This 25-page Front End Loader (including Backhoe) Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) provides the typical safety controls and possible hazards associated with operating and maintaining backhoes and front-end loaders in various work environments.
 
Created by Australian WHS experts, this pre-filled and ready-to-use SWMS helps you meet your Work Health & Safety obligations and maintain compliance across all Australian states and territories. The template is fully editable in Microsoft Word, making it simple to customise with your company name, logo, and site-specific details.
 
Perfect for tenders, audits, and day-to-day operations, this SWMS ensures your team works safely while helping you meet legislative requirements with ease.
 
Who This SWMS Is For
This SWMS is designed for businesses, contractors, and operators working with front-end loaders and backhoes, including:
Civil construction companies
Earthmoving and excavation contractors
Landscaping and gardening services
Roadworks and infrastructure projects
Warehousing and materials handling operations
Transport and logistics businesses
General building and construction companies
 
What This SWMS Covers
This SWMS provides detailed step-by-step instructions for managing risks and maintaining safety during backhoe and front-end loader operations, including:
Planning & Site Preparation – conducting site-specific risk assessments, reviewing ground stability, and identifying hazards before work starts.
Plant & Equipment Safety – ensuring machines are inspected, maintained, and accompanied by pre-start checklists, logbooks, and certification records.
Safe Operating Procedures – setting up exclusion zones, using spotters, following traffic management plans, and ensuring two-way communications between operators and ground personnel.
Working Near Services – preventing contact with underground and overhead utilities using “Dial Before You Dig” processes, potholing, and exclusion distances.
Dust & Noise Management – controlling exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and loud equipment noise using fit-tested respirators, wet suppression methods, and hearing protection.
Manual Handling & Attachments – safely managing buckets, rippers, and attachments with team lifts and mechanical aids to avoid strains, sprains, and crush injuries.
Environmental Protection – preventing diesel spills, managing sediment runoff, and reducing environmental impact around waterways and vegetation.
Refuelling Safety – mitigating fire and explosion risks during refuelling with strict controls on ignition sources, SDS compliance, and spill response readiness.
Emergency Procedures – outlining site-specific muster points, first aid response, and incident reporting protocols to manage injuries and notifiable events.
Inclement Weather Controls – establishing stop-work procedures for storms, high winds, or unsafe ground conditions.
 
What’s Included in Your Template
Hazard identification and control measures
Step-by-step operating procedures
Risk assessment guidelines and risk rating calculator
PPE requirements and specifications
Plant and equipment list
High Risk Construction Work (HRCW) selection table 
Emergency response procedures
Environmental protection measures
Worker sign-off page for compliance
Free list of relevant legislation and codes of practice
 
 
This Front End Loader (including Backhoe) SWMS is an invaluable tool for quickly and effectively documenting your WHS systems. Designed for swift editing and customisation, it adapts easily to your operational needs - making it an essential part of your safety management toolkit.
 
Perfect for tenders, safety audits, and daily site operations, this template saves you time and effort while helping your business remain safe and compliant.
 
Get your Front End Loader (including Backhoe) SWMS today and start using it instantly!