Existing Floor Covering Removal SWMS

For floor layers, builders and renovators who strip existing floor coverings before new flooring goes down. It covers asbestos in old vinyl and adhesives, tack strip and staples, scrapers and knives, dust, mould and heavy rolls. It does not cover asbestos removal itself.

Removing floor coverings is construction work but not high risk by itself, so nothing is pre-ticked. Tick the asbestos item if asbestos is found or assumed and the work continues, and tick the contaminated or flammable atmosphere item if the job includes grinding.

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 Existing Floor Covering Removal SWMS?

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

• Disturbing asbestos in old vinyl and adhesives
• Cuts from carpet knives and hook blades
• Punctures from tack strip, nails and staples
• Manual handling of heavy carpet and vinyl rolls
• Solvent removers and fire
• Dust, mould and rodent droppings
• Sharp objects hidden under old coverings
• Knee and back injuries from scraping
• Trips and slips on residue and loose fixings
• Occupants entering the work area

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

• General construction induction training card (white card) for construction work, and site induction
• Floor layers and removalists trained and experienced in the tools used, with new workers supervised
• Asbestos awareness so workers recognise suspect old vinyl, backing and adhesives and stop; training under WHS Regulation s 445 for workers the business reasonably believes may be involved in asbestos removal work or asbestos-related work
• Asbestos removal is by a licensed asbestos removalist, with the 10 m2 non-friable exception in WHS Regulation s 458(2)
• First aid: a trained first aider on the job or on call, as the first aid duty in WHS Regulation s 42 requires for the workplace

Legislation and Codes of Practice Referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• How to Safely Remove Asbestos Code of Practice 2021 (to recognise suspect materials; removal needs a separate SWMS)
• Managing respirable crystalline silica dust exposure in construction and manufacturing of construction elements Code of Practice 2022 (where concrete is ground)
• 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 (13 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.