This Working Near Water SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled and covers working beside or over water where workers could fall in. It covers 5 activities, from planning work next to water to lifejackets, fall prevention and incident 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
Civil and marine contractors working on bridges, jetties and wharves
Council and parks maintenance crews
Environmental, water sampling and survey teams
Landscapers and grounds crews working near dams, lakes and waterways
Builders working near canals, pools or foreshores
It also works as a written task risk assessment for any business with workers near dams, rivers, lakes or the coast, the same way you'd use a JSA or Safe Work Procedure.
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-work briefing on hazards when working next to water
Falling into water and drowning
Wave impact, currents and being swept away
Slips, trips, falls and back strain near the water's edge
Protecting the environment and other users of the area
Lifejackets and preventing a fall into the water
Cold shock and rapid loss of swim capability on immersion
Accidents and incidents, with injured workers or damaged plant
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 5 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
Rescue and safety equipment list, including lifejackets to AS 4758, throw bags, reach poles and ring buoys
Maintenance checks and the induction and training each worker needs
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 working near water?
If it's construction work, yes. Construction work in or near water or other liquid with a risk of drowning is high risk construction work, so a SWMS is required. For other work near water, such as grounds or environmental work, a SWMS isn't mandatory, but you still have to manage the drowning risk, and a SWMS is a sound way to record how. Clients and councils often ask for one.
Does it cover lifejackets?
Yes. It covers lifejackets and preventing a fall into the water, including cold shock on immersion and being swept away by current or swell. The equipment list specifies lifejackets to AS 4758.
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.
