New Build Whole-of-House Rough-In SWMS
Safe work method statement for complete rough-in plumbing on new residential construction including slab penetrations, wall frame pipework, and coordination with other trades.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
New build rough-in plumbing covers the first-fix rough-in of plumbing in new building construction — installing the water, sanitary, drainage and gas pipework within the structure before the walls and floors are closed up, ready for the later fit-off of fixtures. It is carried out on an active construction site, and the hazards include the construction site environment, work in trenches and slabs, the penetrations and pipework within the structure, work at height, and the coordination with the building trades. This document is written on the basis that new build rough-in is carried out by a licensed plumber with the construction-site, excavation, work-at-height and coordination controls in place.
New build rough-in plumbing is carried out to the relevant parts of AS/NZS 3500 for the water, sanitary, drainage and gas rough-in, on an active construction site under the principal contractor's site management. The construction site hazards, the trench and slab work, the penetrations, the work at height, and the coordination with the building trades are the considerations. This document coordinates the construction-site, excavation, work-at-height and coordination controls so the rough-in is carried out safely.
Hazards identified
9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Injury from the active construction site environment, plant and trades
Excavation collapse and service hazards installing in-ground services
Falls working at height in the structure
Silica dust and structural hazards from penetrations and coring
Musculoskeletal injury from the pipework and materials
Conflict and hazards coordinating with the building trades
Fire and burns from hot work during the rough-in
Falls and trips into open trenches, penetrations and holes
Gas hazards in the gas rough-in pipework
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Administrative: work under the principal contractor's site management and the construction site controls, with the site induction, traffic, plant and trade coordination.
- 2Engineering: where in-ground services are installed, locate and protect services first and control the trench and excavation to the excavation Code of Practice, with a SWMS where it reaches the regulated depth.
- 3Engineering: provide fall prevention for work at height in the structure, to the managing the risk of falls Code of Practice, and protect open trenches, penetrations and holes against falls and trips.
- 4Engineering: control silica dust from penetrations and core holes at the source, and assess the structural effect of penetrations.
- 5Administrative: carry out the gas rough-in to AS/NZS 5601.1:2022, and where hot work is carried out apply the hot-work precautions.
- 6Engineering: use mechanical aids for the pipework and materials, and coordinate the rough-in with the building trades and program.
- 7Administrative: install the rough-in to the relevant parts of AS/NZS 3500, ready for the later fit-off, and pressure test where required.
- 8Administrative: ensure the work is carried out and certified by an appropriately licensed plumber, drainer or gasfitter under the relevant state or territory plumbing and gasfitting 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, gasfitting, 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 water services standard for the water supply, backflow protection and connection.
The sanitary plumbing and drainage standard for the sanitary and drainage work.
The prevailing gas installation standard for any gas work in the task.
Trenching and excavation controls including support against collapse, ground assessment and existing services.
Fall-prevention controls for any work at height involved in the task.
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Rough-in work at height in the structure can involve a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres, which is high risk construction work requiring a SWMS before the work commences.
This is licensed plumbing, drainage, gasfitting or specialist work that, in the circumstances described, is high risk construction work — where there is a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres — 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 to the relevant AS/NZS 3500 plumbing and drainage standards and the relevant gas, pressure, excavation, confined space or demolition requirements, which are called up by the relevant legislation, with the controls for the specific hazards applied. A failure in this work can cause serious injury, burial, an atmospheric incident, a loss of containment or harm to the water supply, 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
- →Licensed plumbers carrying out new build rough-in.
- →Plumbing businesses providing rough-in on construction sites.
- →Construction and building plumbing contractors.
- →Builders, principal contractors and PCBUs on new builds.
- →PCBU safety managers and supervisors coordinating the construction-site, excavation and work-at-height 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 new build rough-in plumbing hazards — each with a documented consequence, inherent risk rating on a 5x5 likelihood-consequence matrix, hierarchy-of-control measures, and residual risk rating.
- ✓New build rough-in prompts referencing AS/NZS 3500, a construction-site and coordination section, a trench and work-at-height section, and a penetration and gas-rough-in record.
- ✓Licensing, competency and permit prompts for the relevant plumbing, gasfitting, confined space and specialist 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 licensed plumber is engaged to carry out the plumbing rough-in on a new building. The work is carried out under the principal contractor's site management and the construction site controls, with the site induction, traffic, plant and trade coordination. Where in-ground services are installed, services are located and protected first and the trench and excavation controlled to the excavation Code of Practice, with a SWMS where it reaches the regulated depth. Fall prevention is provided for work at height in the structure, and open trenches, penetrations and holes protected against falls and trips. Silica dust from penetrations and core holes is controlled at the source, and the structural effect of penetrations assessed. The gas rough-in is carried out to AS/NZS 5601.1:2022, and where hot work is carried out the hot-work precautions apply. Mechanical aids are used for the pipework, and the rough-in coordinated with the building trades and program. The rough-in is installed to the relevant parts of AS/NZS 3500, ready for the later fit-off, and pressure tested where required. The records are 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, excavation, demolition and electrical provisions where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
- The relevant plumbing and drainage standards AS/NZS 3500 (Parts 0–5), AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 for gas, the pressure piping and pressure equipment standards, the AS 4032 valve standards, and the hazardous chemicals, demolition and asbestos requirements, are called up by the relevant legislation, together with the relevant network utility, insurer and site requirements.
- Plumbing, drainage and gasfitting work is licensed under each state and territory's plumbing and gasfitting licensing scheme, with the relevant competencies for the specialist 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, excavation and demolition provisions applying in place of the model instruments.
Frequently asked questions
What is new build rough-in plumbing?
New build rough-in plumbing is the first-fix rough-in of plumbing in new building construction — installing the water, sanitary, drainage and gas pipework within the structure before the walls and floors are closed up, ready for the later fit-off of fixtures. It is carried out on an active construction site under the principal contractor's site management.
What construction-site controls apply?
The work is carried out under the principal contractor's site management and the construction site controls, with the site induction, traffic, plant and trade coordination. Working under the site management and the construction site controls, and coordinating with the building trades, is a key part of new build rough-in.
What excavation controls apply?
Where in-ground services are installed, services are located and protected first and the trench and excavation controlled to the excavation Code of Practice, with a SWMS where it reaches the regulated depth. The excavation controls prevent collapse and service hazards installing the in-ground services.
What work-at-height controls apply?
Fall prevention is provided for work at height in the structure, to the managing the risk of falls Code of Practice, and open trenches, penetrations and holes are protected against falls and trips. The work-at-height controls manage the fall hazard, and the work is high risk construction work requiring a SWMS where there is a risk of falling more than two metres.
Who carries out new build rough-in?
New build rough-in plumbing is licensed plumbing work carried out by a licensed plumber to the relevant parts of AS/NZS 3500, with the construction-site, excavation, work-at-height and coordination controls. The rough-in is installed ready for the later fit-off and pressure tested where required.