Plumbing SWMS and WHS templates

Safety documents for plumbing work in Queensland

Plumbing takes you into trenches, roof and ceiling spaces, pits and tanks, and onto live services. Installing, testing or maintaining an essential service in relation to a structure is construction work (s 289(2)(e)), and a SWMS must be in place before high risk construction work starts (s 299). Items of s 291 that often apply are a confined space (f), a trench or shaft deeper than 1.5 m (g), pressurised gas piping (i), asbestos disturbance (d), a flammable atmosphere (l) and a risk of falling more than 2 m (a).

Rules that come up in plumbing work

• Confined spaces: a competent person must conduct a risk assessment for a confined space and it must be recorded in writing (s 66). Records of the risk assessment and entry permit must be kept (s 77).
• Roof work: in construction work where a person could fall at least 2 m (at least 3 m in housing construction work), or on a roof with a slope over 26 degrees, control measures that prevent a fall must be used before the work starts. If prevention is not practicable, the fall must be arrested (s 306D).
• Trenches and services: get current underground essential services information before excavation starts (s 304). A trench at least 1.5 m deep needs its sides supported, 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).

Templates for plumbing work

• Plumbing Installation SWMS: for general plumbing installation
• Drainage Installation SWMS: for drainage and sewer work
• Hot Water System Installation SWMS: for hot water system installs
• Hot Work Permit Template: for soldering, brazing and cutting
• Confined Space Entry Permit: for pits, tanks and similar spaces
• Confined Space Risk Assessment: for the written confined space risk assessment

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: how to stay safe in confined spaces and 7 steps to safe excavation. This is general information, not legal advice.