Shaft Sinking SWMS
Vertical shaft excavation by drill-blast, raise bore, or shaft sinking jumbo. Stagework, ground support, hoisting safety, confined-space classification at depth.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Shaft sinking involves vertical excavation via drill-and-blast, raise boring, or jumbo, with stagework, ground support, and hoisting at depth. Under WHS Regulation 2025 s.291, this work is High Risk Construction Work triggering mandatory SWMS before commencement under multiple Schedule 1 categories including shafts, confined space, and explosives.
Hazards identified
3 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Crush fatality, traumatic injury to workers below
Asphyxiation, acute toxic exposure, unconsciousness
Fatal impact injuries to personnel on stage
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Install ground support per geotechnical design; conduct shift scaling and barring before re-entry below.
- 2Continuous atmospheric monitoring (O2, CO, NO2, CH4); forced ventilation and re-entry clearance after blasting.
- 3Certified hoisting plant with overwind protection, signal protocols, exclusion zones, and toe-boards on stages.
Applicable Codes of Practice
Mandatory controls for shafts exceeding 1.5m depth
Entry permit, atmospheric testing, standby attendant
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Shaft sinking inherently exceeds 1.5m vertical depth requiring engineered ground support.
Shaft atmosphere at depth meets confined space definition with restricted egress and oxygen risk.
SWMS mandatory before work; stop-work and Category 1-3 penalties apply.
What you receive
- ✓Editable DOCX SWMS template
- ✓State-specific WHS legislation schedule
- ✓Project hazard register
- ✓Worker sign-on register
Related legislation
- WHS Act 2011
- WHS Regulation 2025 Schedule 1
- AS 3785 Underground Mining Mechanical Equipment