Bricklaying Work SWMS
Brick and block laying for walls, retaining structures, and feature work including mortar mixing and tuck-pointing.
SWMS variants reference your state's WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
This SWMS covers the full scope of bricklaying and masonry work on Australian construction sites — brick and block laying for internal and external walls, brick and block cutting with saws and splitters, scaffold use for single and multi-lift bricklaying, mortar mixing and materials handling, lintel installation, and brick and block retaining-wall construction. It is written for licensed bricklayers, apprentices under direct supervision, and bricklaying subcontractors engaged on residential, commercial, and light industrial projects.
Bricklaying triggers high-risk construction work categories under Schedule 1 of the WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW). Category 3 — work at a height greater than 2 metres — is triggered by multi-lift scaffold work and elevated wall construction. Category 17 — work in an atmosphere with a contaminant at a concentration exceeding the Workplace Exposure Standard — is triggered by respirable crystalline silica exposure during brick and block cutting. Category 13 — use of powered mobile plant and powered tools — applies across saws, mixers, and block splitters. Section 299 of the WHS Regulation requires a SWMS before HRCW commences.
Hazards identified
10 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Fatal or permanent injury from falls exceeding 2 metres off incomplete scaffold, inadequate handrails, or uncovered platform gaps during lift changes.
Accelerated and chronic silicosis, lung cancer, and autoimmune disease from dry cutting of dense concrete block, engineered brick, and paver without suppression.
Fatal crush from an unbraced green wall falling in wind or during backfill, or from cavity-wall ties failing under load during compaction of fill behind retaining walls.
Alkaline burns and chronic irritant dermatitis from direct skin contact with wet mortar (pH 12-13), sometimes progressing to chromium-related allergic sensitisation.
Lumbar disc injury, shoulder strain, and cumulative musculoskeletal disorder from repetitive lifting of 15-20 kg blocks and extended overhead work.
Severe laceration or amputation from hand-held cut-off saw kickback, unsecured workpiece, or worn blade.
Permanent hearing loss from sustained exposure above 85 dB(A) during cut-off saw operation, mortar mixer running, and block splitter strikes.
Crush injury from dropping a steel or concrete lintel onto hands, feet, or below during placement over an opening.
Fatal or serious head injury to workers below from unsecured trowels, brick off-cuts, or loaded hawks falling off elevated platforms without toe-boards.
Fatigue, shortcutting of controls, and musculoskeletal harm from sustained high-volume bricklaying on piece-rate programmes.
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Eliminate silica generation wherever practicable — order pre-cut and pre-split blocks, and specify through-walls that minimise on-site cutting.
- 2Wet-cut brick and block using water-fed saws or on-tool water suppression compliant with the Code of Practice for Managing Risks of Respirable Crystalline Silica. Dry cutting with on-tool vacuum extraction only where water is not practicable.
- 3Respiratory protection: P2 minimum for short-duration tasks; P3 PAPR hood for high-dust enclosed cutting. Selected per AS/NZS 1715 and AS/NZS 1716 against the current WES and the 1 December 2026 WEL transition.
- 4Scaffold designed, erected, and inspected by competent persons per AS/NZS 1576 and AS/NZS 4576. Handover certificate before use. Daily visual inspection by the bricklayer-in-charge. No modification without competent scaffolder.
- 5Brick-load-out platforms rated for the mortar and pallet load. No loading beyond the design rating. Loads lifted to the working platform with a gin wheel, crane, or telehandler — no manual lifting up ladders.
- 6Wall bracing during construction: temporary bracing of free-standing walls until mortar gains strength, tied-wall procedure for parapets and free-standing walls over 2 metres, and engineer sign-off for all retaining walls and structural masonry.
- 7Skin protection: nitrile or rubber gloves worn under leather outers where grip is required; long-sleeve shirt; immediate skin wash with potable water on any mortar splash. Gloves replaced at lunch and end of shift.
- 8Mechanical handling for repeated lifting: block dollies, brick tongs, and mortar-board dollies. Two-person team lift for lintels and blocks over 20 kg. Rotation of bricklayers from high-volume to low-volume tasks through the shift.
- 9Saw controls: blade guard operational, blade matched to material, workpiece clamped or held against a bench, two-hand operation, no free-hand cutting of small off-cuts. Saw operators trained and competent.
- 10Fall protection per the Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces. Scaffold handrail, mid-rail, and toe-board to AS/NZS 4994.1. Fall arrest only where higher-order controls are not reasonably practicable, with rescue plan in place.
- 11Drop-zone barricading below scaffold perimeters. Tool lanyards for items used above 2 metres. Closed storage for tools and hawks at shift end.
- 12All bricklayers hold a valid White Card (CPCCWHS1001). Scaffolders hold the appropriate high-risk work licence (basic, intermediate, or advanced as applicable). Apprentices work under direct supervision.
- 13Psychosocial controls per WHS Regulation 2025 r55A-55D: realistic daily brick counts, scheduled rest breaks on hot days, task rotation from repetitive laying, and a documented stop-work right in wind, rain, or where scaffold is unsafe.
- 14Health monitoring under WHS Regulation 2025 Part 7.1 for workers with ongoing RCS exposure: baseline and periodic chest imaging and lung function testing per the Silica Code of Practice.
- 15Conduct a daily pre-start toolbox talk covering scope, scaffold status, dust controls, and weather. Record attendance.
Applicable Codes of Practice
Baseline for HRCW categorisation, SWMS content, and principal contractor interaction on all bricklaying.
Governs fall protection on scaffolds, brick loading platforms, and elevated walls.
The February 2026 Code directly addresses RCS from brick and block cutting.
Applies to repetitive brick, block, and mortar handling across the scope.
Applies to cutting, mixing, and splitter operations which exceed the daily exposure standard.
Technical standard for scaffold design, classification, and inspection.
Technical standard for brick and block structural design and construction.
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Multi-lift scaffold bricklaying and wall construction above 2 metres routinely places workers above the fall threshold.
Brick and block cutting generates RCS that exceeds the WES without engineering controls.
Cut-off saws, mortar mixers, block splitters, and telehandlers are used across the scope.
Because bricklaying work triggers multiple HRCW categories, Section 299 of the WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) requires the SWMS to be prepared before work commences, kept available on site for inspection, reviewed and updated if the work changes, and provided to the Principal Contractor on request. Failure by a PCBU to prepare or maintain a current SWMS for HRCW is an offence under Section 300; maximum penalty for a body corporate is $36,000 per offence and $7,200 for an individual. RCS exposure above the WES triggers additional health monitoring obligations under Part 7.1.
Who this is for
- →Licensed bricklayers engaged on residential, commercial, and industrial construction.
- →Bricklaying apprentices working under direct supervision of a qualified tradesperson.
- →Bricklaying subcontractors engaged by a Principal Contractor on masonry packages.
- →Blocklayers working on structural blockwork and retaining walls.
- →Site supervisors and WHS leads reviewing bricklaying subcontractor SWMS during pre-start.
What you receive
- ✓Editable Microsoft Word document (.docx, Word 2016 or newer compatible).
- ✓Title page with PCBU name, ABN, site address, project, and revision date fields.
- ✓Signed approval block for PCBU, Principal Contractor, and nominated bricklaying supervisor.
- ✓Hazard register with the 10 hazards above, each with consequence, inherent risk, controls, and residual risk scored on a 5x5 matrix.
- ✓Hierarchy-of-control measures cross-referenced to WHS Regulation sections and applicable Codes of Practice.
- ✓Scaffold handover and daily-inspection register template.
- ✓Consultation record for HSR sign-off and worker input per Section 47 of the WHS Act.
- ✓Worker sign-on register for daily acknowledgement.
- ✓Legislation schedule pre-populated for NSW with variance table for VIC, QLD, SA, WA, TAS, NT, ACT.
- ✓Emergency contacts and review-and-update log.
Worked example
A three-person bricklaying crew — one bricklayer-in-charge and two tradesmen — is subcontracted to build the external brick veneer for a two-storey detached dwelling in Penrith. The scope is 18 000 bricks over five weeks with scaffold lifts to 5.4 metres at the eaves. The bricklayer-in-charge completes this SWMS: the scaffold work triggers HRCW Category 3 and requires a certified handover and daily inspection; on-site cutting of bricks for window returns triggers Category 17 and requires a water-fed saw with P2 respiratory protection; telehandler loading of brick pallets to the working platform triggers Category 13 and requires spotter control. The SWMS is signed, the scaffold handover certificate is posted, and the crew acknowledges. On week three a heat wave drives a modified work schedule — early start and extended midday break — captured in the SWMS review record.
Related legislation
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) — Section 19 primary duty; Section 27 officer due diligence; Section 47 worker consultation.
- WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) — r. 298-300 (SWMS); r. 49-51 (WES/WEL); r. 78-82 (managing falls); r. 55A-55D (psychosocial).
- Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) — bricklaying licensing.
- Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) — bricklaying as regulated building work.
- Building Code of Australia (National Construction Code, Volume 2) — masonry compliance.
Frequently asked questions
Does this SWMS cover retaining-wall construction?
Yes. Retaining-wall hazards including wall collapse, backfill compaction, and engineered design sign-off are included. Retaining walls over 1 metre high typically require engineer certification regardless of the SWMS.
How does this SWMS handle silica dust from block cutting?
The document prioritises elimination (order pre-cut units), then wet cutting with water-fed saws, then on-tool vacuum extraction, and finally P2 or PAPR respiratory protection. It references the 2026 Silica Code of Practice and the health monitoring obligation under WHS Regulation Part 7.1.
Can I use this SWMS in Victoria?
You can use it as a starting point. Victoria operates under the OHS Act 2004 and OHS Regulations 2017. Update the legislation schedule and cite WorkSafe Victoria Compliance Codes in place of SafeWork Australia Codes of Practice.
Does the SWMS cover scaffold erection?
No. Scaffold erection over 4 metres requires an appropriately ticketed scaffolder and is covered by a separate scaffolding SWMS. This SWMS covers scaffold use by the bricklaying crew — daily inspection, load limits, and working procedures on the platform.
How often does this SWMS need to be reviewed?
Review whenever the work or hazards change materially, after an incident, or when a worker raises a concern. At minimum, every 12 months and at the start of each project. The 1 December 2026 WES-to-WEL transition and the 2026 Silica Code of Practice are mandatory review triggers.
Is this SWMS compliant with the 1 July 2026 Section 26A changes?
Yes. From 1 July 2026, 34 approved Codes of Practice become legally binding under Section 26A of the amended WHS Act. This SWMS cites the currently-approved Codes that will become binding — Construction Work, Managing the Risk of Falls, RCS, Hazardous Manual Tasks, and Managing Noise.
Document details
Other SWMS Templates
Need something custom?
Build a site-specific SWMS from scratch using the SWMS Builder. Select your trade, add your site details, and generate a compliant document in minutes.
Open SWMS Builder →