Vacuum Truck SWMS

Suits liquid waste and industrial cleaning contractors whose vacuum trucks pump out tanks, pits, sumps, grease traps and wash-down bays. It follows the job from identifying the liquid and the space through pre-start, parking, atmosphere testing, hose connection, pumping, work near confined spaces, spill control, disconnection and discharge at the disposal site. Hydro-excavation and septic tank pump-out need a separate SWMS.

Vacuum truck work is not construction work by itself, so the high risk construction work list in the WHS Regulation (section 291) does not apply, no item is pre-ticked and section 299 does not require a SWMS for it. Cleaning or maintaining a structure such as a tank, pit or drain can be construction work (section 289); if the job is, tick the items that apply, such as in or near a confined space, a contaminated or flammable atmosphere, energised electrical installations or services, and traffic corridor in use. The confined space duties in Part 4.3 of the WHS Regulation apply at any workplace. The document works as a written safe work procedure and task risk assessment.

Learn More: What Is A Safe Work Method Statement?
Have you ever been asked to provide a SWMS on a project in Queensland? Read our guide to what a Safe Work Method Statement is and when you need one.

What Is Covered In Our Vacuum Truck SWMS?

The job steps run in the order the work is done, from pre-start checks to finishing up. The hazards and controls include:

• Toxic and flammable gases from tanks and sludge
• Oxygen-deficient atmosphere at tanks and pits
• Entry into confined spaces without a permit
• Hose whip and coupling failure under pressure
• Suction injury at the hose inlet
• Overfilled or over-pressurised tanks
• Chemical contact with skin and eyes
• Spills to drains and the environment
• Ignition sources near flammable vapours
• Contact with overhead lines when the boom is raised
• Liquid surge and truck rollover
• Sewage, noise and hygiene hazards

High Risk Construction Work

No high risk construction work items (WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) s 291) are pre-ticked, because this work is not high risk construction work by itself. Tick the items that apply to your job, such as a fall risk of more than 2 metres or work where powered mobile plant is moving.

Licences, Training and Competency

• Driver licence of the class that suits the truck
• Training and assessed competency on the vacuum pump, tank, boom, hoses, valves and pressure relief of the truck used (no high risk work licence class in Schedule 3 covers a vacuum truck)
• Training in the confined space rules in Part 4.3 of the WHS Regulation: recognising a confined space, never entering without a permit, and the stand-by and rescue arrangements
• Training in atmosphere testing and the gas detector used, including bump testing and calibration
• Training in hazardous chemicals handling for the liquids and sludges collected, and in reading SDS
• Training in respiratory protective equipment if used, including fit testing
• Site induction at each industrial site, depot and treatment plant
• Workers trained in first aid, with first aid provided as s 42 of the WHS Regulation requires

Legislation and Codes of Practice Referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
• Confined Spaces Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021
• First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2021
• Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland), applied by the Heavy Vehicle National Law Act 2012 (Qld): s 6 (heavy vehicle means a vehicle with a GVM or ATM of more than 4.5 t), s 26C (primary duty of each party in the chain of responsibility), s 96 (compliance with mass requirements), s 110 (national regulations may prescribe loading requirements), s 111 (compliance with the loading requirements) and s 228 (duty of driver to avoid driving while fatigued or unfit to drive)
• National Load Restraint Guide (National Heavy Vehicle Regulator): guidance, not law
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld)
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): overhead power line exclusion zones in sections 10 to 13 and schedule 2

What You Get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (13 pages), laid out on A4 landscape pages
• Business, client, job and document details typed once and filled in on every page, plus a space for your logo
• The high risk construction work checklist, worded as WHS Regulation s 291, and the construction project question (s 292)
• A worker and health and safety representative consultation record
• Qualifications, plant, PPE, hazardous chemicals, safety equipment, permits, references and emergency arrangements filled in for this work
• A 5 x 5 risk matrix, and job steps with initial and residual risk scores and the people responsible
• Implementing, monitoring and review requirements, an additional controls log, revision history and a worker sign-on sheet

Review and adjust it for your site, your plant and the way your crew does the job, and talk it through with your workers before work starts. If you have any trouble downloading this SWMS, you can contact us at any time. Please make sure you read our Disclaimer before downloading this SWMS.