers, manage plant, hazardous chemicals, airborne contaminants, falls and powered mobile plant.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace — guidance for plant risk assessment, hierarchy of controls, inspection, maintenance and review of controls.
• Model Code of Practice: Confined Spaces — guidance where pits, tanks, sewers or receiving vessels meet the confined-space definition; a worker placing their upper body or head inside a confined space is considered to have entered it.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces — guidance for truck-top access, safe access/egress and fall prevention.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace — guidance for SDS, exposure controls, spills and emergency arrangements.
• Model Code of Practice: Construction Work — guidance where this work forms part of construction work or high risk construction work.
• AS 2865 Confined spaces; AS/NZS 1715 and AS/NZS 1716 respiratory protective equipment; AS/NZS 1337.1 eye and face protection; AS/NZS 2161 protective gloves; AS/NZS 2210.3 safety footwear; AS/NZS 4602.1 high-visibility clothing; AS 1801 occupational protective helmets; AS 2444 portable fire extinguishers; AS 1940 storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids; AS/NZS 3000 electrical installations, where applicable.
• Model WHS laws and model Codes of Practice are guidance for adoption and implementation by each jurisdiction; confirm current local legal requirements before work starts.

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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