Sewer Manhole and Wet Well Entry SWMS

Suits utility, drainage and maintenance crews who must enter sewer manholes, pump station wet wells and similar sewer structures. It covers the written risk assessment, entry permit, isolation of pumps and flows, atmosphere testing, standby and communication, work inside, emergency rescue and close-out. It is written for sewer-specific entry; other confined spaces are covered by the Confined Spaces SWMS.

The confined space and the contaminated or flammable atmosphere items are ticked (WHS Regulation s 291(f) and (l)). A SWMS is required by law only for high risk construction work (s 299); where the entry is maintenance that is not construction work, the written risk assessment (s 66) and entry permit (s 67) still apply. Tick the other items that apply, for example a road in use, the movement of powered mobile plant, or energised electrical services.

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 Sewer Manhole and Wet Well Entry SWMS?

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

• Hydrogen sulphide and other sewer gas
• Low oxygen and explosive atmospheres
• Engulfment and drowning in sewage
• Pumps or valves starting while someone is inside
• Sudden flow surges after rain
• Falls from step irons and ladders
• Infection from sewage and sharps
• Failed rescue and a second casualty
• Heavy manhole lids
• Traffic beside roadside manholes
• Hot work igniting gas
• Manual handling in a confined position

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:

• Is carried out in or near a confined space
• Is carried out in an area that may have a contaminated or flammable atmosphere

Licences, Training and Competency

• Confined space entry training for every entrant, standby person, supervisor and rescuer, covering sewer gas, engulfment, the permit, PPE and emergency procedures; records kept for 2 years (WHS Regulation s 76)
• Competent person to carry out the written risk assessment, complete the entry permit and test the atmosphere
• Gas detector user trained and competent in bump testing, calibration checks and reading the instrument
• Rescuers trained and fit, and competent in the air-supplied breathing apparatus, retrieval equipment and rescue plan
• Training in fall arrest and retrieval equipment used at the manhole or wet well
• Trained operator for pumps, valves and plugs, and a person who can isolate connected plant and services
• Written permission from the sewer or wet well owner and the sewerage service provider
• First aider on site, briefed on gas exposure, infection and resuscitation
• General construction induction training card (white card) when the work is construction work
• Site induction

Legislation and Codes of Practice Referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
• Confined Spaces Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces 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
• Welding Processes Code of Practice 2021 (hot work in a well)
• Traffic Management for Construction or Maintenance Work Code of Practice 2008 (entries on roads)
• Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of biological hazards at work (guidance)
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld)
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld) (electrical equipment on construction work)
• AS/NZS 3012 Electrical installations – Construction and demolition sites (named in the Electrical Safety Regulation 2026)
• Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018 (Qld) (where the work is plumbing or drainage work)

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.