Pool Tiling & Waterline Tile SWMS

Pool tiling and waterline installation covers the tiling of swimming pools — installing the waterline tiles, the interior tiling and the mosaic finishes on the pool shell, working inside the empty pool. It combines the tiling work with the pool environment: the respirable crystalline silica from cutting tiles, the working inside the empty pool shell with the access and fall hazards, the tile adhesives and chemicals, and the wet work. This document is written on the basis that pool tiling is carried out by competent tilers with the silica, shell-access, chemical and manual-handling controls in place.

Pool tiling and waterline installation is carried out in connection with the construction work Code of Practice, with respirable crystalline silica from cutting tiles controlled at the source, the working inside the empty pool shell managed with safe access and fall prevention, the tile adhesives and chemicals managed, and the manual handling controlled. The silica, the shell access and falls, the chemicals, and the manual handling are the considerations. This document coordinates the silica, shell-access, chemical and manual-handling controls so the pool tiling is carried out safely.

Hazards identified

9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

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

1. 1Engineering: control respirable crystalline silica from cutting, grinding, coring or shotcrete at the source — water suppression or on-tool dust extraction — never dry-cutting uncontrolled, with respiratory protection as required, recognising the workplace exposure standard for silica reduces on 1 December 2026.
2. 2Engineering: prevent falls into the open pool shell and excavation with barriers, edge protection and covers, and provide safe access into and out of the shell.
3. 3Engineering: provide safe access into and out of the pool shell — ladders, ramps or steps appropriate to the depth — and prevent falls into the shell.
4. 4Administrative: manage the tile adhesives, grouts and chemicals to their safety data sheets, with skin, eye and respiratory protection, and manage alkaline grout and cement burns with protection and washing.
5. 5Administrative: manage wet work and slips inside the pool, and use mechanical aids and correct technique for the tiles and materials.
6. 6Administrative: manage dust and restricted working in the shell, and the awkward postures of tiling the shell with task rotation and breaks.
7. 7Administrative: provide ventilation where working in the shell with adhesives and chemicals, and confirm the work area is safe.
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 tiler is engaged to install the waterline and interior tiling of a swimming pool. Respirable crystalline silica from cutting tiles is controlled at the source with water suppression or on-tool extraction, never dry-cutting uncontrolled, with respiratory protection as required, recognising the silica exposure standard reduces on 1 December 2026. Falls into the empty pool shell are prevented with barriers and edge protection, and safe access into and out of the shell provided — ladders, ramps or steps appropriate to the depth. The tile adhesives, grouts and chemicals are managed to their safety data sheets with skin, eye and respiratory protection, and alkaline grout and cement burns managed with protection and washing. Wet work and slips inside the pool are managed, and mechanical aids used for the tiles. Dust and restricted working in the shell, and the awkward postures of tiling, are managed with task rotation and breaks. Ventilation is provided where working with adhesives. The work area is confirmed safe, 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