This Grain Handling and Silo Storage SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled and covers receiving, storing, fumigating and outloading grain in silos and field bins. It covers 39 activities, from the daily pre-start and confined space permits to shutdown, road travel 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
Grain growers and mixed farming businesses
Grain storage and handling contractors
Harvest and receival crews
Agricultural contractors who fumigate or service silos
Seed and stockfeed businesses with on-site storage
A SWMS isn't only for construction. Plenty of farming businesses 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
Pre-start, confined space permits and checking fumigation status before opening a storage
Exclusion zones and inducting new, young and seasonal workers
Overhead powerlines when moving augers, tipping trucks and telehandlers
Auger guarding, PTO drives and clearing blockages with lockout
Harvest fatigue, PPE, aeration fans and electrical safety
Grain dust inhalation, farmer's lung and dust explosion risk
Silo roof access, top hatches and falls from trucks and field bins
Engulfment during outloading and inside bridged or crusted grain
Silo entry atmosphere, the standby person and rescue
Phosphine application, securing and ventilating fumigated storages, and rodent baits
Tractors, loaders, hydraulics, refuelling, noise, wildlife and weather
Working alone, road travel and emergency response to engulfment, entanglement, gas or falls
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 39 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 multi-gas detectors, personal phosphine monitors, tripod and retrieval winch
Relevant Australian Standards, including AS 2628 for sealed silos and AS/NZS 2865 for confined spaces
Telehandler licence notes, and training in confined space entry, phosphine hazards and fit testing
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 grain handling and silo work?
Usually no. Grain handling on a farm isn't high risk construction work, so a SWMS isn't a legal requirement unless the job crosses into it, for example building or repairing a silo where someone could fall more than 2 metres. You still have to manage the risks, including engulfment, auger entanglement and phosphine exposure, and a SWMS is a practical way to record how. Clients, insurers and prequalification portals often ask for one.
Does it cover silo pressure testing before fumigation?
Yes. Sealed silos are pressure tested to AS 2628 on erection, annually and before each fumigation, and the maintenance checks set out the pass times for new and existing silos.
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.
