Retail Counter & Cabinet Install SWMS

Retail counter installation covers the installation of retail counters and service counters in retail and commercial premises — installing the counter joinery, cabinetry and benchtops as part of a shop fit-out, with the electrical fit-off for point-of-sale and the fixing to the floor and walls. The hazards are the manual handling of the heavy counter and benchtop components, the fixing into masonry with its silica and dust, the electrical fit-off, and the work in occupied premises. This document is written on the basis that retail counter installation is carried out with the manual-handling, silica, electrical and occupied-premises controls in place.

Retail counter installation is carried out as construction work in connection with the manual handling and electrical requirements, with the heavy counter components handled safely, the fixing into masonry and any silica controlled, the electrical fit-off carried out by a licensed electrician, and the occupied premises managed. The manual handling, the silica, the electrical, and the occupied premises are the considerations. This document coordinates the manual-handling, silica, electrical and occupied-premises controls so the retail counter 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 aids and team lifting for the heavy and awkward cabinets, joinery, panels, glass, fixtures and equipment, and manage the manual-handling and awkward-posture hazard with correct technique and the hierarchy of controls for hazardous manual tasks.
2. 2Engineering: control respirable crystalline silica and dust from drilling, cutting or grinding masonry, concrete, tiles, fibre-cement or stone at the source — on-tool dust extraction or water suppression — never dry-cutting uncontrolled, with respiratory protection, recognising the workplace exposure standard for silica reduces on 1 December 2026.
3. 3Administrative: have all electrical work — the fit-off of lighting, power, point-of-sale and equipment — carried out by a licensed electrician, with isolation and lockout of circuits, insulated tools and testing, and do not work on energised electrical equipment.
4. 4Administrative: manage the work in occupied, trading or public premises by segregating the work area from the public and occupants with barriers and signage, working out of hours where required, and protecting customers, occupants and the public from the work.
5. 5Engineering: use the power tools and plant — saws, drills, nail guns, routers and grinders — safely to the plant requirements and the manufacturer's instructions, with guarding in place and the tools maintained.
6. 6Engineering: where stone benchtops are cut, control the respirable crystalline silica at the source with water suppression or extraction, never dry-cutting uncontrolled, with respiratory protection.
7. 7Engineering: fix and secure the counter to the floor and walls so it is stable, and manage the awkward postures and sharp edges and fixings.
8. 8Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001), with the trade, electrical, gas and other competencies required for the work, and any shopping centre or building induction.
9. 9Administrative: conduct a pre-start toolbox talk covering the day's work, identified hazards, the occupied-premises and public-proximity arrangements, 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, 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: confirm the work is completed safely, the installations are secure, the electrical and services are safe, and the premises are left clean and safe.

Applicable Codes of Practice

Worked example

Shop fitters are engaged to install a retail counter in a fit-out. The heavy counter and benchtop components are handled with mechanical aids and team lifting. Silica and dust from fixing into masonry and cutting are controlled at the source with on-tool dust extraction or water suppression, never dry-cutting uncontrolled, with respiratory protection, recognising the silica exposure standard reduces on 1 December 2026. Where stone benchtops are cut, the respirable crystalline silica is controlled at the source with water suppression or extraction. The electrical fit-off for point-of-sale is carried out by a licensed electrician under isolation. The occupied or trading premises are managed by segregating the work area from the public. The power tools and plant are used safely. The counter is fixed and secured to the floor and walls so it is stable, and the awkward postures and sharp edges managed. The counter is installed, the electrical 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 — the construction work, falls, electrical, hazardous manual tasks and plant provisions, and the Section 291 high risk construction work and SWMS duties where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
• The construction work, falls, electrical and hazardous chemicals Codes of Practice, and the relevant standards such as AS 1288 for glass, AS/NZS 5601.2 for commercial catering gas and AS/NZS 3000 for wiring, are called up by the relevant safety legislation for the fit-out.
• Electrical work is carried out by a licensed electrician, gas work by a licensed gasfitter, and plumbing work by a licensed plumber, under each state and territory's licensing schemes; work in shopping centres and occupied buildings is also subject to the centre or building rules.
• Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017, with the construction, falls, electrical and high risk construction work provisions applying in place of the model instruments.

Frequently asked questions