Landscaping SWMS and WHS templates

Safety documents for landscaping work in Queensland

Landscaping mixes excavation, retaining walls, concrete, heavy plant, chainsaws and long days outdoors. Landscaping done as part of site preparation for construction work, and any work connected with an excavation, is construction work (s 289(2)(f) and (g)), so a SWMS must be in place before high risk construction work starts (s 299). Items of s 291 that commonly apply are work in or near a trench or shaft deeper than 1.5 m (g), on or near energised electrical installations or services (k), in areas where powered mobile plant moves (o), and a risk of falling more than 2 m (a).

Rules that come up in landscaping work

• Buried services: before excavation starts, get current underground essential services information (s 304). The Electrical Safety Regulation also requires, so far as is reasonably practicable, that underground electric lines are not damaged and, where work risks contact, that a risk assessment is done (ss 14 and 15).
• Trenches: a trench at least 1.5 m deep needs its sides supported by shoring, benching or battering, unless a geotechnical engineer gives written advice that they are safe from collapse, and the work area secured so far as is reasonably practicable (s 306).
• Silica: cutting pavers, concrete and masonry block can release respirable crystalline silica. Processing material that contains at least 1% crystalline silica with a power tool or plant must be controlled (ss 529A to 529C).
• Mobile plant: plant such as skid steers, loaders and excavators must not collide with pedestrians or other plant, and needs a warning device where a collision is possible (s 215).

Templates for landscaping work

• Excavator SWMS: for digging, trenching and loading
• Concreting SWMS Template: for footings, paths and slabs
• Silica Dust SWMS Template: for cutting pavers, block and concrete
• Chainsaw SWMS: for tree and timber cutting
• Chain Trencher SWMS: for irrigation and cable trenches
• Heat Stress & Working Outdoors SWMS: for hot days outdoors

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: Dial Before You Dig in Queensland and chainsaw safety tips. This is general information, not legal advice.