This Spindle Moulder and Router Table Operation SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled and covers setting up and running spindle moulders and router tables in joinery and cabinet making workshops. It covers 32 activities, from machine commissioning and the pre-start inspection to shutdown, isolation 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
Joinery and cabinet making workshops
Kitchen, furniture and shopfitting manufacturers
Door, window and staircase makers
Timber moulding and machining businesses
Businesses training joinery apprentices
A SWMS isn't only for construction. Plenty of workshops use one as the written risk assessment for running a machine, 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
Machine commissioning, plant risk assessment and daily handover
Exclusion zones and the ejection line around running machines
Pre-start checks of guards, interlocks, emergency stops, brake and extraction
Cutter block and tooling selection, spindle speed and safe tool changes
Setting fences, guards, hold-downs and stops
Straight moulding, power feed use and kickback control
Stopped work, curved work, tenoning and small workpieces with jigs and push blocks
Router table cutter fitting, speed setting and profiling, including climb cutting
Entanglement, bystanders and clearing jams safely
Wood dust, formaldehyde from board, noise and fire in the extraction system
Chemicals, housekeeping, electrical safety, working alone and production pressure
Shutdown, isolation and emergency response to amputation, ejection injury, electric shock or fire
 
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 32 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 and maintenance checks for guards, brakes, tooling and extraction
Relevant Australian Standards, including AS/NZS 4024.1201 for machinery risk assessment and AS/NZS 4745 for combustible dust
Operator competency requirements, machine-specific training 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 spindle moulder and router table work?
No. Running a spindle moulder or router table in a workshop isn't high risk construction work, so a SWMS isn't a legal requirement. You still have to manage the risks, including hand contact with the cutter and kickback, and a SWMS is a practical way to record how. Clients, insurers and prequalification portals often ask for one.
Does it cover machining materials other than timber?
Yes. It covers the silica, plastic and metal hazards of machining compact laminate, solid surface, acrylic or aluminium on equipment set up for wood dust.
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.