This Post Hole Auger Operation SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled for boring post, pier and stump holes with tractor mounted, machine mounted and handheld augers. It covers 26 activities, from work planning and the service search to demobilisation 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
Fencing contractors on rural and residential jobs
Landscapers and retaining wall builders
Farmers and rural contractors
Builders and stump and pier contractors
Signage, shade structure and deck installers
It also works as a written task risk assessment for any business where workers use a post hole auger, the same way you'd use a JSA or Safe Work Procedure.
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
Work planning, service searches, and locating and proving underground services
Contaminated spoil, bonded asbestos fragments and overhead powerline clearances
Ground assessment, exclusion zones and working beside public roads
Unloading plant, pre-operational checks and locking attachments onto the auger drive
Power take-off driveline guarding and entanglement in a turning flight
Tractor and machine mounted augering, plus handheld auger kickback
Open holes, ground collapse and holes deeper than 1.5 metres
Mobile plant movement and working alone on rural and acreage sites
Setting posts in concrete, cement burns and manual handling of flights and posts
Noise, vibration, dust, refuelling, heat and snakes
Spoil management, securing open holes at end of shift and emergency response
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 26 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/NZS 1269 for occupational noise and AS/NZS 1715 for respiratory protection
Training on PTO entanglement, handheld auger kickback and the stop-work rule for uncleared services
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 post hole auger work?
A SWMS is legally required when the job is high risk construction work, for example boring a shaft deeper than 1.5 m, working near buried gas or electrical services, or working next to a road in use. 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. Clients, head contractors and prequalification portals often ask for one either way.
Does it cover PTO driveline safety?
Yes. It covers connecting and operating the power take-off driveline, with checks that the guard, driveline shield and restraint chain are complete before every use. A machine with a missing or split guard is not connected.
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.
