Hydrojetting & High-Pressure Drain Cleaning SWMS
This SWMS covers high-pressure water jetting of blocked or scaled stormwater, sewer, and grease trap drainage systems using jetter trucks and hand-held lances. Includes pre-job CCTV inspection, nozzle selection, and decontamination procedures.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Hydrojetting and high-pressure drain cleaning involves the use of water pressures typically ranging from 5,000 psi to 40,000 psi (35 MPa to 275 MPa) to clear blockages, scale, tree root intrusion, and grease accumulation from stormwater, sewer, and trade waste drainage systems. The work covered by this SWMS includes deployment of truck-mounted jetter units and hand-held lance operations, pre-job CCTV inspection to identify line condition and unknown obstructions, nozzle selection (penetrating, flushing, root-cutting, or chain-flail), and post-job decontamination of equipment, PPE, and the work area.
This work is regulated under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the WHS Regulation 2025, with specific obligations under Part 4.4 (High Risk Construction Work) where the activity occurs at or adjacent to a construction workplace, Part 3.2 (General Workplace Management), and Part 4.3 (Confined Spaces) where pit or chamber entry is required. Sewage and trade waste exposure invokes the biological hazard duties under Regulation 36 (hierarchy of control) and the Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities. High-pressure fluid injection is recognised by SafeWork Australia and WaterJet Technology Association guidance as a critical-risk activity capable of causing fatal injury at pressures as low as 7 MPa.
A documented SWMS is legally required before this work commences because hydrojetting meets the High Risk Construction Work threshold under Schedule 3 of the WHS Regulation (pressurised gas/liquid systems, confined spaces, and risk of drowning where applicable). The PCBU must prepare, consult workers on, and make the SWMS available at the workplace under Regulations 299–300, with penalties for non-compliance reaching $30,000 for an individual PCBU and $150,000 for a body corporate.
Hazards identified
10 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Catastrophic soft tissue injection, compartment syndrome, amputation, or death — injection injuries at >7 MPa cause necrosis even from pinhole exposures
Severe blunt force trauma, fractures, eye injury, or fatality from uncontrolled hose movement under pressure
Gastrointestinal illness, hepatitis infection, leptospirosis, septicaemia from skin contact, ingestion, or aerosol inhalation
Asphyxiation from oxygen depletion, poisoning from H2S/methane, or engulfment by sudden inflow
Loss of consciousness or fatality at H2S concentrations above 100 ppm; explosion risk from methane in confined space
Respiratory infection, gastroenteritis, conjunctivitis, and chronic respiratory sensitisation from inhaled droplet nuclei
Musculoskeletal injury, lacerations from falling onto equipment, secondary biological exposure from contaminated water contact
Vehicle strike causing serious injury or fatality, particularly during night work or in poor visibility
Acute back injury, shoulder strain, and cumulative musculoskeletal disorders from repetitive lifting and dragging of charged hoses
Noise-induced hearing loss from sustained exposure above 85 dB(A) over an 8-hour TWA, exceeding Regulation 56 exposure standard
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Conduct pre-job CCTV inspection to identify line condition, collapses, foreign objects, and locate the blockage before lance insertion — eliminates blind jetting which is the leading cause of hose whip incidents
- 2Use only hoses, fittings, and nozzles rated to at least 1.5x the maximum operating pressure of the jetter unit, with current pressure test certification per AS 4041 and WJTA Recommended Practices
- 3Fit anti-withdrawal (tiger tail) sleeves and hose containment bags at the lance entry point to prevent uncontrolled hose ejection from the drain
- 4Operate dual-control foot pedal or dead-man trigger systems so pump pressure dumps to bypass immediately on operator release
- 5Wear full chemical-resistant PPE: cut/injection-resistant jetting suit (Turtleskin or equivalent rated to operating pressure), face shield over P2 respirator, nitrile gauntlets, and waterproof safety boots
- 6Test atmosphere before and continuously during any pit or chamber entry using a calibrated 4-gas monitor (O2, LEL, CO, H2S) — do not enter if O2 <19.5% or >23.5%, LEL >5%, or H2S >10 ppm
- 7Implement a documented Confined Space Entry Permit per AS 2865:2009 with stand-by person, retrieval system, and rescue plan before any chamber entry
- 8Establish exclusion zones of minimum 3 metres around the lance entry point and downstream open access points; only the operator and assistant within the zone
- 9Set up traffic management per AS 1742.3 with appropriate signage, cones, and where required a qualified TC/TM controller for any work on or near roadways
- 10Decontaminate all equipment, PPE, and the work area with chlorine-based disinfectant (1,000 ppm available chlorine minimum) at job completion, and provide hand-wash station with soap and potable water on-site
- 11Provide hepatitis A and B vaccinations to all workers handling sewage per the Australian Immunisation Handbook, and maintain biological exposure incident reporting procedures
- 12Use hearing protection (Class 4 or 5 per AS/NZS 1270) within 5 metres of operating jetter pumps, and post audiometric testing program for workers per Regulation 58
Applicable Codes of Practice
Mandates SWMS preparation for HRCW including pressurised systems and confined space work
Governs entry permits, atmospheric testing, and rescue arrangements for sewer pit and chamber access
Provides duties for hygiene facilities, decontamination, and biological exposure control
Sets minimum standards for risk assessment, gas testing, permits, and stand-by arrangements
Framework for documented risk management of jetting operations
Technical standard referenced by the Code of Practice for entry procedures
Design and pressure-testing requirements for high-pressure hose assemblies and fittings
Required when jetting from kerbside or accessing roadside drainage
Selection criteria for hearing protection against jetter pump noise exposure
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Hydrojetting operates at pressures from 35 MPa to 275 MPa through hoses and lances classified as pressurised fluid distribution equipment; injection injury at these pressures is invariably catastrophic
Sewer manholes, inspection pits, grease traps, and stormwater chambers meet the AS 2865 / Reg 62 definition of a confined space due to restricted entry, limited natural ventilation, and atmospheric hazards
Drainage systems frequently run adjacent to or cross underground electrical services; high-pressure water creates a conductive pathway and jet rebound can contact nearby energised assets
Where blockages are cleared in stormwater systems with potential for sudden upstream water release, or where chamber depths exceed 1.5 metres with the possibility of inflow
Because this work is High Risk Construction Work under Schedule 3 of the WHS Regulation 2025, a SWMS must be prepared before work commences, kept available at the workplace for the duration of the work, and reviewed if controls are revised or an incident occurs. Failure to prepare or comply with a SWMS attracts penalties under Regulation 300 of up to $6,000 for an individual, $30,000 for a PCBU individual, and $150,000 for a body corporate, with reckless conduct prosecutable under Section 31 of the WHS Act 2011 carrying penalties up to $3 million and 5 years imprisonment for Category 1 offences.
Who this is for
- →Licensed plumbing contractors performing drain cleaning and maintenance services
- →Civil and trade waste contractors operating jetter trucks for council and commercial clients
- →Facility maintenance teams responsible for grease trap and trade waste system cleaning
- →Emergency plumbing response companies attending blocked sewer call-outs
- →Water utility and council subcontractors conducting sewer main clearing and CCTV inspection
- →Building managers and PCBUs commissioning hydrojetting works who must verify contractor SWMS compliance
What you receive
- ✓Fully editable Microsoft Word (DOCX) SWMS document with your company branding placeholders
- ✓State-specific legislation schedule referencing WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW, QLD, VIC, SA, TAS, ACT, NT) and the WA Work Health and Safety Act 2020
- ✓Pre-populated hazard register with 10 identified hazards, risk ratings, and hierarchy-of-control responses
- ✓Worker sign-on register and daily pre-start review sheet
- ✓Confined space entry permit template aligned to AS 2865:2009
- ✓Atmospheric gas-testing log sheet and equipment calibration record
- ✓Emergency response and first aid procedure for high-pressure injection injury (including hospital notification script)
- ✓Decontamination checklist and biological exposure incident report form
- ✓PDF reference copy and revision control table for ongoing SWMS reviews
Worked example
A licensed plumber attends a commercial kitchen in Parramatta on a Tuesday morning to clear a fully blocked grease trap discharge line. Before any equipment is set up, the supervisor opens this SWMS on a tablet, walks the two-person crew through the hazard register, and obtains sign-on signatures. The crew runs a CCTV camera 18 metres into the line and identifies a hardened grease plug at the junction with the council main — no collapse, no foreign objects. Based on that inspection, the operator selects a 1/2-inch penetrating nozzle rated to 30 MPa, fits a tiger-tail sleeve at the access point, and confirms the dead-man foot pedal dumps to bypass when released. Before lifting the inspection pit lid, the assistant performs a 4-gas test: O2 reads 20.8%, H2S 4 ppm, LEL 0%, CO 0 ppm — within entry parameters, but as no entry is required for this job the pit remains a no-entry exclusion zone with a 3-metre cordon. Both workers are in injection-resistant jetting suits, face shields, P2 respirators (for aerosol from the open pit), and gauntlets. Hepatitis A/B vaccinations are current and recorded. After 25 minutes of jetting, the line is clear; the crew flushes the lance, decontaminates the hose reel and PPE with 1,000 ppm chlorine solution, washes hands at the truck-mounted potable water station, and completes the post-job entry on the SWMS confirming no incidents and no injection exposure. The signed SWMS is filed and remains available for SafeWork NSW inspection on request.
Related legislation
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth model) — Sections 19, 20, 31
- Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 — Parts 3.1, 3.2, 4.3, 4.4
- Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) and WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA)
- Plumbing and Drainage Act 2011 and associated state plumbing regulations
- Public Health Act 2010 — notifiable disease provisions for sewage-borne illness
- Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) — trade waste discharge
- Australian Immunisation Handbook (current edition) — occupational vaccination schedule
- Hazardous Chemicals Information System (HCIS) — disinfectant SDS obligations
Frequently asked questions
Is a SWMS legally required for every hydrojetting job, even routine ones?
Yes. Hydrojetting at construction-related workplaces is High Risk Construction Work under Schedule 3 of the WHS Regulation 2025 because it involves pressurised systems and frequently confined spaces. A SWMS must be prepared before work starts and remain available at the workplace, regardless of whether the job is routine. For non-construction settings (e.g. ongoing facility maintenance), a SWMS is not strictly mandated but is the recognised industry standard for documenting risk control and is generally required by client PCBUs under their own duty of care.
What pressure rating triggers fluid injection injury risk?
Fluid injection injuries can occur at pressures as low as 7 MPa (approximately 1,000 psi). Standard sewer jetters operate between 17 MPa and 35 MPa, and ultra-high-pressure units exceed 200 MPa. Any jetting work falls within the injection-injury risk range, which is why injection-resistant PPE, exclusion zones, dead-man controls, and tiger-tail hose containment are non-negotiable controls in this SWMS.
Do I need a confined space permit if I'm only jetting from outside the pit?
If no worker enters the pit and the lid remains in a controlled access state, a confined space entry permit is not required — but the pit is still treated as a no-entry exclusion zone with atmospheric monitoring at the opening. The moment any worker's head or upper body crosses the plane of the access opening, it becomes confined space entry under AS 2865:2009 and Regulation 67, requiring a permit, gas testing, stand-by person, and rescue arrangements.
What first aid response is needed for a high-pressure injection injury?
Treat every injection injury as a surgical emergency, even if the visible wound looks minor. Do not delay — the worker must be transported immediately to a hospital with surgical capability, and the receiving facility must be told it is a 'high-pressure fluid injection injury' so they prepare for surgical decompression. Provide the SDS for any chemical or contaminant in the water, document the injection pressure, and notify the regulator (SafeWork NSW or equivalent) within the timeframes set by Section 38 of the WHS Act for notifiable incidents.
Does this SWMS cover use of robotic cutters or chain-flail nozzles?
Yes. The SWMS addresses all standard nozzle types including penetrating, flushing, root-cutting rotary, and chain-flail descaling heads. The hazard register and controls cover the additional hazards of mechanical cutting nozzles (debris ejection, increased reactive force) and the nozzle selection procedure requires the operator to match the nozzle to the line condition identified during pre-job CCTV inspection.
How often should this SWMS be reviewed?
Under Regulation 301, the SWMS must be reviewed when controls are revised, when a notifiable incident occurs, when the work method or equipment changes, or when a worker raises a concern about the controls. As a baseline, we recommend a documented annual review and a re-review whenever a new jetter unit, nozzle type, or work environment is introduced. The revision control table in the supplied DOCX is designed to track this.