Contaminated Land Works SWMS
NSW — Contaminated Land Works. Full task scope, hazards and controls to be authored to Phase 1 standard.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Contaminated land works involve the investigation, excavation, remediation and validation of sites impacted by hazardous substances — including hydrocarbons, heavy metals, asbestos in soil (AIS), pesticides, PFAS, acid sulfate soils and landfill gas. Typical activities include intrusive sampling, test-pitting, bulk excavation of impacted material, on-site treatment, stockpiling, load-out and disposal to a licensed facility under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW). Workers face simultaneous exposure to toxic dusts and vapours, unstable trench walls, flammable or oxygen-deficient atmospheres in excavations, and heavy mobile plant operating in confined working corridors. The convergence of chemical, physical and geotechnical risk makes contaminated land works one of the highest-consequence activities in the civil sector.
Under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW), this work meets multiple categories of high risk construction work under section 291 — trenching greater than 1.5 m (291(g)), contaminated or flammable atmospheres (291(l)), and powered mobile plant movement (291(o)). Section 299 therefore requires a Safe Work Method Statement to be prepared before work commences, addressing hazards, control measures and the manner of implementation. Controls must follow the hierarchy in section 36, with elimination and engineering controls prioritised over administrative measures and PPE.
Hazards identified
12 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Acute chemical pneumonitis, heavy-metal toxicity, mesothelioma or lung cancer from asbestos in soil
Fire, deflagration or explosion causing fatal burns and blast injury
Rapid unconsciousness and asphyxiation; multiple-fatality potential during rescue attempts
Crush injury, traumatic asphyxia and fatality from soil burial
Fatal crush injury or run-over of ground workers
Chemical burns, dermatitis, systemic absorption of solvents or pesticides
Chemical burns, respiratory injury, environmental prosecution under POEO Act 1997
Sudden vapour release, fire, or acute poisoning of the excavator operator and spotters
Chronic systemic exposure; off-site contamination and regulatory breach
Heat exhaustion, heat stroke, collapse into contaminated zone
Noise-induced hearing loss exceeding the LAeq,8h 85 dB(A) exposure standard
Musculoskeletal injury; drum rupture causing chemical exposure
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Eliminate intrusive works where practicable by re-designing to cap and contain contamination in situ under a Site Auditor-endorsed Remedial Action Plan (RAP), removing the need to excavate.
- 2Substitute manual excavation with remote or long-reach mechanical excavation so operators remain in an enclosed, positive-pressure, HEPA/carbon-filtered cabin (ISO 23875 compliant) away from the contamination plume.
- 3Engineer trench stability using benching, battering or shoring designed by a competent person in accordance with AS 5047:2020 Earth-retaining structures and the SafeWork NSW Excavation Work Code of Practice; no worker enters an unsupported excavation >1.5 m deep.
- 4Continuous atmospheric monitoring with calibrated multi-gas detectors (O₂, LEL, CO, H₂S) plus PID for VOCs; establish action levels requiring evacuation at 10% LEL, O₂ <19.5% or >23.5%, or PID exceedance of the site-specific action level derived from the Workplace Exposure Standards (Safe Work Australia, 2024).
- 5Implement zoned site controls (Exclusion, Contamination Reduction, Support Zones) with one-way personnel and plant flow through a decontamination line including boot wash, PPE doffing and hand/face wash, per AS 4964:2004 principles and the enHealth Environmental Health Practitioner Manual.
- 6Suppress dust with fixed and tracked water misting, cover stockpiles with tarpaulins or polymer binders, and dampen haul roads; monitor real-time PM10 at site boundary against the site-specific criterion in the Construction Environmental Management Plan.
- 7Where asbestos in soil is confirmed or suspected, apply the SafeWork NSW Code of Practice How to Safely Remove Asbestos and NEPM 1999 (as amended 2013) Schedule B1 protocols; licensed asbestos removalist required for friable or >10 m² non-friable.
- 8Traffic Management Plan segregating powered mobile plant from workers on foot using physical barriers, exclusion zones, and positive communication (two-way radio, hand signals) between operator and spotter in accordance with AS 2601:2001 and the SafeWork NSW General Guide for Working Around Powered Mobile Plant.
- 9Chemical PPE selected on the basis of a written PPE assessment: minimum coveralls to AS/NZS 1716-compatible respiratory protection (P2/P3 or supplied air) per AS/NZS 1715:2009, chemical-resistant gloves to AS/NZS 2161.10.1, safety footwear to AS/NZS 2210.3:2019, and eye/face protection to AS/NZS 1337.1:2010.
- 10Health monitoring program under section 435 of the WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) for workers exposed to Schedule 14 hazardous chemicals (e.g. lead, inorganic arsenic, PAHs), including baseline and periodic biological monitoring by a registered medical practitioner.
- 11Emergency response plan covering fire, chemical exposure, trench rescue and unexpected finds — with on-site eyewash/safety shower to AS 4775:2007, spill kit, dedicated rescue equipment, and pre-notification to the nearest emergency service; drill quarterly.
- 12All workers hold CPCCWHS1001 (White Card) plus site-specific contaminated land induction; SWMS developed in consultation with workers under section 47 of the WHS Act 2011 (NSW), reviewed under section 302 of the WHS Regulation 2025 whenever controls change, an incident occurs or work is not being carried out as planned.
Applicable Codes of Practice
Approved Code addressing trench stability, atmospheric testing and rescue planning directly relevant to excavation in contaminated ground.
Sets the hierarchy of control methodology applied throughout this SWMS for chemical, geotechnical and plant hazards.
Applies wherever asbestos-in-soil is identified during intrusive works; governs licensed removal, air monitoring and clearance.
Governs respirator selection, fit-testing and program elements for airborne chemical and particulate exposures on contaminated sites.
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Remediation excavations, test pits and hotspot removals routinely exceed 1.5 m depth to reach impacted soil horizons or groundwater.
By definition the work disturbs soil and groundwater known or suspected to contain volatile hydrocarbons, solvents, methane or hydrogen sulfide capable of forming a contaminated or flammable atmosphere within the working zone.
Excavators, articulated dump trucks, dozers and vacuum trucks operate continuously alongside ground workers performing sampling, spotting and decontamination tasks.
Because this work is HRCW under section 291, section 299 of the WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) requires a SWMS to be prepared before work starts, and section 302 requires it to be reviewed and revised if controls are inadequate. Failure to prepare, comply with or review a SWMS is a specific offence under Division 3 of Part 6.3. Where non-compliance causes death or serious injury, the person conducting the business or undertaking may be prosecuted for a Category 1 offence under section 31 (reckless conduct) or Category 2 offence under section 32 of the WHS Act 2011 (NSW). Current maximum penalties are set out in the SafeWork NSW penalty schedule and are indexed annually — refer to SafeWork NSW for the applicable amounts at the time of offence.
Who this is for
- →Environmental remediation contractors and PCBUs undertaking soil or groundwater cleanup
- →Civil earthworks contractors excavating in known or suspected contaminated ground
- →Environmental consultants supervising intrusive investigations and validation sampling
- →Site auditors and RAP implementers requiring evidence of contractor SWMS compliance
- →Principal contractors on brownfield redevelopment projects across NSW
What you receive
- ✓Editable Microsoft Word SWMS pre-populated for NSW contaminated land works
- ✓Section 291 HRCW justification mapped to categories (g), (l) and (o)
- ✓Hierarchy-of-control risk register with pre- and post-control risk ratings
- ✓Atmospheric monitoring action-level table aligned to Workplace Exposure Standards
- ✓Zoned site layout template (Exclusion / Contamination Reduction / Support Zones)
- ✓Decontamination procedure and PPE doffing sequence checklist
- ✓Emergency response and unexpected finds procedure, including trench rescue
- ✓Section 47 worker consultation record and section 302 SWMS review log
- ✓Sign-on register for workers, visitors and mobile plant operators
Worked example
A former service station site in Botany, NSW is being remediated prior to residential redevelopment. The RAP requires excavation of hydrocarbon-impacted soil to 3.2 m below ground level over a 40 m × 25 m footprint, with groundwater encountered at 2.4 m. The PCBU prepares this SWMS identifying s291(g), (l) and (o) HRCW. Controls include battering to 1:1 above 1.5 m with shoring below, continuous PID and LEL monitoring at the excavation face with a 10% LEL evacuation trigger, long-reach excavator with an ISO 23875 filtered cabin, a spotter in high-visibility PPE on two-way radio, and a full decontamination line at the exclusion-zone boundary. When a buried 200 L drum of unknown solvent is uncovered on day 6, work stops, the unexpected finds procedure is enacted, and the SWMS is reviewed under section 302 before hot work resumes.
Related legislation
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW)
- Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW)
- Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW)
- Contaminated Land Management Act 1997 (NSW)
- Dangerous Goods (Road and Rail Transport) Act 2008 (NSW)
- National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure 1999 (as amended 2013)
Frequently asked questions
Does this SWMS cover asbestos-contaminated soil?
Yes — asbestos-in-soil is addressed as a hazard and control within the document, referencing the SafeWork NSW Code of Practice How to Safely Remove Asbestos. However, where friable asbestos or more than 10 m² of non-friable material is present, a licensed asbestos removalist must be engaged and a separate Asbestos Removal Control Plan prepared under Chapter 8 of the WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW).
How often must atmospheric monitoring be performed?
Monitoring must be continuous during intrusive works in contaminated ground, with instruments calibrated daily against a known gas standard. Readings are logged at defined intervals and whenever ground conditions change. Action levels — O₂ <19.5% or >23.5%, LEL ≥10%, or PID exceedance of the site-specific criterion — trigger immediate evacuation and SWMS review under section 302.
Is health monitoring mandatory for workers on contaminated land?
Yes, where workers are exposed or likely to be exposed to a Schedule 14 hazardous chemical (for example lead, inorganic arsenic, benzene, PAHs) at a level that presents a significant risk to health. Section 435 of the WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) requires the PCBU to provide health monitoring at their cost, conducted by or under the supervision of a registered medical practitioner with experience in the relevant exposure.
When must this SWMS be reviewed?
Under section 302 of the WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW), the SWMS must be reviewed and, if necessary, revised whenever the control measures are inadequate, a notifiable incident occurs, a significant change to the work is proposed, or a Health and Safety Representative requests a review. On contaminated land works, unexpected finds — such as buried drums, USTs or unmapped services — always trigger a review before work resumes.
Document details
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