Water Safety SWMS
- 100% Compliant with Australian WHS Acts & Regulations
- Fully Editable MS Word & PDF Formats Included
- Pre-filled Content – Ready to Deploy Immediately
- Customisable – Easily Add Your Logo & Site Details
- Includes 2 Years of Free Compliance Updates
Two Ways to Get Started
✓Free Customisation Service
Upload your logo and company details — we'll customise all your documents automatically.
↓Download & Customise Yourself
Download the Word template and edit directly.
Product Overview
This Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) sets out the high-level procedures, risk controls, and emergency responses required to safely manage water safety activities on Australian worksites. It is a comprehensive document covering multiple aspects of work near water bodies, helping you demonstrate robust WHS compliance and effective risk management.
Activities & Specific Tasks Covered
This document includes specific risk controls for:
- Working safely near rivers, ponds, dams, canals, and other natural or man-made water bodies
- Managing drowning risks when working in proximity to shallow water, edges, banks, and unstable ground
- Planning and supervising work conducted within close proximity to water, including access, egress, and exclusion zones
- Implementing safe systems of work for operating plant and equipment around water bodies
- Use of electrical equipment and power tools near water, including residual current device (RCD) protection and isolation procedures
- Selection, inspection, and use of personal flotation devices (PFDs) and other water safety PPE
- Emergency response procedures for slips, trips, falls into water, and potential drowning incidents
- Risk assessment and control of water-related hazards such as currents, tides, submerged objects, and unstable banks
- Communication protocols, spotters, and supervision arrangements for teams working near water
- Safe access and egress to work areas adjacent to water, including use of ladders, platforms, and temporary barriers
- Fatigue, weather, and environmental condition monitoring (heat, cold, storms, flooding) when working near water
- Training, induction, and competency requirements for workers undertaking tasks in or near water environments
Who is this for?
This SWMS is designed for civil contractors, landscapers, maintenance crews, utilities workers, construction teams, and site supervisors undertaking any work in or near water bodies on Australian worksites.
Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered
| Job Step / Activity | Potential Hazards |
|---|---|
| Pre‑start planning and assessment |
|
| Access and egress to water sites |
|
| Set-up of exclusion and safe work zones |
|
| Working near shallow water |
|
| Working within close proximity to water bodies |
|
| Use of plant and vehicles near water |
|
| Working near water with electrical equipment |
|
| Manual tasks around water bodies |
|
| Public and third-party protection near water |
|
| Weather, tides and changing water levels |
|
| Emergency response and rescue preparedness |
|
| Training, induction and supervision |
|
| PPE, inspection and close-out |
|
Need to add specific site requirements?
Don't worry if a specific job step isn't listed above. Once you purchase, simply log in to your Client Portal and add your own custom job steps at no extra cost. We take care of the hard work—creating the hazards and control measures for free—to ensure your document is compliant within minutes.
Legislation & References
This document was researched and developed to align with:
- Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice: Guidance on preventing falls into water and from edges or structures near water
- Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace Code of Practice: Requirements for safe use of electrical equipment and controls near water
- Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice: Direction on providing a safe work environment, including work areas adjacent to water
- How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for identifying, assessing, and controlling water-related hazards
- First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice: Guidance on first aid provisions for drowning, immersion, and water-related emergencies
- Safe Work Australia – Guide to Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace: Risk controls for operating plant and equipment around water bodies
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011
- Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)
- Operational guidelines, with a step-by-step approach to safe work
- Possible hazards that may be encountered
- Step-by-step safety procedures to follow
- Before work starts – Guidelines and Checks
- Safety measures and guides
- Operational Safety Checks
- Before and After Risk Ratings
- Risk Assessment Matrix
- High Risk Work Involved
- Emergency Evacuation Procedure
- Plant and Equipment
- Qualifications and Permits
- Specific Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Company Personnel Sign-off form
Suitable for Industries
Building and ConstructionFarming and AgricultureHospitality and EventsMining and Resources
$96.8
Includes all formats + 2 years updates
Safe Work Australia Aligned
Instant Automatic Branding
Instant Download
One-Time Payment
Tax Invoice Provided
Secure SSL Checkout
Water Safety SWMS
- • 100% Compliant with Australian WHS Acts & Regulations
- • Fully Editable MS Word & PDF Formats Included
- • Pre-filled Content – Ready to Deploy Immediately
- • Customisable – Easily Add Your Logo & Site Details
- • Includes 2 Years of Free Compliance Updates
Water Safety SWMS
Product Overview
This Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) sets out the high-level procedures, risk controls, and emergency responses required to safely manage water safety activities on Australian worksites. It is a comprehensive document covering multiple aspects of work near water bodies, helping you demonstrate robust WHS compliance and effective risk management.
Activities & Specific Tasks Covered
This document includes specific risk controls for:
- Working safely near rivers, ponds, dams, canals, and other natural or man-made water bodies
- Managing drowning risks when working in proximity to shallow water, edges, banks, and unstable ground
- Planning and supervising work conducted within close proximity to water, including access, egress, and exclusion zones
- Implementing safe systems of work for operating plant and equipment around water bodies
- Use of electrical equipment and power tools near water, including residual current device (RCD) protection and isolation procedures
- Selection, inspection, and use of personal flotation devices (PFDs) and other water safety PPE
- Emergency response procedures for slips, trips, falls into water, and potential drowning incidents
- Risk assessment and control of water-related hazards such as currents, tides, submerged objects, and unstable banks
- Communication protocols, spotters, and supervision arrangements for teams working near water
- Safe access and egress to work areas adjacent to water, including use of ladders, platforms, and temporary barriers
- Fatigue, weather, and environmental condition monitoring (heat, cold, storms, flooding) when working near water
- Training, induction, and competency requirements for workers undertaking tasks in or near water environments
Who is this for?
This SWMS is designed for civil contractors, landscapers, maintenance crews, utilities workers, construction teams, and site supervisors undertaking any work in or near water bodies on Australian worksites.
Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered
| Job Step / Activity | Potential Hazards |
|---|---|
| Pre‑start planning and assessment |
|
| Access and egress to water sites |
|
| Set-up of exclusion and safe work zones |
|
| Working near shallow water |
|
| Working within close proximity to water bodies |
|
| Use of plant and vehicles near water |
|
| Working near water with electrical equipment |
|
| Manual tasks around water bodies |
|
| Public and third-party protection near water |
|
| Weather, tides and changing water levels |
|
| Emergency response and rescue preparedness |
|
| Training, induction and supervision |
|
| PPE, inspection and close-out |
|
Need to add specific site requirements?
Don't worry if a specific job step isn't listed above. Once you purchase, simply log in to your Client Portal and add your own custom job steps at no extra cost. We take care of the hard work—creating the hazards and control measures for free—to ensure your document is compliant within minutes.
Legislation & References
This document was researched and developed to align with:
- Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice: Guidance on preventing falls into water and from edges or structures near water
- Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace Code of Practice: Requirements for safe use of electrical equipment and controls near water
- Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice: Direction on providing a safe work environment, including work areas adjacent to water
- How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for identifying, assessing, and controlling water-related hazards
- First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice: Guidance on first aid provisions for drowning, immersion, and water-related emergencies
- Safe Work Australia – Guide to Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace: Risk controls for operating plant and equipment around water bodies
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011
- Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)
- Operational guidelines, with a step-by-step approach to safe work
- Possible hazards that may be encountered
- Step-by-step safety procedures to follow
- Before work starts – Guidelines and Checks
- Safety measures and guides
- Operational Safety Checks
- Before and After Risk Ratings
- Risk Assessment Matrix
- High Risk Work Involved
- Emergency Evacuation Procedure
- Plant and Equipment
- Qualifications and Permits
- Specific Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Company Personnel Sign-off form
$96.8