Water Jetting Drains (High-Pressure) SWMS
High-pressure water jetting of stormwater and sewer drains covers jet rodder operation, rotary nozzle selection, biological hazard controls for sewer work, and pressure ratings up to 5000 psi for blockage clearance.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
High-pressure water jetting of drains covers the clearing and cleaning of drains and sewers using high-pressure water to cut through blockages, roots and build-up and restore flow. The defining hazard is the high-pressure water itself, which can penetrate skin and inject water and contaminants into the body, causing severe injury that may appear minor at the surface, together with the biological hazards of sewage, the splash-back and aerosol of contaminated water, the sudden release of a blockage, and the potential for confined space entry. This document is written on the basis that drain jetting is carried out by a competent operator with the high-pressure-injection, biological and confined-space hazards rigorously controlled.
High-pressure water jetting of drains is plumbing work carried out in connection with AS/NZS 3500.2, using high-pressure jetting equipment to AS/NZS 4233. High-pressure water can inject through the skin and cause severe injury, so the equipment, hoses and operation are managed with particular care, and any high-pressure injury is treated as a medical emergency. The biological hazards of sewage and the splash-back and aerosol of contaminated water are managed, and entry into drainage structures follows the confined space controls. This document coordinates the high-pressure, biological, sudden-release and confined-space controls so the drains are jetted without injury or contamination.
Hazards identified
9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Severe injection injury that can appear minor at the surface but cause serious internal damage
Impact and high-pressure injury from a hose or fitting failure under pressure
Infection and illness from contact with or splash-back of sewage
Eye, face and respiratory exposure to contaminated water and aerosol
Engulfment, splash and uncontrolled flow when the blockage is released
Oxygen deficiency, contaminated atmosphere and restricted egress in the structure
Loss of control or injury from the reaction force of the jetting hose
Musculoskeletal injury from heavy and awkward equipment
Fall and impact injury around wet areas and open drainage
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Engineering: use high-pressure jetting equipment fitted and operated to its safe working requirements to AS/NZS 4233 — rated hoses and fittings, dump or dead-man controls, the correct nozzle — and keep hands and body clear of the jet at all times.
- 2Administrative: never place any part of the body in line with or near the high-pressure jet, control the reaction force of the hose, and treat all high-pressure injuries as serious and seek immediate medical attention even where the surface wound appears minor.
- 3Administrative: manage the biological hazard with hygiene controls, washing facilities, gloves and protective clothing, and prohibition of eating, drinking and smoking until decontaminated.
- 4PPE: face shield and eye protection, waterproof protective clothing, and respiratory protection where aerosol of contaminated water is generated, per AS/NZS 1715 and AS/NZS 1716.
- 5Administrative: anticipate and control the sudden release of a blockage and any surcharge — positioning workers clear and controlling flow — so the release does not cause splash, engulfment or uncontrolled flow.
- 6Administrative: where entry into a maintenance hole or confined drainage structure is required, apply the confined space entry permit, atmospheric testing, ventilation, standby and rescue controls to the confined spaces Code of Practice.
- 7Engineering: manage the discharge of contaminated water so it does not spread or enter stormwater, and use mechanical aids for heavy equipment.
- 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.
- 9Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001) where the work is construction work, with the plumbing, confined space and any other competencies required for the work.
- 10Administrative: conduct a 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, high-visibility clothing, 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 drainage system being jetted.
The safe operation, equipment and controls for high-pressure water jetting systems.
Atmospheric testing, ventilation, entry permit and rescue controls where the work involves entry into a confined space.
Selection, fit testing and use of respiratory protection where atmospheric, chemical or biological hazards require it for the work.
The risk management process and hierarchy of controls applied to the hazards of the work.
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Where drain jetting requires entry into a maintenance hole or confined drainage structure that may have a contaminated atmosphere, the work is high risk construction work requiring a SWMS before the work commences.
This is licensed plumbing, drainage or service work that, in the circumstances described, is high risk construction work — in or near a confined space — 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, AS/NZS 1547 for on-site wastewater, and the confined space and hazardous chemicals requirements, which are called up by the relevant legislation, with the confined-space, biological, chemical and environmental controls applied as relevant. A failure in this work can cause an atmospheric incident, chemical or biological exposure, or harm to the water supply or waterways, and breaches of the relevant 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
- →Competent operators jetting drains and sewers.
- →Drain cleaning crews operating high-pressure jetting equipment.
- →Plumbing and drainage businesses providing drain jetting.
- →Facility managers and PCBUs engaging drain jetting contractors.
- →PCBU safety managers and supervisors coordinating the high-pressure, biological and confined-space 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 high-pressure water jetting of drains hazards — each with a documented consequence, inherent risk rating on a 5x5 likelihood-consequence matrix, hierarchy-of-control measures, and residual risk rating.
- ✓Drain jetting prompts referencing AS/NZS 4233 and AS/NZS 3500.2, an injection-injury and reaction-force section, a biological-hazard and splash-control section, and a confined-space entry section where applicable.
- ✓Licensing, competency and permit prompts for the relevant plumbing, confined space and hazardous chemicals work, 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 drain cleaning operator is engaged to jet a blocked sewer using high-pressure water. The jetting equipment is set up and operated to its safe working requirements to AS/NZS 4233, with rated hoses and fittings, a dead-man control, and the correct nozzle, and the operator keeps hands and body clear of the jet at all times, controlling the reaction force of the hose, and treating the high-pressure water as capable of injection injury. The biological hazard is managed with waterproof protective clothing, a face shield and eye protection, washing facilities, and no eating or drinking until decontaminated, with respiratory protection where aerosol is generated. When the blockage clears, the crew is positioned clear and the sudden release and surcharge controlled so the flow does not splash or engulf. The work is carried out from the surface where possible; where access to a maintenance hole is required, the confined space controls apply. The discharge of contaminated water is managed so it does not enter stormwater. The crew decontaminates on completion, 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 confined space and hazardous chemicals 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, AS/NZS 4233 for high-pressure water jetting, and the hazardous chemicals and environmental requirements, are called up by the relevant legislation, together with the relevant network utility and asset owner requirements.
- Plumbing and drainage work is licensed under each state and territory's plumbing licensing scheme, with the relevant competencies for confined space and chemical 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, confined space and hazardous chemicals provisions applying in place of the model instruments.
Frequently asked questions
Why is high-pressure water jetting dangerous?
High-pressure water can penetrate skin and inject water and contaminants into the body, causing severe injury that may appear minor at the surface but cause serious internal damage. Hands and body are kept clear of the jet at all times, the equipment is operated to its safe working requirements, and any high-pressure injury is treated as a medical emergency even where the surface wound looks minor.
What protects against the biological hazard?
Contact with and splash-back of sewage and contaminated water carries infection risk, so waterproof protective clothing, a face shield and eye protection, washing facilities, and prohibition of eating, drinking and smoking until decontaminated are used, with respiratory protection where contaminated aerosol is generated. Decontamination on completion prevents the spread of contamination.
What is the reaction force of the jetting hose?
The high-pressure jetting hose generates a reaction force that can cause the operator to lose control or be injured, so the reaction force is controlled and the hose handled correctly. Controlling the reaction force, along with keeping clear of the jet, is part of operating the jetting equipment safely under AS/NZS 4233.
What happens when a blockage suddenly clears?
When a blockage clears, water and material held back can be released suddenly and the drain can surcharge, causing splash, uncontrolled flow or engulfment. The crew anticipates the release, positions clear, and controls the flow, so the sudden clearing of the blockage does not injure anyone or spread contamination.
Does drain jetting involve confined space entry?
It can, where jetting requires entry into a maintenance hole or confined drainage structure that may have a contaminated atmosphere. In those cases the confined space entry permit, atmospheric testing, ventilation, standby and rescue controls apply, and the work is high risk construction work requiring a SWMS. Where the work can be done from the surface, entry is avoided.