Tile Removal and Floor Scabbling SWMS

For tilers, builders and renovators who strip tiles and scabble bedding or screed from floors. It covers silica dust control, suspected asbestos in old adhesives, services and slab strikes, hand-arm vibration, noise and heavy debris. It does not cover laying tiles.

Silica dust from tile and bedding removal is pre-ticked as work in a contaminated atmosphere. Asbestos is not pre-ticked, because removing tiles does not always involve it; tick the asbestos item if asbestos is found or assumed and the work continues under a separate SWMS.

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 Tile Removal and Floor Scabbling SWMS?

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

• Respirable crystalline silica dust from chipping and scabbling
• Disturbing asbestos in old adhesives and bedding
• Striking services, tendons and reinforcement
• Hand-arm vibration from percussive tools
• Hearing loss from noise
• Flying chips and sharp tile edges
• Electric shock on wet floors
• Compressed air hose whip
• Solvent removers and fire
• Heavy rubble and manual handling
• Dust spreading to occupants and other trades

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 an area that may have a contaminated or flammable atmosphere

Licences, Training and Competency

• General construction induction training card (white card) for construction work, and site induction
• Competency in the scabbler, chipping hammer, extractor and compressor used, verified by the supervisor
• Crystalline silica training (VET accredited course or regulator-approved training) for workers involved in high risk silica processing (WHS Regulation s 529CD)
• Respirator fit test for each wearer, repeated when the make or model changes
• Asbestos awareness so workers recognise suspect material in old 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)
• Electrical work only by a person with an electrical work licence (Electrical Safety Act 2002 s 55)

Legislation and Codes of Practice Referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
• Managing respirable crystalline silica dust exposure in construction and manufacturing of construction elements Code of Practice 2022
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice 2021
• Hazardous Manual Tasks 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 Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2021
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld)
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): s 140 electrical equipment for construction work
• AS/NZS 1716:2012 and AS/NZS 1715:2009, as named in WHS Regulation s 529B (respiratory protective equipment)

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.