AWTS / On-Site Sewage Management System Install SWMS
A Safe Work Method Statement for awts / on-site sewage management system install covering all key hazards, controls and regulatory requirements. This is classified as high-risk construction work under WHS Regulation 2025.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Installing an Aerated Wastewater Treatment System (AWTS) or other on-site sewage management system is a complex plumbing and excavation activity that combines deep excavation, confined space risk, electrical work, heavy lifting and exposure to raw sewage. The work typically involves excavating tank pits to depths exceeding 1.5 metres, craning or lowering pre-fabricated tanks into position, plumbing inlet and outlet connections, wiring blowers and control panels, and commissioning irrigation or absorption fields in accordance with AS/NZS 1547:2012 (On-site domestic wastewater management) and the relevant state plumbing code (PCA/AS/NZS 3500.2).
Under the model Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and WHS Regulation 2025, this activity is classified as High Risk Construction Work (HRCW) because it involves trenching/excavation deeper than 1.5 m, work near or in confined spaces (the tank itself once installed), and work in or near energised electrical installations and a designated sewerage system. Section 299 of the WHS Regulation 2025 makes it a legal duty for the Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) to prepare a SWMS before the work commences.
This SWMS has been drafted by a Certified Industrial Hygienist to satisfy the documentation, consultation and review obligations under sections 38, 47 and 299–303 of the WHS Regulation 2025, and aligns with the Safe Work Australia Construction Work Code of Practice and the Excavation Work Code of Practice.
Hazards identified
14 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Crush injury, asphyxiation or fatality from soil engulfment
Fractures, head injury or drowning in groundwater
Asphyxiation from oxygen deficiency or H2S poisoning
Hepatitis A, leptospirosis, gastrointestinal infection, dermatitis
Crush injury from dropped or swinging load; fatality
Electrocution, explosion, flooding, service disruption
Electric shock, arc flash, electrocution
Acute toxicity, unconsciousness, explosion
Musculoskeletal injury, hernia, sprains and strains
Struck-by injury, run-over, fatality
Skin cancer, heat stress, dehydration
Sprains, fractures, lacerations
Respiratory irritation, dermatitis, chemical burns
Lacerations, eye injuries, amputation
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Engage a 'Before You Dig Australia' (BYDA / DBYD) search a minimum of 5 working days before excavation; pothole all services by hand or hydro-vacuum within 500 mm of marked locations as required by AS 5488.1:2019.
- 2Excavations greater than 1.5 m deep must be benched, battered to the natural angle of repose, or shored using a proprietary trench shield engineered for the soil class; a competent person must inspect the excavation at the start of each shift and after rainfall in accordance with the Excavation Work Code of Practice.
- 3Treat the AWTS tank as a confined space under AS 2865:2009; issue a Confined Space Entry Permit, conduct atmospheric testing for O2 (19.5–23.5%), LEL (<5%) and H2S (<10 ppm) before and during entry, and provide continuous mechanical ventilation and a stand-by attendant with rescue equipment.
- 4Provide hierarchy-of-control PPE for biological exposure: nitrile gauntlets, fluid-resistant coveralls, P2 respirator, face shield and impervious boots; ensure hepatitis A and tetanus vaccinations are current and provide hand-wash and decontamination facilities on site.
- 5All lifting of tanks must be performed by a HRWL-licensed crane or excavator operator using engineered lifting lugs and certified slings/chains; establish an exclusion zone, use tag lines, and prohibit any worker from being beneath a suspended load (WHS Reg 2025 s215).
- 6All electrical connections to blowers, pumps and control panels must be performed by a licensed electrician under AS/NZS 3000:2018; isolate, lock-out and tag-out (LOTO) before work, test for dead, and protect circuits with a 30 mA RCD.
- 7Erect physical edge protection (mesh fencing or hard barriers) around open excavations at all times when unattended, with high-visibility signage and night lighting; cover or backfill at end of shift where practical.
- 8Implement a traffic management plan separating mobile plant from workers on foot, using spotters, reverse alarms, 360° cameras and exclusion zones in line with the Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice.
- 9Apply the SunSmart heat stress program: schedule heavy work for cooler periods, provide shade, electrolyte fluids, sunscreen (SPF 50+), long-sleeved UPF clothing and broad-brim hard hat brims.
- 10Use mechanical aids (pipe trolleys, tank lifters) for loads >25 kg and apply two-person lifts; rotate tasks to prevent repetitive strain.
- 11Store and use PVC priming fluid and solvent cement in accordance with the SDS, provide local exhaust or natural ventilation, and supply chemical-resistant gloves and safety glasses.
- 12Conduct a documented pre-start (toolbox) talk reviewing the SWMS with all workers; obtain signatures on the worker sign-on register before any work commences.
- 13Commission and pressure-test the system in accordance with AS/NZS 1547:2012 and the relevant state on-site wastewater code; certify the install with the local council/regulator as required.
- 14Review and update the SWMS if the work method changes, an incident occurs, or controls are found to be ineffective, as required by WHS Regulation 2025 s301.
Applicable Codes of Practice
Sets the baseline for SWMS preparation, HRCW identification and consultation duties for all construction activities including plumbing installations.
Directly applies to tank pit excavation >1.5 m, ground support, soil classification and access/egress.
Applies to entry into the AWTS tank during connection, internal fit-out and commissioning.
Technical standard governing AWTS sizing, siting, irrigation field design and commissioning.
Mandatory plumbing code for all sewer and waste connections to the AWTS.
Technical standard for atmospheric testing, entry permits and rescue arrangements inside the tank.
Governs the electrical installation of blowers, pumps, alarms and control panels.
Applies to excavators, cranes and trucks used to deliver and place tanks.
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
AWTS tanks meet the AS 2865 definition of a confined space — they are enclosed, not designed for human occupancy, and may contain a hazardous atmosphere (H2S, methane, oxygen deficiency). Connection, internal fit-out and maintenance entry trigger this HRCW category under WHS Reg 2025 Schedule 1, cl 291(f).
Excavations for AWTS tanks routinely exceed 1.5 m in depth, triggering HRCW under cl 291(g). Soil collapse is a recognised fatality risk in Australian construction.
Wiring blowers, submersible pumps and float-switch control panels involves working on or near energised electrical services, triggering HRCW under cl 291(l).
Because this work falls within Schedule 1 of the WHS Regulation 2025, a SWMS MUST be prepared before work starts (s299), be readily accessible at the workplace (s302), be complied with by all workers, and be reviewed if controls are revised or an incident occurs (s301). Failure to comply is a Category 2 or 3 offence under the WHS Act 2011, with penalties up to $1.5M for a body corporate and personal liability for officers under s27.
Who this is for
- →Licensed plumbers and drainers undertaking on-site wastewater installations
- →Civil contractors and excavator operators preparing AWTS tank pits
- →PCBUs and principal contractors coordinating residential or rural sewage projects
- →Site supervisors and WHS managers responsible for HRCW documentation
- →Owner-builders engaging trades to install septic or AWTS systems
- →Council and regulator-accredited wastewater installers
What you receive
- ✓Fully editable Microsoft Word (DOCX) SWMS template pre-populated for AWTS installation
- ✓State-specific legislation schedule covering NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT and NT WHS/OHS regulations
- ✓Comprehensive hazard register with 14 site-specific hazards, risk ratings and controls
- ✓Worker sign-on register for SWMS consultation and toolbox talk records
- ✓Confined space entry permit template aligned with AS 2865:2009
- ✓Excavation inspection checklist for daily use by the competent person
- ✓Plant pre-start checklist for excavators and cranes
- ✓Emergency response and rescue plan template
- ✓Free lifetime updates as WHS Regulations are amended
Worked example
Daniel is a licensed plumber engaged to install a 10 EP AWTS at a rural property outside Bathurst, NSW. Before mobilising, he downloads this SWMS, reviews it against the site, and adds property-specific details: a 2.1 m deep tank pit in clay soil (Class B), a 25 t excavator for the lift, and a single-phase blower wired to a new sub-board. He lodges a BYDA enquiry, which identifies a Telstra conduit running through the proposed excavation footprint — he hand-potholes to confirm depth before machine excavation. On day one, he holds a toolbox talk with his offsider and the excavator operator, walks them through the SWMS, and all three sign the worker sign-on register. During tank placement, Daniel establishes a 5 m exclusion zone, uses certified slings, and acts as dogger with tag lines. Before entering the tank to install the internal pipework, he completes a Confined Space Entry Permit, gas-tests the atmosphere (O2 20.9%, H2S 0 ppm, LEL 0%), runs a portable ventilator, and his offsider stands by as the entry attendant with a tripod and retrieval winch. The licensed electrician attends on day two to terminate the blower and alarm under AS/NZS 3000. The completed SWMS, permits and sign-on register are retained on site for the duration of the works and archived for two years as required by WHS Regulation 2025.
Related legislation
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth model)
- Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025
- Plumbing and Drainage Act (state-specific)
- Local Government Act — On-site Sewage Management
- Environmental Protection Act (state-specific) — wastewater discharge
- Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act and Electrical Safety Regulations
- Public Health Regulation — On-site Sewage Management Approvals
Frequently asked questions
Is an AWTS install really High Risk Construction Work?
Yes. It triggers at least three HRCW categories under WHS Regulation 2025 Schedule 1: confined space entry (the tank), excavation deeper than 1.5 m, and work on or near energised electrical installations. A SWMS is legally mandatory before work commences.
Do I need a separate Confined Space Entry Permit if I have this SWMS?
Yes. The SWMS documents the method and controls, but AS 2865:2009 and the Confined Spaces Code of Practice require a separate, task-specific entry permit each time a worker enters the tank. A permit template is included with this purchase.
Who must sign the SWMS?
Every worker performing the high-risk construction work must be consulted on the SWMS and sign the worker sign-on register before commencing. The PCBU/principal contractor must also approve and date the document.
How long must the SWMS be retained?
Under WHS Regulation 2025 s303, the SWMS must be kept until the work is completed. If a notifiable incident occurs in connection with the work, it must be retained for at least two years from the date of the incident.
Is this SWMS valid in all Australian states and territories?
Yes — it is built on the model WHS Act 2011 and WHS Regulation 2025 framework adopted in NSW, QLD, SA, TAS, ACT, NT and WA, with a state-specific legislation schedule. Victorian users should cross-reference the OHS Act 2004 and OHS Regulations 2017; the schedule includes a Victorian mapping.
Can I edit the SWMS to suit my specific job?
Absolutely. The document is supplied as an editable DOCX so you can add site address, project-specific hazards, soil classification, plant details and personnel. SWMS must always reflect actual site conditions — a generic, unedited SWMS does not satisfy s299 of the WHS Regulation 2025.