Fuel Storage Tank Installation SWMS

Suits civil and plumbing contractors installing new fuel tanks and pipework at depots, farms, workshops and service sites. It covers planning and services, the tank pit or foundation, the crane lift, anchoring and backfill, pipework, hot work, tank entry, testing and handover. Removal and decommissioning of old tanks is not covered.

Installing fuel pipework is construction work (WHS Regulation s 289(2)(e)), and a SWMS is required before high risk construction work starts (s 299). The fuel lines, flammable atmosphere and powered mobile plant items are pre-ticked. Tick the trench or shaft deeper than 1.5 metres item for a deep tank pit, the confined space item for tank or chamber entry, the fall of more than 2 metres item where that height applies, the energised electrical item near live services, and the road item beside a road in use.

New to SWMS? Read What Is A Safe Work Method Statement?

What Is Covered In Our Fuel Storage Tank Installation SWMS?

After the standard pre-start checks, the job steps run from “Plan the installation and locate underground services” to “Commission, fill and hand over the installation”. The hazards and controls include:

• Striking underground services
• Pit wall collapse and falls into the pit
• Crane lift of the tank
• Tank flotation and backfill
• Fire and explosion from hot work
• Flammable vapour and ignition sources
• Tank and chamber entry
• Fuel pipework handling
• Pressure and leak testing
• Fuel spills
• Plant and pedestrian collisions
• Commissioning and first fill

High Risk Construction Work

These high risk construction work items (WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) s 291) are already ticked because they are part of this work. Tick any others that apply to your job:

• Is carried out on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines
• Is carried out in an area that may have a contaminated or flammable atmosphere
• Is carried out in an area at a workplace in which there is any movement of powered mobile plant

Licences, Training and Competency

• General construction induction training card (white card) for every worker on the site
• High risk work licence for the class of crane used (Schedule 3 crane classes), held by the crane operator
• High risk work licence for dogging or rigging, held by the person who slings the tank
• Excavator and loader operators trained and assessed as competent on the machine; no high risk work licence applies to them
• Tank installer trained in the tank maker’s installation method
• Workers entering a tank or chamber trained in confined space entry, rescue and gas testing
• Hot work permit holder and fire watcher trained in their roles
• Site induction

Legislation and Codes of Practice Referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
• Excavation Work Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Mobile Crane Code of Practice 2024
• Confined Spaces Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice 2021
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld)
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): overhead power line exclusion zones and underground electric lines

What You Get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (15 A4 landscape pages). Type your business, client and job details once and they fill in on every page, with a space for your logo
• 10 job steps for this work, each with its hazards, controls, initial and residual risk scores and the person responsible
• PPE listed for this job: safety boots; high-visibility clothing; hard hat; safety glasses
• Emergency arrangements for: fuel fire or explosion, fuel spill and collapse into the pit
• Plus the parts every Work Safety QLD SWMS shares, from the s 291 checklist to the worker sign-on sheet (see the layout in our free SWMS template)

Adjust it for your site, plant and crew, and talk it through with your workers before work starts. Please make sure you read our Disclaimer before downloading this SWMS.

Checked against the Queensland laws and codes of practice listed above. Last reviewed November 2026.