This Concrete Saw Cutting & Core Drilling SOP (Safe Operating Procedure) covers using floor saws, wall saws, hand-held disc cutters and hand-held or rig-mounted core drills on cured concrete, masonry and stone. It covers locating embedded services, wet cutting for silica dust control, blade and bit checks, kickback, supporting cut sections, keeping petrol saws outdoors and isolating equipment before blade changes. It's written by WHS specialists, aligned to Australian WHS legislation, and fully editable in Microsoft Word.
Who it's for
Concrete cutting and coring contractors
Plumbers and electricians coring penetrations
Commercial and residential builders
Demolition and renovation contractors
Civil and road maintenance crews
Use it to
Train and induct workers in exactly how you expect the task to be done
Keep a clear reference at the machine, in the vehicle or on site
Record competency with the built-in sign-off
Show clients, insurers and auditors your safe work methods are written down
What this SOP covers
Respirable crystalline silica dust from cutting and drilling
Carbon monoxide from petrol saws used indoors or in enclosed areas
Kickback when a blade binds or hits reinforcement
Contact with a rotating blade or core bit
Blade or bit disintegration from damaged or overspeed equipment
Striking embedded electrical cables, gas lines or other services
Electric shock when using electrical equipment with water-fed cutting
Noise-induced hearing loss and hand-arm vibration
Manual handling of saws, core rigs and cut sections
Being struck by falling cut sections, and slips on wet slurry
What's included
9 pre-operational checks, from silica risk assessment and locating embedded services to blade ratings, guards and water supply
A 13-step operating procedure covering wet cutting, petrol saws indoors, structural cuts, reinforcement contact, disc cutters and core drilling
Isolation and energy control for blade and bit changes, jams and maintenance on electric, petrol and rig-mounted equipment
7 shutdown, housekeeping and post-operation steps
Emergency actions for service strikes, lacerations and crush injuries, and failure of water suppression
PPE checklist and a list of related documents
Competency acknowledgement and worker sign-off
Space for your logo, SOP number, version and review dates
Why use this template
Saves hours compared with writing an SOP from a blank page
Written as clear, numbered steps that workers can follow on the job
Fully editable, so you can match it to your equipment, site and how your team works
The competency sign-off gives you a training record from day one
How it works
Buy online and download straight away. You'll also get an email with your link.
Add your logo, company name, SOP number and dates.
Check it suits your equipment and site, and edit anything you need to.
Train your workers and have them sign the competency acknowledgement.
Need more than one SOP?
This SOP is also included in the Ultimate Concreting SOP Bundle. At $197 for the whole bundle, it works out much cheaper than buying SOPs one at a time.
Common questions
Does it address silica dust?
Yes. Workers assess the task under your silica procedure first, use continuous water flow at the blade, and stop if visible dust appears. A respirator is worn in addition to water suppression, never instead of it.
Can petrol saws be used indoors?
No. The SOP prohibits running a petrol or other combustion-engine saw indoors or in any enclosed or poorly ventilated area. Electric, battery or hydraulic equipment is used instead.
Does it cover fresh concrete?
No. It covers cutting and drilling cured concrete, masonry and stone only. Placing, pumping and finishing wet concrete are covered in separate SOPs.
Can I change it?
Yes. It's a Microsoft Word file, so you can add, remove or change any step, check or hazard, 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.
