This Tile Removal and Floor Grinding SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled and covers stripping tiles, screed and old membrane, then grinding, shot blasting and preparing the floor underneath. It breaks the job into 32 activities, from checking the existing floor covering for asbestos to 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 preparation contractors
Concrete grinding and polishing businesses
Floor covering installers and strip-out crews
Builders and renovation contractors doing bathroom, kitchen and commercial refurbishments
Shopfitters preparing tenancies for new floor finishes
 
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
Hazardous material checks for asbestos vinyl, blackjack adhesive and lead paint before removal starts
Substrate checks and locating services embedded in the slab and walls
Working in occupied premises, with dust containment, zip doors and negative air
Confined space assessment for pits, lift wells, tanks and sumps
Plant delivery, pre-start checks, RCD protected leads and carbon monoxide from petrol and LPG machines
Respirator selection and fit testing for respirable crystalline silica
Manual and powered tile removal, including vibration, noise and flying tile fragments
Ride-on and walk-behind tile strippers, and wall, stair and balcony tiles at height
Breaking out screed and membrane, opening wet areas with sewage, mould or sharps, and floor loading from rubble
Floor grinding, edge grinding, shot blasting, scarifying and chemical adhesive removers
Wet grinding slurry, H class extractor filter and bag changes, and air and health monitoring
Mobile plant around pedestrians, housekeeping, decontamination, working alone and emergency response
 
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, including annual DOP testing of H class extractors
Relevant Australian Standards, including AS/NZS 1715 for respiratory protection and AS/NZS 60335.2.69 for dust class vacuums
Training needs, including crystalline silica training, asbestos awareness and annual 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 tile removal and floor grinding?
A SWMS is legally required when the job is high risk construction work, for example removing floor coverings likely to disturb asbestos, working in or near a confined space such as a lift pit, 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. Clients, head contractors and prequalification portals often ask for one either way.
Does it cover asbestos vinyl and blackjack adhesive?
Yes. It covers assessing the existing floor covering before removal starts, including asbestos containing vinyl sheet and tiles, bituminous (blackjack) adhesive and old bitumen membrane, plus lead paint at skirtings and thresholds disturbed during edge grinding.
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.