Drill-and-Blast Tunnelling SWMS
Drill, charge, blast, muck-out cycle in hard rock tunnelling. RCS at the 0.05 mg/m³ WES (transitioning to lower WEL Dec 2026), DPM, blast vibration, post-blast re-entry atmosphere, rock support.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Drill-and-blast tunnelling involves drilling blast holes, charging explosives, firing rounds, and mucking out hard rock in underground tunnels. The cycle exposes workers to RCS, diesel particulate, blast overpressure, and post-blast atmospheric contaminants, triggering HRCW notification under WHS Regulation 2025 Schedule 1.
Hazards identified
3 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Silicosis, lung cancer, accelerated fibrosis
Acute toxic exposure, asphyxiation, chronic disease
Fatal trauma, crush injury, ground collapse
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Wet drilling with on-bit water flush; LEV at muck pile; air monitoring against 0.05 mg/m³ RCS WES.
- 2Mandatory post-blast re-entry hold with continuous gas monitoring (CO, NO2, O2) before crew returns underground.
- 3Licensed shotfirer controls charging, firing and misfire procedures per AS 2187.2; exclusion zones enforced.
Applicable Codes of Practice
Charging, firing, misfire and exclusion zone requirements
Confined space and post-blast re-entry atmospheric controls
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Charging and firing commercial explosives to fragment rock at the tunnel face.
Post-blast NOx, CO and DPM create contaminated atmosphere requiring monitored re-entry.
Written SWMS mandatory before work; regulator notification and licensed shotfirer required.
What you receive
- ✓Editable DOCX SWMS tailored to drill-and-blast tunnelling
- ✓State-specific WHS legislation and codes schedule
- ✓Hazard register covering RCS, DPM, explosives and ground support
- ✓Worker sign-on and daily review register
Related legislation
- WHS Act 2011 s.19 PCBU primary duty of care
- WHS Regulation 2025 Schedule 1 HRCW Categories 8 and 12
- AS 2187.2 Explosives — Storage and use