Bearer and Joist Replacement SWMS

Suits builders, carpenters and maintenance contractors repairing rotted or termite-damaged bearers and joists under existing houses. It follows the job from inspecting the floor and setting up crawl space access through temporary support, removing the damaged member, fitting the new one and transferring the load to handover. New floor framing and restumping are covered by separate SWMS.

Removing a load-bearing bearer or joist is demolition work under the WHS Regulation (Schedule 19), so a demolition licence (section 143) must be held by the person doing the work or the person or business it is done for. If you are unsure whether your job fits the definition, confirm with Workplace Health and Safety Queensland. The high risk construction work boxes for demolition of a load-bearing element and temporary support are ticked; tick falls, asbestos or confined space if they apply.

New to SWMS? Read What Is A Safe Work Method Statement?

What Is Covered In Our Bearer and Joist Replacement SWMS?

After the standard pre-start checks, the job steps run from “Plan the repair and inspect the floor structure” to “Respond to a floor collapse, crush injury, snake bite or electric shock”. The hazards and controls include:

• Floor or walls shifting when a bearer is released
• Jacks or props slipping or overloaded
• Falls through floor openings
• Asbestos in sheeting, lagging and linings
• Heat, poor ventilation and mould under the floor
• Snakes, spiders and wasps in crawl spaces
• Cables and pipes hidden under the floor
• Heavy timber handled in cramped postures
• Cuts and kickback from power saws
• Treated timber and preservative chemicals
• Props removed before the new member is fixed
• A worker trapped in the under-floor space

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 demolition of an element of a structure that is load-bearing or otherwise related to the physical integrity of the structure
• Involves structural alterations or repairs that require temporary support to prevent collapse

Licences, Training and Competency

• General construction induction training card (white card) for construction work, and site induction
• Carpentry or building qualifications and experience for structural timber repairs; engineer’s advice on the repair method where loads or damage are not straightforward
• Demolition licence (WHS Regulation s 143): removing a bearer or joist that is load-bearing, or otherwise related to the physical integrity of the structure, is demolition work under Schedule 19, so the person doing the work, or the person or business it is done for, must hold a licence to carry out demolition work; if you are unsure whether your job fits the definition, confirm with Workplace Health and Safety Queensland before starting
• Training in safe use of jacks, props and temporary support
• Asbestos training (WHS Regulation s 445) for workers who may do asbestos-related work
• Training in working in confined or restricted spaces, and in first aid for the worker at the entry

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): ss 306A to 306F (falls in construction work, fall protection covers and edge protection)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld): ss 65 to 67 (confined spaces entry)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld): ss 142 and 143 (demolition work notice and licence)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld): ss 419, 422, 445, 446, 450 and 451 (asbestos) and s 60 (hazardous manual tasks)
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld): s 55 (electrical work licence)
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• 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
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• WorkSafe Queensland guidance: Working safely in the house relocation industry (guidance only)

What You Get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (14 A4 landscape pages). Type your business, client and job details once and they fill in on every page, with a space for your logo
• 9 job steps for this work, each with its hazards, controls, initial and residual risk scores and the person responsible
• PPE listed for this job: safety footwear with penetration-resistant soles; gloves suited to timber handling, and chemical-resistant gloves for treatments; safety glasses; fit-tested respirator when dust or fibres are present
• Emergency arrangements for: person trapped under a floor or load, electric shock and snake or spider bite
• Plus the parts every Work Safety QLD SWMS shares, from the s 291 checklist to the worker sign-on sheet (see the layout in our free SWMS template)

Adjust it for your site, plant and crew, and talk it through with your workers before work starts. Please make sure you read our Disclaimer before downloading this SWMS.

Checked against the Queensland laws and codes of practice listed above. Last reviewed November 2026.