Drain Jetting and Unblocking SWMS

For plumbers, drainers and drain-cleaning contractors who clear blocked drains and sewers with high-pressure jetters, electric machines and rods. It follows the job from checking the line for asbestos pipe and setting up traffic control to opening pits, jetting, hygiene and washing down.

Clearing a drain is not high risk construction work by itself. A SWMS is legally required when the job is construction work under WHS Regulation s 291, for example work beside a road in use, in or near a confined space, or where asbestos could be disturbed (s 299); tick the items that apply. Otherwise this works as a written safe work procedure and task risk assessment.

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

What Is Covered In Our Drain Jetting and Unblocking SWMS?

After the standard pre-start checks, the job steps run from “Plan the job and check the drain” to “Wash down, pack up and dispose of waste”. The hazards and controls include:

• High-pressure injection from hoses and nozzles
• Hose and nozzle whip or kickback
• Sewer gas, including hydrogen sulphide
• Entry to pits and sewers as confined spaces
• Infection from sewage contact
• Chemical drain cleaner burns and splashes
• Rods and machine cables catching hands
• Slips and trips over hoses
• Vehicles and traffic at the work area
• Asbestos cement pipe and lids
• Hearing loss from pumps and engines
• Back strain from lifting lids and hose reels

High Risk Construction Work

None of the high risk construction work items (WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) s 291) are pre-ticked, because this job is not high risk construction work by itself. Tick any that apply on your site.

Licences, Training and Competency

• Training and verified competence in the jetter, hose handling and nozzle types in use, including high-pressure injection response
• Competent person to complete confined space entry permits and risk assessments if any entry is planned (use the Confined Spaces SWMS; entry is not covered here)
• Licence for the work under the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018 (Qld), such as a drainers licence, for drainage work that is not unregulated work; an unlicensed person may do drainage work only under the direct supervision of a licensee (s 58)
• Traffic controller accreditation for anyone directing traffic
• General construction induction training card (white card) when working on a construction site
• Site induction
• Trained first aider on site

Legislation and Codes of Practice Referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Confined Spaces 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
• How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Traffic Management for Construction or Maintenance Work Code of Practice 2008
• 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)
• AS/NZS 4233.1 High pressure water jetting systems, Part 1: Safe operation and maintenance (named in the Abrasive Blasting Code of Practice 2021)
• Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of biological hazards at work (guidance)

What You Get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (13 A4 landscape pages). Type your business, client and job details once and they fill in on every page, with a space for your logo
• 11 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 glasses with side shields or a face shield; waterproof gloves and long waterproof clothing; waterproof safety boots; high-visibility clothing
• Emergency arrangements for: high-pressure injection and gas alarm or collapse in a pit
• 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.