This Floor Covering Installation SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled and covers lifting old floors, preparing subfloors and laying carpet, vinyl, timber and laminate overlay. It covers 30 activities, from work planning and asbestos checks to reinstatement and handover, 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
Carpet layers and vinyl floor installers
Timber and laminate flooring contractors
Commercial fit-out and refurbishment trades
Flooring retailers with installation crews
Builders and renovators managing flooring subcontractors
Use it to
Hand clients and principal contractors the SWMS they ask for
Apply for tenders and new jobs with your safety paperwork ready
Get through prequalification with Avetta, Cm3 and other contractor portals
Induct new workers and run toolbox talks on the task
What this SWMS covers
Planning, pre-start, site set-up and separating occupants from the work
Asbestos checks before lifting vinyl tiles, sheet backing, underlay or adhesive
Stripping old floors, and droppings, mould and stagnant water underneath
Delivery of rolls and pallets, tool inspection and moving furniture
Silica from grinding and sanding concrete subfloors, and dust spreading to occupied areas
Heat illness in sealed or unconditioned buildings
Levelling compounds, solvent adhesives, and epoxy and isocyanate products
Cutting, seaming, hot melt seaming and heat welding
Powered saws and nail guns for timber and laminate overlay
Kneeling strain, knee kickers, and service strikes when fixing tack strip and trims
Falls at stair edges, landings and voids, plus noise and vibration
Working in occupied premises or alone, curing, and emergency response to cuts, burns or fire
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 30 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, including grinders with on-tool extraction, H class vacuum and moisture testing gear
Relevant Australian Standards, including AS 1884 for resilient floor installation and AS/NZS 1715 for respiratory protection
Training in the silica risk control plan, asbestos recognition and the rule that dry grinding is never permitted
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 floor covering installation?
A SWMS is legally required when the job is high risk construction work, for example lifting an old floor that may contain asbestos, laying covering at a stair edge or void with a fall of more than 2 metres, or working near energised electrical services in the floor. Outside those situations a SWMS isn't mandatory, but you still have to manage the risks, and a SWMS is a sound way to record how. Builders, commercial clients and prequalification portals often ask for one either way.
Does it cover asbestos in old vinyl floors?
Yes. It covers checking for asbestos before lifting vinyl tiles, sheet backing, underlay or adhesive in an older building, and the stop-work procedure if suspect material is found. Asbestos removal isn't carried out under this SWMS.
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.
