Sewer Pump Station Install SWMS
A Safe Work Method Statement for sewer pump station 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.
Pump station installation covers the installation of wastewater and stormwater pump stations — the wet well or chamber, the pumps, the rising main, the controls and the connection — used to lift wastewater or stormwater where it cannot drain by gravity. It is plumbing and civil work that combines deep excavation for the wet well, confined space entry into the wet well and chamber, the biological hazards of wastewater, electrical work for the pumps and controls, and the manual handling and lifting of heavy pumps and components. This document is written on the basis that the pump station is installed by a licensed plumber with the excavation, confined-space, biological and electrical hazards controlled, and the electrical work carried out by a licensed electrician.
Pump station plumbing is carried out to the relevant parts of AS/NZS 3500 and the network utility's or authority's requirements, which govern the station, the rising main and the connection. The work involves deep excavation for the wet well, controlled to the excavation Code of Practice with existing services located first, and confined space entry into the wet well, which can be oxygen-deficient and contain toxic and flammable gases. The pump and control electrical work is carried out by a licensed electrician. This document coordinates the plumbing-standard, excavation, confined-space, biological and electrical controls so the pump station is installed safely.
Hazards identified
9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Oxygen deficiency, toxic gases and restricted egress in the wet well
Burial and crush injury from collapsing deep excavation walls
Infection and illness from contact with wastewater
Poisoning or fire from gases accumulating in the wet well
Electric shock where pumps and controls are connected without a licensed electrician
Crush and musculoskeletal injury lifting heavy pumps and equipment
Electrocution, gas release or service damage where services are not located
Trench instability and working in water in the deep excavation
Pressure release and uncontrolled flow during commissioning
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Engineering: install the pump station to the relevant parts of AS/NZS 3500 and the network utility's or authority's requirements — the wet well, pumps, rising main, controls and connection.
- 2Administrative: where entry into the wet well or chamber is required, apply the confined space entry permit, atmospheric testing for oxygen, hydrogen sulphide and methane, ventilation, standby and rescue controls to the confined spaces Code of Practice.
- 3Engineering: control the deep excavation for the wet well to the excavation Code of Practice with shoring, benching or battering and ground assessment, with existing services located first and a SWMS for the excavation.
- 4Administrative: have the pump and control electrical work carried out by a licensed electrician with the supply isolated, coordinating the plumbing and electrical work.
- 5Engineering: use mechanical lifting and rated lifting equipment to install heavy pumps and components, controlling the crush and manual-handling hazard.
- 6Administrative: manage the biological hazard with hygiene controls, washing facilities and decontamination, and prohibition of eating, drinking and smoking until decontaminated.
- 7Engineering: manage water ingress in the deep excavation, control the pump start-up and rising main pressure during commissioning, and maintain plant-and-pedestrian separation with a spotter.
- 8Administrative: ensure the work is carried out and certified by an appropriately licensed plumber or gasfitter under the relevant state or territory plumbing and gasfitting licensing scheme, with a compliance certificate issued where required.
- 9Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001) before entering any construction workplace, with the plumbing, gasfitting and any confined space competencies and licences required for the work.
- 10Administrative: conduct a daily 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, 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 sanitary plumbing and drainage standard for the wastewater pump station plumbing and connection.
Atmospheric testing, ventilation, entry permit and rescue controls where the work involves entry into a confined drainage structure.
Trenching and excavation controls including support against collapse, ground assessment and existing services.
Electrical safety and isolation for the pump and control electrical work, carried out by a licensed electrician.
The risk management process and hierarchy of controls applied to the hazards of the work.
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Entry into the wet well or chamber of a pump station that may be oxygen-deficient or have a contaminated or flammable atmosphere is work in a confined space, which is high risk construction work requiring a SWMS before the work commences.
Installing the wet well requires deep excavation greater than 1.5 metres, which is high risk construction work requiring a SWMS before the work commences.
This is licensed plumbing or gasfitting work that, in the circumstances described, is high risk construction work — in or near a confined space; and in or near a shaft or trench with an excavated depth greater than 1.5 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, where gas is involved, AS/NZS 5601.1:2022, which are called up by the state and territory plumbing and gas safety legislation, with the excavation, confined space or work-at-height controls applied as relevant. A failure in this work can cause serious injury or harm to the water supply or the public, and breaches of the plumbing and gas 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 installing wastewater and stormwater pump stations.
- →Civil and drainage contractors constructing pump station wet wells and rising mains.
- →Plumbing businesses carrying out pump station installation.
- →Network utilities, developers and PCBUs commissioning pump stations.
- →PCBU safety managers and supervisors coordinating the excavation, confined-space and electrical 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 pump station installation hazards — each with a documented consequence, inherent risk rating on a 5x5 likelihood-consequence matrix, hierarchy-of-control measures, and residual risk rating.
- ✓Pump station installation prompts referencing AS/NZS 3500 and authority requirements, a confined-space wet-well-entry section, a deep-excavation control section, and an electrical-coordination and commissioning section.
- ✓Licensing and compliance-certificate prompts for the relevant plumbing and gasfitting scheme, 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 install a wastewater pump station to lift wastewater from a low-lying development to the sewer. The pump station is installed to the relevant parts of AS/NZS 3500 and the authority's requirements, with the wet well, pumps, rising main, controls and connection. Existing services are located and protected before excavation, and the deep excavation for the wet well is shored and benched to the excavation Code of Practice with ground assessment, and a SWMS prepared. Entry into the wet well is carried out under a confined space entry permit, with atmospheric testing for oxygen, hydrogen sulphide and methane, ventilation, standby and rescue controls. The heavy pumps and components are installed using rated lifting equipment, controlling the crush hazard. The pump and control electrical work is carried out by a licensed electrician with the supply isolated. The biological hazard is managed with hygiene controls, washing facilities and decontamination. Water ingress in the excavation is managed and plant-and-pedestrian separation maintained. The station is commissioned with the pump start-up and rising main pressure controlled. The plumber issues the compliance certificate and retains the records.
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 and excavation provisions where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
- The relevant plumbing and drainage standards AS/NZS 3500 (Parts 0–5), AS/NZS 1547 for on-site wastewater, and, for gas, AS/NZS 5601.1:2022, are called up by the state and territory plumbing and gas safety legislation, together with the requirements of the relevant network utility or authority.
- Plumbing and gasfitting work is licensed under each state and territory's plumbing and gasfitting licensing scheme, with compliance certification required for notifiable work.
- 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 and excavation provisions applying in place of the model instruments.
Frequently asked questions
What is a pump station and where is it used?
A pump station lifts wastewater or stormwater where it cannot drain by gravity, using a wet well or chamber, pumps, a rising main and controls. It is used in low-lying developments and where the levels do not allow gravity drainage, and its installation combines deep excavation, confined space entry, biological and electrical hazards that are controlled.
What confined space hazards apply to a pump station wet well?
The wet well or chamber can meet the confined space definition and may be oxygen-deficient or contain toxic and flammable gases such as hydrogen sulphide and methane, with restricted egress. Entry is carried out under a confined space entry permit with atmospheric testing for those gases, ventilation, standby and rescue controls, and the work is high risk construction work requiring a SWMS.
What excavation controls apply to installing the wet well?
Installing the wet well requires deep excavation greater than the regulated depth, so existing services are located and protected first, the excavation is shored, benched or battered to the excavation Code of Practice with ground assessment, and a SWMS is prepared. Water ingress is managed and plant-and-pedestrian separation maintained around the deep excavation.
Who carries out the electrical work on a pump station?
The pump and control electrical work is carried out by a licensed electrician with the supply isolated, coordinating the plumbing and electrical work, because it is electrical work. The plumber installs the pump station and its plumbing, and the electrical connection of the pumps and controls is carried out by the appropriate licensed electrical practitioner.
How are heavy pumps installed safely?
Heavy pumps and components are installed using mechanical lifting and rated lifting equipment, controlling the crush and manual-handling hazards, particularly where they are lowered into a deep wet well. Using rated lifting equipment and a planned lift ensures the pumps are installed without injury and without entering the wet well unnecessarily.