Open Pit Bench Management SWMS
Open-pit bench preparation and ongoing geotechnical management. Covers pre-entry geotechnical inspection of the highwall and catch berms, berm height and width geometry verification, catch-bench maintenance, wall-movement monitoring (prism targets / slope radar trigger action levels), bench-drilling pre-blast highwall inspection, and post-blast scaling program before equipment re-entry.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Open-pit bench preparation and geotechnical management including highwall inspection, berm geometry verification, catch-bench maintenance, slope movement monitoring with prism and radar trigger action levels, pre-blast inspection, and post-blast scaling. Geotechnical instability is a principal hazard under WHS (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022 Part 5 requiring documented controls.
Hazards identified
3 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Multiple fatalities from catastrophic wall collapse
Fatal crush injuries to workers below
Rocks reach lower benches striking operators
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Daily geotechnical inspection by competent person; document berm width, height, and crest condition before entry.
- 2Slope monitoring with prism targets and radar; defined trigger action response plan with evacuation thresholds.
- 3Post-blast scaling program completed and signed off by geotechnical engineer before equipment re-entry to bench.
Applicable Codes of Practice
Geotechnical principal hazard management plan mandatory
Slope stability monitoring and management standard
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Open-pit benches are excavations exceeding 1.5m where wall collapse risk exists.
SWMS mandatory before work; Category 1 offence penalties for non-compliance.
What you receive
- ✓Editable DOCX SWMS template
- ✓State-specific WHS legislation schedule
- ✓Geotechnical hazard register
- ✓Worker sign-on register
Related legislation
- WHS Act 2011
- WHS (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation NSW 2022
- Queensland Guidance Note QMN03