Working in Subfloor Crawl Spaces SWMS

For builders, inspectors, plumbers, electricians and pest managers who work under houses. It covers restricted access, heat, spiders and snakes, electrical hazards, asbestos and hazardous manual tasks, and when a crawl space becomes a confined space.

A SWMS is required by law only for high risk construction work (WHS Regulation s 299). Tick asbestos disturbance, confined space or energised electrical items if they apply to your job; otherwise this works as a written safe work procedure for subfloor entry.

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 Working in Subfloor Crawl Spaces SWMS?

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

• Restricted headroom and awkward postures
• Spider, snake and wasp bites
• Electric shock from damaged wiring
• Disturbing asbestos in old materials
• Collapse of rotten timber and stumps
• Heat stress in poorly ventilated spaces
• Dust, mould and rodent droppings
• Trapped or injured worker not noticed
• Cuts and punctures from debris
• Residual termiticide and chemical exposure

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

• General construction induction training card (white card) when the work is construction work, and site induction
• Licensed electrical worker for any electrical work (Electrical Safety Act 2002 s 55)
• Asbestos training (WHS Regulation s 445) for workers who may be involved in asbestos removal work or asbestos-related work; asbestos removal is by a licensed asbestos removalist, except the small-quantity exceptions in s 458(2)
• Training in subfloor entry, low headroom, spider and snake awareness, and first aid for bites
• Confined space entry training and a separate SWMS if the space meets the Regulation definition
• First aid certificate for the person at the entry

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
• How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• How to Safely Remove Asbestos Code of Practice 2021
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace 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
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld): s 55 electrical work licence
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): s 140 electrical equipment for construction work

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.