Plumbing Slab Coring & Penetrations SWMS

Concrete slab coring covers the cutting of core holes through concrete slabs and structures to create penetrations for plumbing pipework — drilling clean circular holes through floors, walls and slabs for pipes and services. It is a cutting task with specific hazards: the respirable crystalline silica dust generated by cutting concrete, the strike of embedded services or post-tensioning within the slab, the water used in wet coring, the weight of the core and equipment, and the structural consequences of coring through a structural element. This document is written on the basis that slab coring is carried out by a competent operator with the silica-dust, embedded-services, structural and water hazards controlled.

Concrete slab coring generates respirable crystalline silica dust, which is managed under the hazardous-chemicals and silica provisions of the WHS Regulations, with the respirable crystalline silica workplace exposure standard applying. The slab can contain embedded electrical and other services and post-tensioning that must be located before coring, and coring through a structural element can affect the structure. This document coordinates the silica-dust, embedded-services, structural and water controls so the core is cut without exposure, a strike or structural damage.

Hazards identified

9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.

1. 1Engineering: control the respirable crystalline silica dust at the source — wet coring or on-tool dust extraction — so dust is suppressed, and apply the silica controls and exposure standard.
2. 2Engineering: locate embedded services and post-tensioning within the slab before coring — using plans, scanning and detection — and do not core where post-tensioning or services are present without assessment, because striking post-tensioning can cause violent strand release and structural failure.
3. 3Administrative: assess the structural consequences of coring a structural element, with engineering input where required, so the structure is not weakened.
4. 4Engineering: manage the coring water and slurry, controlling slips and the electrical hazard, and protect powered equipment against the wet conditions.
5. 5Engineering: control the falling core and debris — securing the core and establishing an exclusion zone below the penetration — so it does not fall onto people below.
6. 6PPE: respiratory protection appropriate to the residual silica dust, hearing protection, and anti-vibration measures, per AS/NZS 1715 and AS/NZS 1716.
7. 7Engineering: use mechanical aids for the weight of the core and equipment, and manage the noise and vibration hazard.
8. 8Administrative: ensure the work is carried out and certified by an appropriately licensed plumber or drainer under the relevant state or territory plumbing licensing scheme, with the relevant competencies and a compliance certificate issued where required.
9. 9Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001) before entering any construction workplace, with the plumbing, excavation, confined space and any other competencies and licences required for the work.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 12PPE: eye protection to AS/NZS 1337.1, hearing protection where required, gloves appropriate to the task, high-visibility clothing, and Class I or Class II safety footwear with protective toecap to AS/NZS 2210.3.
13. 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

Worked example

A concrete coring operator is engaged to cut core holes through a concrete floor slab for plumbing pipework. Before coring, embedded services and post-tensioning within the slab are located using plans, scanning and detection, and coring is not carried out where post-tensioning or services are present without assessment, recognising that striking post-tensioning can cause violent strand release and structural failure. The structural consequences of coring the slab are assessed with engineering input. The respirable crystalline silica dust is controlled at the source with wet coring so dust is suppressed, and the silica controls and exposure standard applied. The coring water and slurry are managed, controlling slips and the electrical hazard, and powered equipment protected against the wet conditions. The falling core and debris are controlled by securing the core and establishing an exclusion zone below. Respiratory protection, hearing protection and anti-vibration measures are used, and mechanical aids used for the weight. The cores are cut, and the records retained.

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 excavation, confined space and pressurised-pipe provisions where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
• The relevant plumbing and drainage standards AS/NZS 3500 (Parts 0–5), the excavation and confined space Codes of Practice, the pressure equipment and pipework standards, and the silica Code of Practice where cutting concrete, are called up by the relevant legislation, together with the Before You Dig Australia information and the relevant utility requirements.
• Plumbing and drainage work is licensed under each state and territory's plumbing licensing scheme, with the relevant competencies for excavation, confined space and specialist work, and compliance certification required for notifiable work; electrical work is carried out by a licensed electrician.
• Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017, with the high risk construction work, excavation and confined space provisions applying in place of the model instruments.

Frequently asked questions