Pool Covers & Rollers Installation SWMS

Pool cover and roller installation covers the installation of pool covers and their roller systems — fitting the pool cover, the roller mechanism and any automatic cover system at the pool. It combines the installation with the pool-edge environment: the manual handling of the cover and roller, the entrapment and pinch hazard of the roller mechanism, and the working at the pool edge with the fall-into-the-water hazard. This document is written on the basis that pool cover and roller installation is carried out with the manual-handling, mechanism, pool-edge and plant controls in place.

Pool cover and roller installation is carried out in connection with the construction work Code of Practice and the plant requirements, with the cover and roller handled safely, the roller mechanism's entrapment and pinch points managed, and the working at the pool edge controlled against falls into the water. The manual handling, the roller mechanism, the pool edge, and the plant are the considerations. This document coordinates the manual-handling, mechanism, pool-edge and plant controls so the pool cover and roller is installed safely.

Hazards identified

9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

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

1. 1Engineering: use mechanical lifting and team lifting for the heavy materials and equipment, controlling the crush and manual-handling hazard.
2. 2Engineering: manage the entrapment and pinch points of the roller mechanism — guarding, safe operation and keeping hands clear — because the roller mechanism can entrap and pinch.
3. 3Engineering: prevent falls into the pool water from working at the pool edge with barriers, edge protection or covers where practicable, recognising the water as a drowning hazard.
4. 4Engineering: install and operate the roller and cover plant and mechanism safely to the plant requirements, with the fixings and anchorage adequate.
5. 5Administrative: have any electrical work for an automatic cover system carried out by a licensed electrician with the pool electrical requirements.
6. 6Administrative: manage the awkward postures of installing the cover and roller with task rotation, and manage slips and trips at the pool edge.
7. 7Administrative: confirm the cover, roller and mechanism operate safely on completion.
8. 8Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001), with the pool-construction, plumbing, electrical, gasfitting, confined space and any other competencies and licences required for the work.
9. 9Administrative: 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.
10. 10Administrative: 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.
11. 11PPE: 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.
12. 12Administrative: 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.
13. 13Administrative: ensure each part of the work is carried out by the appropriately licensed or competent person — pool builder, licensed plumber, licensed electrician and licensed gasfitter as relevant — under the applicable state or territory licensing scheme, with compliance certification where required.

Applicable Codes of Practice

Worked example

A worker is engaged to install a pool cover and roller system. The cover and roller are handled with mechanical and team lifting, controlling the crush and manual-handling hazard. The entrapment and pinch points of the roller mechanism are managed — guarding, safe operation and keeping hands clear — because the roller mechanism can entrap and pinch. Falls into the pool water from working at the edge are prevented with barriers and edge protection where practicable, recognising the water as a drowning hazard. The roller and cover plant and mechanism are installed and operated safely to the plant requirements, with the fixings and anchorage adequate. Any electrical work for an automatic cover system is carried out by a licensed electrician with the pool electrical requirements. The awkward postures of installing the cover and roller are managed with task rotation, and slips and trips at the pool edge managed. The cover, roller and mechanism are confirmed to operate safely 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 excavation, confined space and electrical provisions where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
• The swimming pool safety standards AS 1926.1, AS 1926.2 and AS 1926.3, the electrical Wiring Rules AS/NZS 3000, the plumbing and drainage standards AS/NZS 3500, AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 for gas, and the hazardous chemicals and silica requirements, are called up by the relevant building, plumbing, electrical, gas and safety legislation, together with the National Construction Code and local council requirements.
• Pool construction, plumbing, electrical and gasfitting work is licensed under each state and territory's licensing schemes, with electrical work carried out by a licensed electrician and gas work by a licensed gasfitter, and compliance certification required for notifiable work; pool safety barrier requirements apply under state and territory pool-safety laws.
• 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, confined space and electrical provisions applying in place of the model instruments.

Frequently asked questions