Brick & Paver Driveway Installation SWMS

Brick and paver driveway installation involves excavation and preparation of a compacted sub-base, delivery and handling of segmental paving units on pallets, screeding of bedding sand, laying and cutting of pavers using petrol or electric masonry saws, and compaction with vibrating plates. The work is typically performed at the interface between a residential or commercial property and a live roadway or footpath, exposing workers to powered mobile plant (excavators, skid-steers, dingos, plate compactors), respirable crystalline silica from cutting concrete pavers, manual handling of units frequently exceeding 3 kg each, and moving traffic and pedestrians adjacent to the work zone.

Under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW), this work is high risk construction work under section 291(n) (work on or adjacent to a road or traffic corridor in use) and section 291(o) (work involving movement of powered mobile plant). Section 299 requires a Safe Work Method Statement be prepared before the work commences, be available for inspection, and be complied with. Controls follow the hierarchy in section 36, prioritising elimination of pedestrian and traffic exposure through positive separation, engineered dust suppression on cutting, and structured plant exclusion zones.

Hazards identified

12 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.

1. 1ELIMINATE: Where feasible, complete cutting off-site at a controlled cutting station or use pre-cut units to remove silica-generating tasks from the driveway work zone entirely.
2. 2SUBSTITUTE: Use clay pavers (lower crystalline silica content) or split rather than saw-cut pavers using a hydraulic guillotine splitter where the aesthetic finish permits.
3. 3ISOLATE: Implement a compliant traffic management plan prepared by a person with TfNSW-recognised competency, using physical barriers, water-filled barriers or concrete barriers per AS 1742.3 to positively separate work from live traffic; deploy traffic controllers with SafeWork NSW recognised training where signage alone is inadequate.
4. 4ISOLATE: Establish a 3 m plant exclusion zone around all operating mobile plant, enforced by a dedicated spotter in direct radio or line-of-sight contact with the operator; fit reversing alarms, flashing beacons and 360° camera systems compliant with AS/NZS 4602.1 high-visibility requirements for personnel.
5. 5ENGINEER: Undertake Dial Before You Dig / Before You Dig Australia enquiry a minimum of 2 working days before excavation; hand-dig or use non-destructive vacuum excavation within 500 mm of identified services in accordance with AS/NZS 4853 principles for locating and identifying utility services.
6. 6ENGINEER: Fit all masonry saws with on-tool water suppression delivered at the blade at manufacturer-specified flow rates; where wet cutting is not practicable, use on-tool H-Class LEV dust extraction and enforce a respiratory protection program per AS/NZS 1715 with P2 minimum, upgraded to PAPR for extended cutting.
7. 7ENGINEER: Use mechanical laying aids (paver lifters, vacuum lifters, wheeled trolleys) for units and packs exceeding 20 kg; limit repetitive laying cycles and rotate workers through cutting, laying and compaction tasks.
8. 8ADMIN: Conduct daily pre-start inspections of all plant, saws, RCDs and PPE; prohibit dry cutting in the SWMS; enforce a documented refuelling and hot-works procedure for petrol saws away from combustibles.
9. 9ADMIN: Implement a heat stress management procedure with scheduled hydration breaks, work/rest cycles indexed to WBGT, and cessation triggers; provide shaded rest areas and sunscreen conforming to AS/NZS 2604.
10. 10PPE: Provide and enforce use of Class D/N high-visibility garments to AS/NZS 4602.1, safety footwear to AS/NZS 2210.3, impact eye protection to AS/NZS 1337.1, Class 5 hearing protection to AS/NZS 1270, cut-resistant gloves, and P2 respirators fit-tested per AS/NZS 1715.
11. 11PPE: Provide chemical-resistant nitrile gauntlets and waterproof trousers when handling wet cementitious bedding or mortar; provide immediate access to clean water for skin decontamination.
12. 12VERIFY: Confirm all workers hold a current White Card (CPCCWHS1001) and are trained in the SWMS content; consult workers on the SWMS under section 47 of the WHS Act 2011 (NSW); review and revise the SWMS under section 302 of the WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) if controls are revised, an incident occurs, or the work method changes.

Applicable Codes of Practice

High-Risk Construction Work triggered

Worked example

A paving contractor is engaged to install a 90 m² concrete paver driveway at a residential property in Kellyville, in The Hills Shire. The scope includes saw-cutting the existing kerb for a new crossover, excavating 200 mm of sub-base, screeding bedding sand, laying 60 mm concrete pavers and cutting perimeter units. Because the crossover works occur within the road reserve of a suburban street carrying traffic, and because a 1.7 t excavator and plate compactor operate within 4 m of workers laying pavers, the work triggers section 291(n) and 291(o). The contractor prepares this SWMS, engages a traffic controller with SafeWork NSW recognised training to deploy AS 1742.3-compliant signage and cones, positions the masonry saw on the property side with on-tool water suppression and P2 respirators, and enforces a 3 m plant exclusion zone with a dedicated spotter. The SWMS is signed off by all four workers at pre-start, retained on site in the site box, and reviewed on day three when a stormwater pit is discovered requiring a revised excavation method.

Related legislation

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) — sections 19, 31, 32, 46, 47
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW) — sections 291, 299, 302
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW) — Chapter 3 Part 3.1 (managing risks) and Chapter 4 (hazardous chemicals, noise, plant)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW) — sections addressing respirable crystalline silica and hazardous chemical exposure standards
• Roads Act 1993 (NSW) — for works within or affecting the road reserve requiring council or TfNSW approval
• Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) — for dust, noise and sediment control obligations

Frequently asked questions