This Plant Servicing and Repair in Yard SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled for washing down, servicing, repairing and recommissioning hire plant in a yard or workshop. It covers 30 activities, from the daily pre-start and off-hire return inspection to recommissioning, quarantine 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
Plant and equipment hire companies
Diesel and plant mechanics
Fleet and transport maintenance workshops
Mobile plant service businesses
Civil and earthmoving contractors with their own service yard
A SWMS isn't only for construction. Many workshops and hire yards 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
Off-hire return inspection, including contaminated plant and customers disputing charges
Moving plant around the yard and positioning it in the service bay
Wash down, pressure cleaning and capture of wash water, oil and waste
Isolation, lock out and release of stored hydraulic, pneumatic and spring energy
Raising plant on jacks, stands and hoists, and working under raised booms and decks
Oil and coolant changes, hose replacement and high pressure fluid injection
Running engines for diagnostics, with exhaust extraction and entanglement controls
Lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries, including thermal runaway and damaged packs
Electrical repair, test and tag, wheel and tyre work and split rim inflation
Fuel, LPG, parts washing solvents, workshop tools, noise and manual handling
Working at height on large plant, fatigue and time pressure
Recommissioning checks, quarantine of unserviceable plant and emergency response
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, materials, maintenance checks and the training each worker needs
Relevant Australian Standards, including AS 2550.9 for vehicle hoists and AS/NZS 3760 for test and tag
Qualification notes for mechanics, licensed electricians and respirator 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 servicing and repairing plant in a yard?
No, not in most cases. Servicing plant in your own yard or workshop isn't high risk construction work, so a SWMS isn't a legal requirement. You still have to manage the risks, such as plant falling from jacks and stored energy release, and a SWMS is a practical way to record how. Clients, insurers and prequalification portals often ask for one.
Does it cover lithium-ion batteries?
Yes. It covers lithium-ion tool and plant battery packs, chargers and damaged packs, including thermal runaway, fire, explosion and toxic gas. It also lists training in lithium-ion incident response.
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.
