This Erosion & Sediment Control Installation SOP (Safe Operating Procedure) covers installing and maintaining erosion and sediment controls on civil and earthworks sites, mostly with hand tools and light equipment. It covers silt fencing, straw wattles and check dams, sandbag barriers, stabilised site entries and stockpile protection, plus service location, star picket driving, trench edges and working near plant. It's written by WHS specialists, aligned to Australian WHS legislation, and fully editable in Microsoft Word.
Who it's for
Civil and earthworks contractors
Residential builders and developers
Landscapers
Erosion and sediment control specialists
Councils 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
Strain from driving star pickets and carrying sandbags and fabric rolls
Hand injuries from picket drivers, mallets and sharp picket ends
Eye injury from fragments or a dislodged picket safety cap
Cuts from geotextile fabric, wire mesh and cable ties
Slips and falls on wet, muddy or uneven ground
Falls into or collapse of nearby trenches and excavations
Being struck by excavators, skid steers or trucks
Striking underground services
Heat illness and sunburn
Skin and eye irritation from sediment-laden runoff
What's included
8 pre-operational checks, from reviewing the erosion and sediment control plan to locating services, picket safety caps and stockpile stability
A 12-step installation procedure covering silt fence trenching, star picket spacing, fabric fixing, wattles, sandbags, site entries and stockpiles
Controls for underground services, picket drivers, stockpile stability and working near mobile plant
6 shutdown, housekeeping and post-operation steps
Emergency actions for trench collapse, unstable stockpiles and storms during installation
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 Civil & Earthworks SOP Bundle. At $197 for the whole bundle, it works out much cheaper than buying SOPs one at a time.
Common questions
Does it cover using an excavator to install controls?
No. Where an excavator is used for larger controls, the excavator operation SOP applies. This SOP covers hand tool and light equipment work.
Does it give installation specifications?
Yes, for silt fencing. It sets out a trench about 150mm deep and star pickets at no more than 3 metre spacing, with fabric trenched in and ends turned up-slope.
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.
