Drain Auger / Hand Snake Cleaning SWMS
Safe work method statement for unblocking drains using electric eel, hand snake, or drum auger equipment including safe handling and hygiene controls for sewage exposure.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Drain auger and mechanical drain cleaning covers the clearing of blocked drains using powered drain machines, augers (eels) and cutting heads that rotate a cable through the drain to break up and remove blockages. The defining hazards are the rotating cable and cutting head, which can entangle, lacerate and injure, together with the biological hazards of sewage, the sudden release of a blockage, and the manual handling of the equipment. This document is written on the basis that mechanical drain cleaning is carried out by a competent operator with the rotating-equipment, biological and sudden-release hazards controlled.
Drain auger and mechanical drain cleaning is plumbing work carried out in connection with AS/NZS 3500.2, using powered drain machines and augers. The rotating cable and cutting head are the defining hazard — they can entangle clothing, gloves and hands and cause serious laceration and crush injury — so the equipment is guarded and operated correctly and the operator kept clear. The biological hazards of sewage and the sudden release of a blockage are managed. This document coordinates the rotating-equipment, biological, sudden-release and manual-handling controls so the drains are cleared without injury.
Hazards identified
9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Entanglement of clothing, gloves and hands in the rotating cable
Laceration and crush injury from the cutting head and rotating cable
Infection and illness from contact with sewage
Splash and uncontrolled flow when the blockage is released
Injury from the cable whipping or kicking back under load
Exposure to splash and contaminated water during cleaning
Electric shock from the powered drain machine in wet conditions
Musculoskeletal injury from the heavy drain machine
Fall and impact injury around wet areas and open drainage
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Engineering: operate the powered drain machine and auger to its safe working requirements with the rotating cable and cutting head guarded and controlled, and keep clear of the rotating cable.
- 2Administrative: do not wear loose clothing, loose gloves or anything that can entangle in the rotating cable, control the cable to prevent whip and kickback, and operate the machine so the cable is fed and controlled safely.
- 3Administrative: manage the biological hazard with hygiene controls, washing facilities, gloves and protective clothing, and prohibition of eating, drinking and smoking until decontaminated.
- 4Administrative: anticipate the sudden release of a blockage and any surcharge, position clear, and control the flow so the release does not splash or spread contamination.
- 5Engineering: protect the powered machine against the wet conditions with appropriate electrical protection, and control splash and contamination during cleaning.
- 6PPE: eye and face protection where splash is likely, appropriate gloves that do not create an entanglement hazard, and protective clothing against sewage contact.
- 7Engineering: use mechanical aids for the heavy drain machine, and manage the wet work area against slips.
- 8Administrative: ensure the work is carried out and certified by an appropriately licensed plumber or drainer under the relevant state or territory plumbing licensing scheme, with the relevant competencies and a compliance certificate issued where required.
- 9Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001) where the work is construction work, with the plumbing, confined space and any other competencies required for the work.
- 10Administrative: conduct a pre-start toolbox talk covering the day's work, identified hazards, isolations, 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: eye protection to AS/NZS 1337.1, hearing protection where required, gloves appropriate to the task, high-visibility clothing, 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.
Applicable Codes of Practice
The sanitary plumbing and drainage standard for the drainage system being cleaned.
Controls for the powered drain machine and the rotating cable and cutting head, including guarding.
Electrical safety for the powered drain machine in the wet drainage environment.
The risk management process and hierarchy of controls applied to the hazards of the work.
Selection, fit testing and use of respiratory protection where atmospheric, chemical or biological hazards require it for the work.
Who this is for
- →Competent operators clearing drains with powered drain machines and augers.
- →Drain cleaning crews using mechanical drain cleaning equipment.
- →Plumbing and drainage businesses providing mechanical drain cleaning.
- →Facility managers and PCBUs engaging drain cleaning contractors.
- →PCBU safety managers and supervisors coordinating the rotating-equipment and biological 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 address, project name, principal contractor details, and document revision date.
- ✓Hazard register with the drain auger and mechanical drain cleaning hazards — each with a documented consequence, inherent risk rating on a 5x5 likelihood-consequence matrix, hierarchy-of-control measures, and residual risk rating.
- ✓Mechanical drain cleaning prompts referencing AS/NZS 3500.2, a rotating-cable and entanglement-control section, a biological-hazard and splash section, and a cable-whip and electrical section.
- ✓Licensing, competency and permit prompts for the relevant plumbing, confined space and hazardous chemicals work, and a respiratory protection selection and fit-test record per AS/NZS 1715 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 cleaning operator is engaged to clear a blocked drain using a powered drain machine and auger. The machine is operated to its safe working requirements with the rotating cable and cutting head guarded and controlled, and the operator keeps clear of the rotating cable. Loose clothing and gloves that could entangle are not worn, the cable is controlled to prevent whip and kickback, and the machine operated so the cable is fed and controlled safely. The biological hazard is managed with eye and face protection, appropriate gloves that do not create an entanglement hazard, protective clothing, washing facilities, and no eating or drinking until decontaminated. When the blockage clears, the operator is positioned clear and the sudden release and surcharge controlled. The powered machine is protected against the wet conditions, and splash controlled during cleaning. Mechanical aids are used for the heavy machine, and the wet work area managed against slips. 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 — Section 291 high risk construction work and the SWMS preparation and review duties, and the confined space and hazardous chemicals provisions where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
- The relevant plumbing and drainage standards AS/NZS 3500 (Parts 0–5), AS/NZS 1547 for on-site wastewater, AS/NZS 4233 for high-pressure water jetting, and the hazardous chemicals and environmental requirements, are called up by the relevant legislation, together with the relevant network utility and asset owner requirements.
- Plumbing and drainage work is licensed under each state and territory's plumbing licensing scheme, with the relevant competencies for confined space and chemical work, and compliance certification required for notifiable work; electrical work is carried out by a licensed electrician.
- Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017, with the high risk construction work, confined space and hazardous chemicals provisions applying in place of the model instruments.
Frequently asked questions
What is a drain auger or eel?
A drain auger, also called an eel or drain snake, is a powered drain machine that rotates a cable with a cutting head through the drain to break up and remove blockages such as roots and build-up. It is a common mechanical drain cleaning method whose defining hazard is the rotating cable and cutting head.
What is the main hazard of mechanical drain cleaning?
The main hazard is the rotating cable and cutting head, which can entangle clothing, gloves and hands and cause serious laceration and crush injury. The equipment is guarded and operated correctly with the operator kept clear, loose clothing and gloves that could entangle are not worn, and the cable is controlled to prevent whip and kickback.
Why must loose clothing and gloves be avoided?
Loose clothing, loose gloves and anything that can entangle in the rotating cable can drag a worker into the machine and cause serious injury, so they are not worn during mechanical drain cleaning. Appropriate gloves that do not create an entanglement hazard are used, and the operator keeps clear of the rotating cable.
What is cable whip and kickback?
Cable whip and kickback occur when the rotating cable binds or releases under load and whips or kicks back, which can injure the operator. The cable is controlled to prevent whip and kickback, fed and controlled safely, and the operator kept clear, managing this hazard of the powered drain machine.
What biological hazards apply?
Clearing the drain exposes the worker to sewage and contaminated water, which carry infection risk, so eye and face protection where splash is likely, appropriate gloves, protective clothing, washing facilities, and prohibition of eating, drinking and smoking until decontaminated manage that hazard, with splash controlled during cleaning.