This Screed and Substrate Preparation SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled for removing old floor coverings, grinding and shot blasting, and laying screeds and levelling compounds before tiling, flooring or waterproofing. It covers 28 activities, from substrate assessment to curing, decontamination 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
Tilers and floor layers
Waterproofers preparing wet areas and balconies
Floor preparation and grinding contractors
Screeding and concrete finishing contractors
Builders doing bathroom and balcony renovations
 
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
Pre-start briefing, permits and substrate assessment for asbestos and buried services
Isolating the work area, dust containment and restricted spaces like lift pits
Deliveries, manual handling of bags and equipment pre-starts
Removing old coverings, adhesive removers and solvent strippers
Grinding, scarifying and shot blasting with H class extraction and silica controls
Slurry and dust waste disposal, air monitoring, health monitoring and decontamination
Moisture testing, priming, bonding agents and setting out falls
Mixing screed and compound, including mixer entanglement and alkaline splash
Placing, screeding and barrowing screed, and strain from kneeling and stooping
Open edges, balconies and podium decks
Force-drying with heaters, carbon monoxide, curing and access control over green screed
Heat, working alone, housekeeping and emergency response to cement burns or dust exposure
 
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 28 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 3958 for ceramic and stone tiles and AS 3740 for wet area waterproofing
Crystalline silica training, respirator fit testing and confined space training for lift pits and tank bases
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 screed and substrate preparation?
A SWMS is legally required when the job is high risk construction work, for example preparing a balcony or podium deck with a fall of more than 2 metres, removing old floor coverings likely to contain asbestos, or working in a lift pit that is a confined space. Outside those situations a SWMS isn't mandatory, but you still have to manage the risks, including silica dust, 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 silica dust from floor grinding?
Yes. It covers grinding, scarifying and shot blasting with on-tool extraction and an H class vacuum, plus air monitoring, health monitoring and decontamination. It also sets out crystalline silica training, with records kept for 5 years after the worker stops the work.
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.