This Benchtop Fabrication and Stone Handling SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled and covers cutting, finishing, transporting and installing natural stone, porcelain, sintered stone and timber benchtops. It sets out the hazards, control measures and risk ratings before and after controls for 24 activities, from material identification and silica planning to slab handling, on-site installation and emergency response. It's written by WHS specialists, aligned to Australian WHS legislation, and fully editable in Microsoft Word.
Who it's for
Stone benchtop fabricators and installers
Kitchen and joinery manufacturers
Cabinet makers who fit benchtops on site
Kitchen and bathroom renovators
Porcelain and sintered stone suppliers with fabrication workshops
A SWMS isn't only for construction. Plenty of fabrication workshops use one as the written risk assessment for a task, the same way others use a JSA or Safe Work Procedure.
Use it to
Show clients, insurers and auditors how you manage the risks
Apply for tenders, contracts and supplier panels
Get through prequalification with Avetta, Cm3 and other contractor portals
Induct new workers and train them in the task
What this SWMS covers
Identifying the slab's silica content, the engineered stone prohibition and legacy stone notification
Health and exposure monitoring for workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica
Slab delivery, A-frame and rack storage, and lifting with forklifts, cranes and vacuum lifters
Pre-start checks of water suppression, extraction and guarding, plus respirator fit testing
Bridge saw and CNC cutting, including blade contact, ejected fragments and electric shock in wet areas
Hand-held stone tools with water or extraction, plus noise and vibration
Sink and hotplate cutouts, timber and panel machining, and wood dust and formaldehyde
Resins, catalysts, sealers and flammable solvents
Removing old benchtops, including silica, asbestos, mould and sharps
Transport, carrying, on-site trimming and fixing benchtops in occupied homes
Slurry and wash water, housekeeping, and decontamination so dust isn't carried home
Emergency response to crush injury, laceration, dust exposure, electric shock or fire
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 24 work activities
Risk ratings before and after controls, with a 5x5 risk matrix and the hierarchy of controls
PPE requirements checklist and high risk construction work checklist
Plant and equipment list, materials, and maintenance checks for saws, water suppression, extraction and lifting gear
Relevant Australian Standards, including AS/NZS 1715 for respiratory protection and AS/NZS 4024 for machinery safety
Training notes covering silica training, any silica worker registration, respirator fit testing and forklift licensing
Site specific hazards section for anything unique to your job
Worker sign-off sheet and worker consultation record
Why use this template
Saves hours compared with writing a SWMS from a blank page
Covers the most common hazards and control measures for this work, ready to use out of the box
Fully editable, so you can add, remove or change anything to suit your site and how your team works
Helps your business stay compliant, with risk ratings, worker sign-off and consultation records already set up
How it works
Buy online and download straight away. You'll also get an email with your link.
Add your logo, ABN, project and site details.
Check it suits your site and task, edit anything you need to, and consult your workers before you finalise it.
Brief your team and collect signatures.
Common questions
Do I need a SWMS for benchtop fabrication?
Only if the work is high risk construction work, for example installing where powered mobile plant is moving, or fixing near energised electrical services. Workshop fabrication isn't construction work, but you still have to manage the risks. Separately, high risk crystalline silica processing needs a silica risk control plan under the WHS Regulations, and clients often ask for a SWMS either way.
Does it cover engineered stone?
Yes. It covers the prohibition on engineered stone work that has applied since 1 July 2024, notifying the regulator before working legacy engineered stone, and the controls for removing it or making minor modifications.
Can I change it?
Yes. It's a Microsoft Word file, so you can add, remove or change any hazard, control or rating, and add your own logo and details.
Does it suit my state?
Yes. It's written to the model WHS laws and suits all states and territories, including Victoria under the OHS Act and Regulations.
What if it doesn't suit my work?
You're covered by our 30-day money-back guarantee if it isn't fit for purpose.
