This Tile Cutting and Wet Saw Operation SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled and covers cutting, drilling and grinding ceramic, porcelain and stone tiles with wet saws, hand-held wet grinders and core drills. It covers 24 activities, from identifying the material and its silica content to shutdown 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
Wall and floor tilers
Bathroom and kitchen renovators
Stone and large-format tile installers
Builders and fit-out contractors with in-house tilers
Waterproofers and wet area trades
 
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
Identifying the material and its crystalline silica content before cutting
Engineered stone prohibition, and asbestos in old tiles, adhesive and substrate
Cutting station exclusion zones and protecting occupants
Electrical safety for 240 V saws and grinders in wet conditions
Slurry, wash water and wet floor control
Saw assembly and blade checks, including cracked or wrongly rated blades
Bench and rail saw cutting, kickback and hand contact with the blade
Hand-held wet grinder cutting and diamond core drilling near concealed services
Score-and-snap cutting, nipping and handling large-format tiles and slabs
Silica dust control with wet suppression, on-tool extraction and respirators
Slurry burns, noise, vibration, work at height and nearby mobile plant
Decontamination, shutdown and emergency response to lacerations, electric shock or crush
 
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 24 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, including daily RCD testing
Relevant Australian Standards, including AS 3958 for tile installation and AS/NZS 1715 for respiratory protection
Crystalline silica training with records kept, and respirator fit testing for every wearer
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 tile cutting with a wet saw?
A SWMS is legally required when the job is high risk construction work, for example cutting tiles where someone could fall more than 2 metres, work likely to disturb asbestos in old adhesive or substrate, or working where powered mobile plant is moving. 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. Builders and prequalification portals often ask for one either way.
Does it cover engineered stone?
Yes. It covers the prohibition on engineered stone that has applied since 1 July 2024, and the need to notify the regulator before working on legacy engineered stone. The materials it lists are ceramic, porcelain, natural stone and resin-free sintered slabs.
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.