Bearing Removal and Replacement SWMS

For maintenance fitters, mechanics, workshops and plant servicing crews who remove and fit bearings on machinery. It follows the job from planning and isolation through guard removal, pulling or pressing, cleaning, heating and fitting to the test run. Hydraulic system work has its own SWMS.

Bearing removal and replacement in a workshop or on plant is not construction work by itself, so no high risk construction work item is pre-ticked and a SWMS is not legally required for it (WHS Regulation s 299 applies to high risk construction work); the document works as a written safe work procedure or task risk assessment. If the job is part of construction work, tick any reg 291 item that applies, such as falls over 2 metres (item a) or work near energised electrical installations or services (item k).

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 Bearing Removal and Replacement SWMS?

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

• Stored energy releasing when a bearing comes free
• Unexpected start-up during bearing work
• Flying fragments from presses and pullers
• Crush and pinch at the press and between parts
• Burns from heated bearings and hot oil
• Fire from oil baths and solvents
• Induction heater electrical and magnetic hazards
• Dropped shafts, rotors and housings
• Manual handling of heavy components
• Solvent and grease contact
• Noise from hammering and pressing
• Failure on first start-up after the repair

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

• Trade qualification or equivalent competency in mechanical maintenance for the plant being worked on; the maintenance, inspection and testing of plant must be done by a competent person (WHS Regulation s 213)
• Training in the lock-out and tag-out procedure used by the business, and in the manufacturer’s procedure for the machine
• Trained and verified in the use of the press, puller, bearing heater and any lifting gear used
• Dogging high risk work licence (Schedule 3) for anyone who slings a load, or directs a plant operator moving a load that is out of the operator’s view (Schedule 19 ‘dogging work’); a separate lifting SWMS or plan covers the lift
• Licensed electrical worker for electrical work on the machine’s mains-powered equipment and for the induction heater supply (Electrical Safety Act 2002 s 55); the machine’s own vehicle propulsion equipment is not electrical equipment under s 14(2)
• Site induction; general construction induction training card (white card) only if the work is on a construction site
• First aider on site or within reach (s 42)

Legislation and Codes of Practice Referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld): plant (ss 203 to 219), flammable and combustible substances (ss 52, 53), noise (ss 56, 57) and hazardous manual tasks (s 60)
• 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
• First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2021
• Rural Plant Code of Practice 2024 (isolating energy sources, if the machine is rural plant)
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld): electrical work needs a licensed electrical worker (s 55)

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.