This Retaining Wall SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled and covers excavating, building, backfilling and draining brick and block retaining walls. It covers 17 activities, from setting up and locating underground services to backfilling, drainage behind the wall and site clean up, 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 landscape construction businesses
Bricklayers and blocklayers building garden and boundary walls
Builders and civil contractors
Excavation and earthmoving contractors
Concreters and hardscape contractors
 
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
Setting up, access, materials storage and positioning mixers and equipment
Manual handling of bricks, blocks and materials, with dust and skin irritation
Alkaline burns and dermatitis from wet concrete, mortar and cement
Cutting bricks and blocks with saws and angle grinders, including noise, debris and electrical risks
Respirable crystalline silica from cutting, grinding and drilling masonry
Locating underground services before digging to avoid live cables, gas and water mains
Excavation for footings, including collapse, burial and falls into the excavation
Working around the excavator and mini-loader, including quick hitches not positively locked
Laying bricks and blocks, falling blocks and wall collapse
Backfilling without overloading the wall or falling into the excavation
Drainage behind the wall to stop hydrostatic pressure and collapse
Weather, other trades, site clean up and response to incidents
 
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 17 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, from excavator and mini-loader to a brick saw with water suppression
Qualifications, including plant competency, white card and high risk work licences where needed
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 building a retaining wall?
A SWMS is legally required when the job is high risk construction work, for example digging a footing trench deeper than 1.5 metres, working where an excavator or mini-loader is moving, or digging near buried gas or electrical services. 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 drainage behind the wall?
Yes. It has an activity for drainage behind the wall, covering wall failure from hydrostatic pressure building up and the risk of a worker being struck or buried if the wall collapses.
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.