Wall and Floor Tiling Ceramic and Stone SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers ceramic and stone wall and floor tiling from site setup and substrate preparation through to finishing and handover. It supports planning and risk management for materials, dust, access, cutting, adhesives, wet areas and clean-up.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Set up the site, exclusions, access and work areas
• Deliver and handle materials while managing lifting, crush and walkway risks
• Inspect equipment and controls before starting work
• Inspect and prepare substrates, including dust, hidden-service and surface hazards
• Set out tile patterns while managing posture, tools and alignment
• Access difficult areas while managing falls, overreaching and dropped items
• Mix adhesives and grout while managing dust, skin contact, mixers and electricity
• Cut and shape tiles while managing dust, sharp edges, fragments, noise and vibration
• Apply waterproofing interfaces while managing chemicals and wet surfaces
• Lay floor and wall tiles while managing adhesive, handling, posture and falling-tile risks
• Grout, patch, seal and caulk finished surfaces
• Manage pool or outdoor tiling conditions, then clean up and hand over

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out ceramic or stone wall and floor tiling activities.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

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

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (or equivalent state/territory WHS Act): primary duty of care, consultation, information, training, instruction and supervision.
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011/2022/2025 (jurisdiction as applicable): regs 34-38 risk management; construction work and SWMS for high risk construction work; hazardous manual tasks; falls; electrical risks; hazardous chemicals; PPE; airborne contaminants; health monitoring where required.
• Crystalline silica regulations and codes: processing of crystalline silica substances must be controlled; use wet methods, on-tool extraction, local exhaust ventilation, isolation and compliant respiratory protection where needed. Ceramic wall and floor tiles are not engineered stone, but tiles and substrates may still contain crystalline silica.
• Code of Practice: Managing respirable crystalline silica dust exposure in construction and manufacturing of construction elements / Managing risks of respirable crystalline silica in the workplace — training, supervision, air monitoring and review of controls for silica-generating tasks.
• Code of Practice: Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace — SDS, labelling, storage, handling and ventilation for adhesives, sealers, primers and cleaning chemicals.
• Code of Practice: Hazardous manual tasks — identify and control lifting, carrying, kneeling, repetitive movement and awkward postures associated with tiling work.
• Code of Practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces / in housing construction — apply hierarchy of controls, inspect controls and use SWMS where high risk construction work applies.
• Code of Practice: Construction work — worker consultation, safe access/egress, site supervision, inductions and SWMS requirements.
• AS/NZS 1715 Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment; AS/NZS 1716 Respiratory protective devices.
• AS/NZS 60335.2.69 for H-class vacuums used for hazardous dust collection.
• AS/NZS 3012 Electrical installations - construction and demolition sites; AS/NZS 3760 in-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment.
• AS/NZS 4576 Guidelines for scaffolding; applicable manufacturer instructions for trestles, platforms, mobile scaffolds, tile saws, grinders, mixers and sealant products.

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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