This Landscaping Activities (Pruning of Trees) SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled for general landscaping and pruning shrubs and trees, including chainsaw work and pruning near powerlines. It covers 8 activities, from digging, planting and pruning to 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
Landscapers and garden maintenance businesses
Tree pruning and tree care businesses
Grounds maintenance crews for parks and estates
Council and strata maintenance contractors
Property and handyman maintenance businesses
A SWMS isn't only for construction. Plenty of grounds and garden 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
Digging, planting, fertilising, mulching, turfing and placing boulders, with strain injuries
Skin irritation from soil, plants, fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides
Snakes, vermin, bees and insect bites or stings
Chainsaw and pruning saw use, including cuts, kickback, springing limbs, noise and vibration
Pruning near overhead powerlines and service lines, including electrocution through a pole saw or wet branch
Drop zones to protect people and property from falling limbs and dropped tools
Falls from a ladder or from the tree
Portable electrical equipment and leads in wet or outdoor conditions
Green waste, chemical residues and post-work clean-up
Emergency response to chainsaw injuries, falls, electrical contact, fire or allergic reactions
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 8 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 PPE list, including chainsaws, hedge trimmers, spray equipment, augers and temporary signage
Qualifications, including a White Card and licensed or ticketed operators, plus manual handling training
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 pruning trees?
A SWMS is only legally required when the work is high risk construction work, for example landscaping as part of a construction project where someone could fall more than 2 metres or where work is near energised overhead lines. Routine pruning and garden maintenance usually isn't, so a SWMS isn't mandatory. You still have to manage risks like chainsaw kickback and falling limbs, and a SWMS is a sound way to record how. Councils, property managers and prequalification portals often ask for one.
Does it cover pruning near powerlines?
Yes. It has a separate activity for pruning near overhead powerlines and service lines, covering electrocution from a limb, pole saw or worker contacting a line, shock through a wet or green branch, and bringing a line down.
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.
