Bricklaying SWMS and WHS templates

Safety documents for bricklaying work in Queensland

Bricklaying combines work at height, heavy materials, dust and powered tools. Under the Queensland WHS Regulation, a safe work method statement (SWMS) must be in place before high risk construction work starts (s 299). Bricklaying often triggers it, for example a risk of falling more than 2 m (s 291(a)) or working where powered mobile plant moves (s 291(o)).

Rules that come up in bricklaying work

• Falls: in construction work where a person could fall at least 2 m (at least 3 m in housing construction work), control measures that prevent a fall, such as edge protection, must be used before the work starts. If prevention is not practicable, the fall must be arrested (s 306D).
• Licences: scaffolding work needs a high risk work licence in the matching class (Schedule 3, items 1 to 3), as does using a boom-type elevating work platform with a boom of 11 m or more (item 21). You must see written evidence of the licence before directing a worker to do the work (s 85).
• Silica: cutting, grinding or drilling brick, block, concrete or mortar can release respirable crystalline silica. Processing material that contains at least 1% crystalline silica with a power tool or plant must be controlled, for example by wet cutting, with respiratory protection for anyone still at risk (ss 529A to 529C). High risk processing needs a silica risk control plan, or a SWMS meeting the same requirements if it is also high risk construction work (s 529CB).

Templates for bricklaying work

• Bricklaying SWMS: for the core laying tasks
• Working at Heights SWMS: for scaffold, roof and edge work
• Scaffolding SWMS: for erecting, using and dismantling scaffold
• Silica Dust SWMS Template: for brick, block and mortar dust
• Elevated Work Platform SWMS: for lifting people to the work face
• Safe Operation of Brick Saw SWMS: for cutting brick and block on site

Every template is an editable Word or Excel file you can brand with your logo, and you download it straight after checkout. Once filled in for your job, the documents help you meet your duties. Related reading: bricklaying safety and the dangers of silica dust. This is general information, not legal advice.