Underpinning Excavation and Concrete Pier Construction SWMS

Suits builders, underpinning and restumping contractors who dig piers under existing footings and pour concrete piers to support a structure. It follows the work in order, from the engineer’s pit sequence and services checks to digging, shoring, atmosphere testing, concrete, pinning and monitoring. General trenching and confined space work outside underpinning are covered by other SWMS.

Structural alterations that need temporary support, and a shaft deeper than 1.5 metres (a pier pit is a shaft), are high risk construction work (WHS Regulation s 291(e) and (g)(i)), so those items are ticked, along with powered mobile plant. Tick confined space (s 291(f)) if a pit meets the definition, demolition of a load-bearing element if one is removed (a demolition licence is then required), and silica or asbestos items if you break out concrete or disturb asbestos.

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 Underpinning Excavation and Concrete Pier Construction SWMS?

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

• Pit wall collapse and burial
• Structure settling during underpinning
• Pit becoming a confined space with unsafe air
• Engulfment by soil or concrete
• Falling into open pits
• Striking buried services
• Wet concrete burns
• Manual handling of spoil and reinforcement
• Silica dust from breaking concrete
• Plant striking workers near pits
• Exhaust fumes at the pit
• Pinning the pier under a moving footing

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:

• Involves structural alterations or repairs that require temporary support to prevent collapse
• Is carried out in or near a shaft or trench with an excavated depth greater than 1.5m, or a tunnel
• 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 construction work
• Engineer who designs the underpinning, states the pit sequence, size and depth, and signs off each stage
• Competent person who inspects each pit and the shoring before entry and after rain or movement
• Competent person who completes the confined space entry permit and atmosphere testing where a pit is a confined space, with workers trained in confined space entry and rescue (WHS Regulation Part 4.3)
• Excavator or small plant operators trained and assessed as competent on the machine; no high risk work licence class applies to operating an excavator
• Concrete placing and formwork workers briefed on the pier design
• 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
• Confined Spaces Code of Practice 2021
• Safe Design of Structures Code of Practice 2021
• Demolition Work Code of Practice 2021
• Formwork Code of Practice 2016
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Managing respirable crystalline silica dust exposure in construction and manufacturing of construction elements Code of Practice 2022
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice 2021
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): underground electric lines (sections 14 and 15)

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.