Tiling SWMS

For tilers, builders and renovation crews laying wall and floor tiles in bathrooms, kitchens, laundries and other rooms. It follows the job in order: planning and surface checks, setting up the cutting station and power, moving materials, preparing the surface, mixing, cutting, laying walls and floors, grouting, sealing and clean-up. Wet area waterproofing and silica dust control on its own are separate SWMS.

Tile cutting and grinding that risks silica dust exposure is high risk construction work, because the approved Queensland silica code treats it as work in an area that may have a contaminated atmosphere (WHS Regulation s 291(l)), so that item is ticked, and a SWMS that covers what s 529CB(2) requires can replace the separate silica risk control plan (s 529CB(3)); also tick falls over 2 metres for balconies and roof decks.

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 Tiling SWMS?

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

• Silica dust from cutting and grinding tiles and screed
• Electric shock from wet saws, grinders and leads
• Contact with the saw blade and flying fragments
• Skin and eye burns from cement, epoxy and acid cleaners
• Fumes and fire from solvent-based primers and sealers
• Asbestos in older floor and wall materials
• Falls from stepladders and platforms
• Strains from heavy tiles, bags and buckets
• Back and knee injuries from kneeling
• Noise and vibration from saws and grinders
• Slips on wet adhesive, slurry and floors
• Cuts from tile edges and broken tiles
• Slurry and wash water reaching drains

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
• Tilers trained and experienced in the tile system, adhesive and cutting equipment being used
• Crystalline silica training (VET accredited course or training approved by the regulator) for workers who may do, or be exposed to, high risk silica processing (s 529CD)
• Training in the fit, use and care of respiratory protective equipment, with a fit test for each wearer before first use and at least once a year (silica code, section 7.6.2)
• Instruction on the safety data sheet for each product, including the right gloves and respirator
• Training in recognising suspected asbestos in older buildings and when to stop work
• High risk work licence for the class of any crane, vehicle loading crane (10 metre tonnes or more) or forklift truck used to unload pallets of tiles
• 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 respirable crystalline silica dust exposure in construction and manufacturing of construction elements Code of Practice 2022
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals Code of Practice 2021 (decanted products)
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice 2021 (ladders and work platforms)
• How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace 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)
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): electrical equipment on construction sites (s 140)
• Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2021 – Managing electrical risks in the workplace
• AS/NZS 1716:2012 (Respiratory protective devices) and AS/NZS 1715:2009 (Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment), as named in WHS Regulation s 529B
• AS/NZS 60335.2.69:2017 (Household and similar electrical appliances – Safety – Particular requirements for wet and dry vacuum cleaners, including power brush, for industrial and commercial use), as named in the approved silica code
• AS/NZS 3012 Electrical installations – Construction and demolition sites (named in Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 s 140)

What You Get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (17 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.