SWMS guide · updated November 2026

SWMS for plumbers

Plumbing work regularly crosses into high risk construction work — trenches deeper than 1.5 m, gas mains, roof work and pits or tanks that can be confined spaces.

Common plumbing tasks that need a SWMS

• Sewer and stormwater trenching
• Gas fitting near pressurised mains
• Roof plumbing, gutters and downpipes
• Work in pits and tanks
• Hot water system installs

High risk construction work categories that usually apply

• Work in or near a shaft or trench deeper than 1.5 m, or a tunnel
• Work on or near pressurised gas distribution mains or piping
• Risk of a person falling more than 2 metres
• Work in or near a confined space

Key hazards and example controls

Hazard	Risk	Example controls
Trench wall collapse	Burial, crush injury, death	Shoring, benching or battering per engineer/competent person. Keep spoil and plant back from the edge. Inspect trench daily and after rain. Safe access/egress ladder within reach.
Contact with underground services	Electrocution, gas release	Before You Dig Australia enquiry. Locate and mark services. Hand/vacuum excavate near services.
Striking or working near pressurised gas lines	Gas leak, fire, explosion	Locate and mark services before work. Isolation by the asset owner where required. No ignition sources. Gas detector on site. Emergency contact for the gas network displayed.
Working at height on roofs, edges, scaffolds or ladders	Fall from height causing serious injury or death	Eliminate where possible by doing work at ground level (pre-fabricate). Install edge protection / guardrails before work starts. Use scaffold or EWP in preference to ladders. Where a fall-prevention device isn't practicable, use a fall-arrest system with anchor points certified and a rescue plan in place. Ladders only for short-duration light work, on firm level ground, secured, 3 points of contact.
Fragile roofing, skylights and penetrations	Falling through brittle surfaces	Identify and mark fragile surfaces. Install safety mesh or covers rated for the load. Exclusion zones under work area. Walkways/crawl boards on fragile roofs.
Falling objects from height	Workers or public struck by tools/materials	Toe boards and debris netting. Tool lanyards. Exclusion zone with barricades and signage below. Hard hats in the zone.
Entry into a confined space (pits, tanks, ducts)	Asphyxiation, toxic atmosphere, engulfment	Eliminate entry where possible. Confined space entry permit. Atmospheric testing before and during entry. Ventilation. Trained standby person outside at all times. Rescue plan and equipment ready.

Example controls are a starting point only — tailor them to your site, your plant and the way you'll actually do the job.

Other site hazards worth including

• Manual handling of materials and tools — Mechanical aids (trolleys, hoists). Team lifts for heavy items. Plan the job to minimise carrying. Store materials at working height.
• Silica dust from cutting, grinding or drilling — Wet cutting or on-tool extraction (H-class vacuum). P2 RPE minimum. No dry sweeping. Health monitoring as required.

What your SWMS has to cover

• Which high risk construction work the job involves.
• The hazards and the risks to health and safety from them.
• The control measures, and how they'll be implemented, monitored and reviewed — e.g. who installs and who checks the edge protection.
• It should be specific to the site and available to the workers and supervisors doing the job.
• If work isn't being done in line with the SWMS, it must stop (immediately or as soon as it's safe).
• Review and revise it whenever the control measures change.

Based on Safe Work Australia, SafeWork NSW and WorkSafe Queensland guidance. Victoria applies its own OHS Regulations — check WorkSafe Victoria.

Common questions

Do plumbers need a SWMS?

Whenever the job involves high risk construction work — for plumbing that commonly means trenching & excavation, pressurised gas mains, working at heights, confined spaces. Many principal contractors also require one before you start on site.

How long does it take to make one?

With SWMS Ready, around 10 minutes: tick the high risk work, tailor the pre-filled hazards and controls, add site and emergency details, then print with a sign-on sheet.

Can I reuse my SWMS on the next job?

Review it for every site. The hazards, controls, people and emergency arrangements need to match the actual job.