This Stump Grinder Operation SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled and covers grinding out tree stumps with walk-behind, self-propelled, tracked and tow-behind machines on residential, commercial and roadside sites. It covers 26 activities, from site assessment and service location to backfilling, 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
Stump grinding businesses
Arborists and tree removal contractors
Landscapers and garden maintenance businesses
Council parks and grounds maintenance crews
Land clearing and site preparation contractors
A SWMS isn't only for construction. Plenty of grounds and tree businesses 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
Site and stump assessment, including structures, septic systems and neighbouring property
Before You Dig Australia enquiry and verifying private underground services on site
Overhead powerlines, exclusion zones, screening and signage
Clearing stones, metal and buried asbestos from the work area
Transporting, unloading and pre-start inspection of the grinder
Starting up and grinding, including wheel contact, projectiles, kickback and fire
Slopes, dust, silica, treated timber and herbicide residue
Noise, vibration, and the wheel turning while clearing blockages or changing teeth
Clients, pets, passing traffic and refuelling
Snakes, stinging insects and Legionella in mulch and green waste
Heat, weather, working alone, chip removal and backfilling
Emergency response to amputation, service strike, snake bite or fire
 
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 and daily pre-start checks for guards, teeth and hydraulics
Relevant Australian Standards, including AS 5488.1 for subsurface utility information and AS/NZS 1269.1 for noise management
Operator competency on the specific grinder, cable locator use and snake bite first aid
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 stump grinding?
Only if the work is high risk construction work, for example grinding near energised underground cables or gas mains, or working next to a road in use as part of a construction job. 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, councils and prequalification portals often ask for one.
Does it cover services that aren't on BYDA plans?
Yes. It covers private consumer mains, LPG lines, irrigation, pool and pump circuits, garden lighting and septic or sewer lines that don't appear on Before You Dig Australia plans, and verifying them on site with a cable locator.
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.