Plumbing Work Near or Over Water SWMS
Safe work method statement for plumbing works on structures over or adjacent to open water including marine environments, waterway crossings, and treatment plants with drowning prevention and vessel exclusion controls.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Plumbing work performed near, over or adjacent to open water presents a distinct combination of hazards that fall outside the scope of standard plumbing risk assessments. This SWMS addresses installation, maintenance, repair and replacement of pipework, fittings, valves, pumps, outfalls and associated infrastructure on bridges, jetties, wharves, pontoons, marinas, sewage and water treatment plants, stormwater outfalls, dam walls, and waterway crossings. Tasks may involve work from fixed platforms, floating workstations, small craft, or directly above tidal or flowing water where a fall, slip or equipment failure could result in immersion and drowning.
Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must manage risks to health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable. Specifically, regulation 39 requires the PCBU to identify hazards, assess risks, implement controls following the hierarchy of control, and review those controls. Where work involves a risk of drowning from a fall into liquid (regulation 80, Falls), additional control measures are mandated. Plumbing work itself is also subject to the Plumbing Code of Australia and AS/NZS 3500 series.
While this scope of work does not automatically trigger the High Risk Construction Work categories under regulation 291, a SWMS is still legally required where the work involves a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres, work in or near water where there is a risk of drowning, or where confined space entry is involved (e.g., wet wells, pump stations). Even where HRCW thresholds are not met, this SWMS provides documented evidence of risk management as required under regulation 38 and supports the PCBU's primary duty of care under section 19 of the WHS Act.
Hazards identified
17 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Fatality from immersion, cold water shock, or being swept away by current
Fatal or serious injury from impact with water surface, submerged structures, or vessels
Loss of motor function within minutes, incapacitation and drowning
Worker swept downstream, unable to self-rescue, fatality
Crush injuries, propeller laceration, fatality
Asphyxiation from H2S, methane or oxygen deficiency, drowning from inrush
Leptospirosis, hepatitis A, gastroenteritis, weil's disease
Falls into water, sprains, fractures, head injuries
Loss of balance, falls into water, dropped tools striking workers
Musculoskeletal injuries, dropped loads, secondary falls into water
Loss of equipment, environmental contamination, struck-by injuries to divers or vessels below
Envenomation, predator attack, fatality in tropical and estuarine waters
Sunburn, heat stroke, dehydration, long-term skin cancer risk
Workers blown into water, lightning strike, vessel capsize
Fire, explosion in sewer gas atmospheres, burns
Electrocution, electric shock drowning (ESD)
Delayed emergency response, fatality from injury or immersion without rescue
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Eliminate the hazard where reasonably practicable by relocating prefabrication and assembly activities to dry land, lowering completed assemblies into position only when ready to install
- 2Install engineered edge protection (guardrails, mid-rails and toe boards) compliant with AS/NZS 4994 on all elevated work surfaces above water; where edge protection is not practicable, install fall-arrest catch nets or use a travel-restraint harness system anchored to certified anchor points
- 3All workers within 2 metres of an unprotected water edge must wear an Australian Standard AS 4758 compliant Level 100 or higher Personal Flotation Device (PFD) at all times; PFDs to be inspected before each shift
- 4Implement a formal water rescue plan including a dedicated spotter/rescuer with throw-line and rescue craft on standby; plan must include emergency contact details, nearest hospital and helicopter landing point
- 5Establish a vessel exclusion zone using buoy markers, Notice to Mariners, and where applicable a safety vessel; coordinate with the relevant maritime authority (e.g., AMSA, Transport for NSW Maritime, Maritime Safety Queensland) prior to commencing work
- 6Conduct atmospheric testing before and continuously during entry to wet wells, manholes and pump stations in accordance with AS 2865; implement confined space permits, full-body harness with retrieval winch, and standby person
- 7Provide and enforce use of waterproof PPE, chemical-resistant gloves, eye protection, and Hepatitis A and tetanus vaccinations for workers exposed to sewage in line with the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines
- 8Use only RCD-protected (30mA) electrical equipment; portable generators and shore power connections to be inspected and tagged per AS/NZS 3760; double-insulated tools preferred for work near water
- 9Monitor weather and tide conditions using BOM forecasts; establish stop-work triggers for wind speeds above 35 km/h, lightning within 10 km, or rising water levels
- 10Provide non-slip footwear with marine-grade soles; apply anti-slip treatments to walkways and platforms; clean marine growth and algae from work surfaces before commencing work
- 11Tether all hand tools and small components using lanyards; use closed containers for fasteners and fittings; implement a dropped object prevention plan
- 12Implement lone worker procedures including check-in protocols every 30 minutes via UHF radio or satellite communicator; minimum two-person work teams in tidal or remote locations
- 13Schedule physically demanding work for cooler parts of the day; provide shade structures, electrolyte fluids, and rotate workers to manage heat stress per the Managing the Risks of Working in Heat Code of Practice
- 14Conduct a site-specific induction covering local hazards (crocodiles in northern waters, bull sharks in estuaries, blue-ringed octopus, irukandji jellyfish) with seasonal awareness briefings
- 15Hot works to be controlled by a hot works permit; gas test sewer atmospheres for methane and confirm LEL is below 5% before commencing welding, brazing or grinding
Applicable Codes of Practice
Direct application to fall prevention controls for work over water, including controls where a fall could result in drowning
Mandatory controls for entry into wet wells, sewer manholes, pump chambers and treatment plant tanks
Hierarchy of control application and risk management process for plumbing near water
Where plumbing work forms part of construction work on bridges, treatment plants or marine structures
Technical standard for all plumbing installations including those over and near waterways
Technical requirements for safe entry and work in confined spaces typical of treatment plant infrastructure
Specifies the performance and selection of PFDs required for work near water
Applies to floating platforms, vessels, pumps and lifting equipment used in waterway plumbing
First aid provisions including rescue equipment, drowning response and remote location requirements
Who this is for
- →Licensed plumbing contractors performing maintenance or installation works on bridges, culverts and waterway crossings
- →Civil and mechanical services contractors working on water and sewage treatment plant infrastructure
- →Marine plumbing specialists installing or servicing pipework on jetties, wharves, marinas and pontoons
- →Local government and water authority maintenance crews (e.g., Sydney Water, Yarra Valley Water, Unitywater) carrying out outfall, pump station and reticulation works
- →Project managers and site supervisors responsible for documenting and reviewing SWMS prior to high-risk plumbing tasks near water
- →WHS officers and safety advisors auditing plumbing contractor compliance for client PCBUs
What you receive
- ✓Fully editable Microsoft Word (DOCX) SWMS template pre-populated for plumbing work near or over water
- ✓State-specific legislation schedule covering NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT and NT WHS jurisdictions
- ✓Comprehensive hazard register with 17 identified hazards, risk ratings and corresponding control measures
- ✓Worker sign-on register for documenting consultation, induction and acknowledgment of the SWMS
- ✓Pre-start checklist covering tide, weather, PFD inspection, rescue equipment and atmospheric testing
- ✓Emergency response and water rescue plan template with editable site-specific fields
- ✓Plant and equipment register section for vessels, floating platforms, pumps and lifting gear
- ✓Reference list of applicable Codes of Practice, Australian Standards and WHS Regulation 2025 clauses
Worked example
A licensed plumbing contractor is engaged by a regional council to replace a corroded 150mm DN ductile iron sewer main suspended beneath a 40-metre concrete road bridge crossing a tidal estuary in northern New South Wales. The work involves cutting out a 12-metre section of pipe, installing temporary bypass pumping, and welding new HDPE pipe sections into place from a suspended scaffold approximately 6 metres above the waterline. The site supervisor uses this SWMS as the foundation document and customises it to address the specific bridge geometry, tide windows (work scheduled around slack water), and the presence of bull sharks reported in the estuary. Before work begins, all four crew members sign on to the SWMS confirming they have received the toolbox briefing. Each worker dons a Level 100 PFD, the spotter takes position on the bridge deck with a throw-line and is in radio contact with a standby rescue craft from the local marine rescue volunteer group. Atmospheric testing is conducted before any cutting begins to confirm the absence of methane in the sewer line being decommissioned. When a sudden squall develops mid-shift with lightning detected within 8 km, the SWMS stop-work trigger is invoked, the crew evacuates to the bridge deck, and work resumes 45 minutes after the last lightning strike. The completed SWMS, sign-on register and daily pre-start checklists are retained for the duration of the work plus two years in accordance with regulation 293.
Related legislation
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth model)
- Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025
- Plumbing and Drainage Act 2011 (state-specific equivalents)
- Marine Safety Act 1998 (NSW) and equivalent state maritime legislation
- Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) and state equivalents for waterway pollution
- Navigation Act 2012 (Cth) administered by AMSA for commercial vessel operations
- Public Health Act 2010 (state-specific) regarding sewage handling and worker health
Frequently asked questions
Is a SWMS legally required for plumbing work near water if it isn't classified as High Risk Construction Work?
A SWMS is mandatory under regulation 291 only when the work meets one of the 18 HRCW categories. However, even where HRCW is not triggered, the PCBU still has duties under regulation 38 to identify hazards and implement controls. Most plumbing work near water will trigger HRCW if it involves a fall risk over 2 metres or confined space entry. A documented SWMS is the most defensible way to demonstrate compliance with the primary duty of care under section 19 of the WHS Act, and most principal contractors and water authority clients require one regardless.
What level PFD is required for plumbing work over water?
AS 4758 categorises PFDs by buoyancy and intended use. For workers performing tasks over or adjacent to open water, a minimum Level 100 PFD is recommended as it provides reliable inflation and is suitable for sheltered and open waters. In offshore or rough water environments, a Level 150 with crotch strap and spray hood is appropriate. Inflatable Level 100 PFDs must be inspected before each shift and serviced annually per the manufacturer's instructions.
Do we need a confined space permit for entering a sewer pump station wet well?
Yes. A wet well meets the definition of a confined space under regulation 5 of the WHS Regulation 2025. Entry requires a confined space entry permit, atmospheric testing for oxygen, LEL, hydrogen sulphide and carbon monoxide, continuous monitoring during entry, a standby person, retrieval equipment, and workers who hold current confined space entry training (typically RIIWHS202E or equivalent). The Confined Spaces Code of Practice provides the minimum compliance standard.
How do we coordinate with maritime authorities when working over a navigable waterway?
For work over a declared navigable waterway, the contractor or principal must lodge a Notice to Mariners with the relevant authority (AMSA for Commonwealth waters, or state bodies such as Transport for NSW Maritime, Maritime Safety Queensland, Department of Transport WA). The notice details the work location, dates, exclusion zone, and contact information. A safety vessel or buoyed exclusion zone may be required. Allow at least 14 days lead time for notice issue, and document this coordination within the SWMS.
Can this SWMS be used in any Australian state or territory?
Yes. The SWMS is built on the model WHS Act and Regulation framework adopted by NSW, QLD, ACT, NT, SA, TAS, WA and the Commonwealth. The accompanying state-specific legislation schedule maps the document to each jurisdiction's regulator and any local variations. Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 — the document is still applicable as the hazard identification and control content aligns with Victorian compliance codes, though specific section references should be cross-checked.
How often should this SWMS be reviewed?
Under regulation 294, a SWMS must be reviewed and revised whenever there is a relevant change to the work, when controls are found to be inadequate, after an incident, or at the request of a health and safety representative. As a minimum we recommend a documented review every 12 months, and a fresh site-specific review at the start of each project. The editable DOCX format supports rapid revision and version control.