Septic Tank and On-Site Wastewater Installation SWMS

For drainers, plumbers and excavation contractors who install septic tanks and on-site wastewater systems. It covers excavation and trench collapse, crane lifting of tanks, connection to house drains and exposure to sewage.

Trench or shaft deeper than 1.5 m (reg 291(g)) and movement of powered mobile plant (reg 291(o)) are pre-ticked. A SWMS is required by law for high risk construction work (WHS Regulation s 299). Also tick any that apply to your job: work on or near energised electrical installations or services (overhead lines or pump wiring) and confined space if anyone must enter an existing tank or pit.

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 Septic Tank and On-Site Wastewater Installation 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 and trench collapse
• Excavator rollover near the edge
• Dropped tank during crane lifts
• Contact with overhead power lines
• Striking underground services
• Exposure to sewage and infection
• Toxic and flammable gases from existing drains
• Falls into open pits and uncovered lids
• Crush injuries between tank and pit wall
• Electric shock from pump and alarm wiring
• Unlicensed drainage work

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 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, and site induction
• Drainers licence (or plumbers licence) under the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018 (Qld) where the work is drainage work, which includes installing an on-site sewage facility (s 56), unless an exemption in s 58 applies, such as an unlicensed person doing drainage work while directly supervised by a licensee who is their employer or directed by their employer (s 58(1)(c), (2)); a QBCC contractor licence may also be required
• High risk work licence for the crane used (Schedule 3), such as vehicle loading crane (10 metre tonnes or more) or the mobile crane class that matches the crane
• High risk work licence in the dogging class (Schedule 3 item 4) for slinging the tank or directing the crane operator when the load is out of the operator’s view (dogging work, Schedule 19)
• Verification of competency for the excavator operator (no high risk work licence class covers excavators)
• Licensed electrical worker for pump and alarm wiring (Electrical Safety Act 2002 s 55)
• First aid certificate for the first aider on site

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
• Mobile Crane Code of Practice 2024
• 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 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
• Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018 (Qld)
• Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2019 (Qld)
• Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code (as the Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2019 s 11 requires; check the current version)
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld): s 55 electrical work licence
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): overhead power line exclusion zones in 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.