Civil Drain Clearing & Maintenance SWMS
Civil stormwater drain clearing covers vacuum truck operations, confined-space pit entry, root cutter and hydro-jetter use, and AS 3500/AS 2865 compliance for council and private stormwater infrastructure.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Drain clearing covers the clearing and maintenance of drains and stormwater systems — clearing blockages and debris from drains, pits and stormwater pipes, which may involve confined space entry and exposure to contaminated material. The defining hazards are the confined space in drains, pits and pipes, the contaminated and potentially flammable atmosphere, the biohazards and contaminated material, and any plant such as jetting equipment. This document is written on the basis that drain clearing is carried out with the confined-space, atmosphere, biohazard and plant controls in place, and a SWMS where confined space entry occurs.
Drain clearing is carried out in connection with the confined spaces requirements, with the confined space in drains and pits managed, the contaminated and flammable atmosphere managed, the biohazards and contaminated material managed, and any jetting plant operated safely. Because the work may involve confined space entry and a contaminated or flammable atmosphere, it is high risk construction work. The confined space, the atmosphere, the biohazards, and the plant are the considerations. This document coordinates the confined-space, atmosphere, biohazard and plant controls so the drain clearing is carried out safely.
Hazards identified
9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Atmospheric and entrapment hazards in drains, pits and pipes
Asphyxiation, poisoning or explosion from a contaminated or flammable atmosphere
Infection and exposure from biohazards and contaminated material
Injury from the high-pressure jetting and clearing equipment
Engulfment and drowning from sudden water flow in the drain
Musculoskeletal injury from manual handling and awkward access
Exposure to hazardous gases such as hydrogen sulphide
Slips, trips and work-area hazards
Being struck by traffic where drains are in the road
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Engineering: where the work involves entry into a confined space such as a pit, drain, large pipe or chamber, apply the confined space controls — atmospheric testing, a confined space entry permit, ventilation, a standby person and rescue arrangements.
- 2Engineering: test and manage the contaminated and flammable atmosphere — including hazardous gases such as hydrogen sulphide — with atmospheric monitoring, ventilation and respiratory protection, and control ignition sources.
- 3PPE: protect against biohazards and contaminated material in the drain — sewage, contaminated water and debris — with the appropriate protective clothing, gloves and respiratory protection, and good hygiene including washing before eating or drinking.
- 4Engineering: use the high-pressure jetting and clearing equipment safely, keeping clear of the jet.
- 5Engineering: manage engulfment from sudden water flow with isolation, monitoring and a procedure, because water can flow suddenly in a drain.
- 6Administrative: manage the manual handling and awkward access, and slips, trips and the work area.
- 7Engineering: where drains are in the road, manage the traffic with a traffic management plan and traffic control.
- 8Administrative: because the work involves entry into a confined space, prepare a SWMS for the high risk construction work before it commences, with the confined space entry controls implemented.
- 9Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001), with the plant tickets, traffic control accreditation, confined space, and other competencies required for the work.
- 10Administrative: conduct a pre-start toolbox talk covering the day's work, identified hazards, the traffic and plant movements, required PPE and emergency procedures, and record attendance in the consultation section.
- 11Administrative: consult workers and any health and safety representatives on the work and its risks, record the consultation, and keep this document available at the workplace.
- 12PPE: high-visibility clothing to AS/NZS 4602.1, eye protection, hearing protection where required, gloves appropriate to the task, and Class I or Class II safety footwear with protective toecap to AS/NZS 2210.3.
- 13Administrative: review and update this SWMS whenever the work scope changes, after any incident or near miss, when a worker or health and safety representative raises a concern, when new hazards are identified, or at minimum every 12 months.
- 14Administrative: confirm the work is completed safely, the excavation, plant and area are left in a safe condition, and the site is secured.
Applicable Codes of Practice
Atmospheric testing, entry permit, ventilation and rescue controls for entry into pits, drains, pipes and chambers.
Management of the bitumen, paints, solvents and fuels, including safety data sheets and exposure controls.
The separation of workers and plant from live road traffic, traffic guidance schemes and traffic control.
The general construction work duties for the civil road work, including the SWMS and principal contractor duties.
The risk management process and hierarchy of controls applied to the hazards of the work.
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
The work may involve entry into a confined space such as a pit, drain or pipe, which is high risk construction work requiring a SWMS before the work commences, with confined space entry controls.
The work may involve a contaminated or flammable atmosphere in the drain, including hazardous gases, which is high risk construction work requiring a SWMS before the work commences, with atmospheric controls.
This is civil construction work that, in the circumstances described, is high risk construction work — involving in or near a confined space; in an area that may have a contaminated or flammable atmosphere — so a SWMS must be prepared before the work commences, kept readily accessible, reviewed as necessary, and given to the principal contractor if one is appointed. The work is carried out in connection with the relevant construction, excavation, traffic, plant and other requirements, with the controls for the specific hazards applied. A failure in this work can cause a fatal trench collapse, traffic, plant, fall, gas or other serious injury, and breaches of the relevant legislation and the primary duty of care under the model WHS Act are actively enforced, with offence categories running from failure-to-comply through to reckless conduct, and the most serious breaches carrying imprisonment for individuals. Body-corporate maxima are substantial and indexed; the current maximum follows the prevailing schedule of the responsible regulator.
Who this is for
- →Drain clearing and maintenance crews.
- →Drainage, plumbing and civil maintenance contractors.
- →Drainage and civil maintenance businesses.
- →Councils and PCBUs requiring drain clearing.
- →PCBU safety managers and supervisors coordinating the confined-space, atmosphere and biohazard controls.
What you receive
- ✓Editable Microsoft Word document (.docx) fully compatible with Microsoft Word 2016 and newer, Google Docs, and LibreOffice Writer.
- ✓Title page with editable fields for PCBU name, ABN, site or project address, work description, principal contractor details, and document revision date.
- ✓Hazard register with the drain clearing hazards — each with a documented consequence, inherent risk rating on a 5x5 likelihood-consequence matrix, hierarchy-of-control measures, and residual risk rating.
- ✓Drain clearing prompts referencing the confined spaces and hazardous chemicals Codes of Practice, a confined-space section, a contaminated-atmosphere and gas section, and a biohazard and jetting record.
- ✓Licensing and competency prompts for the plant, traffic control, confined space and other work, and a plant pre-operational and inspection checklist where relevant.
- ✓Worker consultation record per the model WHS Act consultation duty and a worker sign-on register (blank, expandable).
- ✓Applicable legislation and Codes of Practice schedule pre-populated for the model WHS jurisdiction with a state-variance reference table covering the harmonised states, plus Victoria.
- ✓Emergency procedure template and a revision log.
Worked example
A drain clearing crew is engaged to clear a blocked drain. Where entry into drains, pits or pipes occurs, the confined space controls are applied — atmospheric testing, a confined space entry permit, ventilation, a standby person and rescue arrangements. The contaminated and flammable atmosphere — including hazardous gases such as hydrogen sulphide — is tested and managed with atmospheric monitoring, ventilation and respiratory protection, and ignition sources controlled. The biohazards and contaminated material are managed with the appropriate protection and hygiene. The high-pressure jetting and clearing equipment is used safely, keeping clear of the jet. Engulfment from sudden water flow is managed with isolation, monitoring and a procedure. The manual handling and awkward access, and slips and trips, are managed. Where drains are in the road, the traffic is managed with a traffic management plan and traffic control. Because the work may involve confined space entry and a contaminated atmosphere, a SWMS is prepared for the high risk construction work. The drain is cleared, and the records retained.
Related legislation
- Model Work Health and Safety Act — primary duty of care; the duty to consult workers; the reckless-conduct offence; and notifiable-incident provisions, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
- Model Work Health and Safety Regulations — the construction work, excavation, plant, traffic, confined spaces and falls provisions, and the Section 291 high risk construction work and SWMS duties, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
- The construction work, excavation work, confined spaces and falls Codes of Practice, the traffic management guidance, and the relevant standards such as AS 5100 for bridges and AS 4678 for retaining structures, are called up by the relevant safety legislation for the civil road work.
- Essential services information is obtained through Before You Dig Australia for underground assets and the Look Up and Live information for overhead assets before excavating; plant operation, traffic control and confined space work require the relevant licences, accreditations and competencies.
- Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017, with the construction, excavation, plant and high risk construction work provisions applying in place of the model instruments.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main hazard in drain clearing?
The hazards are the confined space in drains, pits and pipes, the contaminated and flammable atmosphere, the biohazards and contaminated material, the jetting equipment, and engulfment from sudden water flow. These are managed with the confined-space, atmosphere, biohazard and plant controls.
Is drain clearing high risk construction work?
Yes — it may involve confined space entry and a contaminated or flammable atmosphere, both of which are high risk construction work requiring a SWMS before the work commences. Drain clearing triggers the confined-space and contaminated-atmosphere high risk construction work categories.
What is the atmosphere hazard in drains?
Drains can contain a contaminated or flammable atmosphere, including hazardous gases such as hydrogen sulphide, which can asphyxiate, poison or explode, so the atmosphere is tested and managed with atmospheric monitoring, ventilation and respiratory protection, and ignition sources controlled. The contaminated and flammable atmosphere is a defining hazard in drain clearing.
Why is sudden water flow a hazard?
Water can flow suddenly in a drain, presenting an engulfment and drowning hazard, so it is managed with isolation, monitoring and a procedure. Managing the engulfment from sudden water flow protects workers in the drain from a sudden flow of water.
Who carries out drain clearing?
Drain clearing is carried out by competent drainage crews in connection with the confined spaces and hazardous chemicals requirements, with the confined-space, atmosphere, biohazard and plant controls, and a SWMS for the high risk construction work. The drain is cleared with the confined space and atmosphere managed.