Product Overview

This Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) sets out the step-by-step safety controls for managing risks associated with site access on slopes, uneven terrain and challenging ground conditions, helping your business maintain strong WHS compliance. It is a comprehensive document covering multiple aspects of Site Access Slopes and Uneven Terrain, from safe pedestrian movement and access/egress, through to managing obstructions, crowded workspaces and post-installation return to site.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Provision and maintenance of safe access and egress routes into and out of designated work areas
• Planning access in crowded workspaces to minimise congestion, pinch points and collision risks
• Ensuring safe, clearly defined and well-maintained walkway paths for workers and visitors
• Managing ingress and egress from work areas during normal operations, peak times and emergencies
• Safe movement around building sites with multiple trades, plant, vehicles and changing ground conditions
• Identification and control of moving object hazards, including interaction with mobile plant, vehicles and materials handling
• Techniques for safely navigating steep or unstable surfaces, including use of handrails, edging, barriers and appropriate footwear
• Risk controls for navigating sloping grounds, embankments and gradients in wet or dry conditions
• Procedures for moving through slippery and muddy areas, including housekeeping, temporary surfacing and exclusion zones
• Safe access through tight, cluttered or restricted spaces, including material storage and housekeeping controls
• Strategies for navigating uneven terrain such as ruts, potholes, rubble, loose fill and un-compacted ground
• Negotiating stairs, steps, ramps and elevation changes, including lighting, edge protection and grip surfaces
• Identification, reporting and removal or control of obstructions in the work area and along walkways
• Safe operation and use of foot-traffic powered doors, gates and turnstiles to prevent crush and impact injuries
• Controls for safe return to the work site post-installation, including re-assessment of access routes and residual hazards
• Selection and use of appropriate PPE and footwear for uneven, sloping and slippery ground conditions
• Emergency response, incident management and evacuation via sloping or uneven access routes

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for commercial and residential builders, civil contractors, landscapers, maintenance crews, facility managers, and site supervisors responsible for managing pedestrian access, walkways and movement on sloping, uneven or obstructed worksites.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice: Guidance on controlling risks of falls on stairs, slopes, edges and uneven surfaces
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice: Requirements for safe access, egress, walkways and work area layout
• Construction Work Code of Practice: Duties and controls for construction sites, including traffic management and site access
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for identifying, assessing and controlling site access and terrain-related risks
• Safe Design of Structures Code of Practice: Consideration of permanent and temporary access routes, stairs, ramps and gradients
• AS 1657 – Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders – Design, construction and installation: Requirements for safe stairs, walkways and access systems
• AS/NZS 4586 – Slip resistance classification of new pedestrian surface materials: Guidance on slip resistance for walkways, ramps and stair treads
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017