Timber Pest Inspection (Roof Void and Subfloor) SWMS

For timber pest inspectors and building inspectors who enter roof voids and subfloors to look for termite activity and timber damage. It covers access, working on ceiling framing, heat, animals, electrical hazards, dust and suspected asbestos. It does not cover termite or pest treatment.

A SWMS is required by law only for high risk construction work (WHS Regulation s 299). A pest inspection is not usually construction work, so nothing is pre-ticked; tick the fall, confined space, asbestos or energised electrical items if they apply to your job, otherwise use the document as a written safe work procedure.

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 Timber Pest Inspection (Roof Void and Subfloor) SWMS?

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

• Falls from ladders and through ceiling linings
• Electric shock from damaged wiring and fittings
• Heat illness in hot roof voids
• Head strikes and restricted movement in subfloors
• Spider, snake and wasp bites and stings
• Dust, insulation fibres, mould and droppings
• Disturbing suspected asbestos materials
• Cuts and punctures from probes and sharp debris
• Rotten framing and collapse
• Lone work and delayed rescue

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

• Training and experience in timber pest inspection, checked by the employer before the inspector works alone
• Any licence or registration needed to carry out timber pest inspection work sits outside the WHS Regulation and is not covered by this SWMS; check the requirements with the relevant Queensland authority
• Training in working in roof voids and subfloors: ladder use, low headroom, heat, animals and first aid for bites and stings
• Asbestos identification and safe handling training for workers the business reasonably believes may be involved in asbestos removal work or asbestos-related work (WHS Regulation s 445); all inspectors can recognise suspect material and stop
• General construction induction training card (white card) only when the inspection is done on a construction site
• First aid: a trained first aider on the team or on call, as the first aid duty in WHS Regulation s 42 requires for the workplace, with an adrenaline auto-injector known to the team where anyone has an allergy
• No electrical work: only a person with an electrical work licence may perform or supervise electrical work (Electrical Safety Act 2002 s 55)

Legislation and Codes of Practice Referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice 2021
• Confined Spaces Code of Practice 2021
• How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Hazardous Manual Tasks 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
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld): s 55 electrical work licence

What You Get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (14 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.