Natural Stone and Porcelain Benchtop Installation SWMS

Suits stonemasons, kitchen installers and builders fitting natural stone and porcelain benchtops on site. It covers confirming the material, protecting the site, unloading and lifting slabs, on-site cutting with silica controls, bonding, fitting cut-outs and handover. Engineered stone must not be installed.

Fitting out a kitchen is construction work, but benchtop installation is not high risk construction work by itself (WHS Regulation ss 289, 291 and 299). The contaminated atmosphere box is ticked because on-site cutting of natural stone and porcelain produces crystalline silica dust; untick it if no cutting is done on site, and tick any other item the job involves, such as a fall of more than 2 metres or asbestos disturbance.

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 Natural Stone and Porcelain Benchtop 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:

• Installing engineered stone, which is prohibited
• Crush injuries from heavy slabs
• Dropped slabs from vacuum lifters
• Respirable crystalline silica dust from cutting
• Kickback and blade binding when cutting
• Noise and flying chips
• Slurry and dust spread through the home
• Adhesive, epoxy and silicone fumes
• Back and shoulder strain from slab handling
• Disconnecting plumbing, gas and electrical services
• Slips and trips on wet floors and offcuts

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 an area that may have a contaminated or flammable atmosphere

Licences, Training and Competency

• General construction induction training card (white card) for construction work: fitting out a kitchen is construction work (WHS Regulation s 289)
• Trade competency in installing stone and porcelain slabs, with new workers under an experienced installer
• Competency in using the vacuum lifter, slab trolleys and carry frames used on the job
• Crystalline silica training (a VET accredited course or training approved by the regulator) for workers who may do or be exposed to high risk silica processing (WHS Regulation s 529CD), with records kept while the worker does the processing and for 5 years after the worker stops working for the business
• Training in the respirator issued, with a fit test for each wearer of a tight-fitting mask
• Person able to carry out and record the written silica processing assessment before cutting starts (WHS Regulation s 529CA)
• Licensed plumber, gas fitter and electrical worker for disconnecting and reconnecting taps, cooktops and appliances; installers do not make these connections (Electrical Safety Act 2002 s 55; Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004 s 726)
• High risk work licence for the class of any crane or forklift truck used to unload slabs
• Engineered stone benchtops, panels or slabs must not be installed (WHS Regulation s 529D)
• First aid equipment and facilities, and trained first aiders as the work and site need (WHS Regulation s 42)

Legislation and Codes of Practice Referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld): chapter 8A, crystalline silica (ss 529A to 529CD), including the prohibition on work involving engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs in s 529D
• Managing respirable crystalline silica dust exposure in construction and manufacturing of construction elements Code of Practice 2022 (guidance only: its scope does not include the engineered and natural stone benchtop industry)
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021
• How to Manage and Control Asbestos 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 on construction sites)

What You Get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (15 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.