This Conveyor Operation and Blockage Clearing SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled for running belt, roller, chain, screw and mobile conveyors and clearing blockages safely. It covers 38 activities, from the daily pre-start and guarding checks to isolation, stored energy control and emergency response, with the hazards, control measures and risk ratings before and after controls for each. It's written by WHS specialists, aligned to Australian WHS legislation, and fully editable in Microsoft Word.
 
Who it's for
Manufacturers and food processors running conveyor lines
Warehouses, distribution centres and parcel sorting facilities
Quarries, recyclers and bulk materials handlers
Grain, stockfeed and agricultural processing sites
Maintenance and fitting contractors who work on conveyors
You don't need to be on a building site to use a SWMS: many manufacturers 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
Permits, exclusion zones and pedestrian separation around the conveyor
Pre-start inspection of the belt, guarding, emergency stops and pull-wires
Entanglement at in-running nips, transfer points and screw or drag chain conveyors
Interlocked lines and upstream feeders burying a stopped belt
Loading by hand or with mobile plant, and work at the discharge end
Falling product under overhead conveyors and falls from gantries above 2 metres
Isolation, lockout and stored energy control before clearing a blockage
Confined space entry and engulfment when clearing chutes, hoppers, bins and pits
Refitting guards, returning to service and commissioning new or modified conveyors
Belt fires, silica and combustible dust, noise and electrical hazards
Working alone, fatigue and production pressure leading to guard defeating
Emergency response to entanglement, crush, engulfment or fire
 
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 38 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, including function testing of emergency stops and interlocks
Relevant Australian Standards, including AS/NZS 4024.3610 for conveyors and AS/NZS 2865 for confined spaces
Supervision rules for new workers and confined space entry competency requirements
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 conveyor operation and blockage clearing?
Only if the work is high risk construction work, for example installation or modification work in a confined space or where someone could fall more than 2 metres. Running a conveyor and clearing blockages in a factory or warehouse isn't construction work, so a SWMS isn't mandatory there. You still have to manage risks like entanglement and unexpected start-up, and a SWMS is a practical way to record how. Clients and prequalification portals often ask for one.
Does it cover clearing blockages inside chutes and hoppers?
Yes. It covers asphyxiation, toxic or flammable atmospheres and engulfment by bulk material when clearing a chute, hopper, bin or under-belt pit. Entry needs a nationally recognised confined space entry unit of competency, a trained standby person and trained rescuers.
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.