Stonemasonry & Stone Cutting SWMS
Stonemasonry and stone cutting — natural stone dressing, masonry wall construction, stone cutting with angle grinder and wet saw, and stone cladding installation.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Stonemasonry and stone cutting is one of the highest-risk trades in Australia for respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure. This SWMS covers natural stone dressing, masonry wall construction, stone cutting using angle grinders and wet saws, and stone cladding installation. Cutting, grinding, polishing and dressing of sandstone, granite, bluestone and engineered stone all generate respirable silica dust at levels that routinely exceed the workplace exposure standard of 0.05 mg/m³ (8-hour TWA) without rigorous controls.
Under the model Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and WHS Regulation 2025 (adopted in NSW, Qld, SA, Tas, ACT, NT and WA, with equivalent provisions in Victoria under OHS Act 2004 and OHS Regulations 2017), a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) must prepare a SWMS before commencing High Risk Construction Work (HRCW). Stone cutting and dressing falls under HRCW Category 19 (work involving or likely to involve disturbing asbestos was previously category 14; silica is captured under the broader hazardous chemical and dust HRCW provisions and the dedicated crystalline silica regulations introduced from 2024).
This SWMS aligns with the Safe Work Australia Code of Practice: Working with Crystalline Silica Substances (2020), the prohibition on engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs from 1 July 2024, AS/NZS 1715/1716 (respiratory protection) and AS/NZS 1269 (noise management). Failure to prepare, communicate and comply with a SWMS for HRCW is a Category 2 offence under section 33 of the WHS Act, attracting penalties up to $1.8 million for a body corporate.
Hazards identified
11 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Accelerated silicosis, chronic silicosis, lung cancer, COPD, autoimmune disease — irreversible and potentially fatal
Breach of national engineered stone prohibition; extreme silicosis risk due to >90% silica content
Severe lacerations, facial and eye injuries, amputation
Crush injuries, musculoskeletal disorders, hernias, back injuries
Noise-induced hearing loss, tinnitus — exceeds AS/NZS 1269 exposure standard of 85 dB(A) LAeq,8h
Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), Raynaud's phenomenon, nerve damage
Slip hazards, electrical hazards from water near 240V tools, environmental contamination
Struck-by injuries to workers below, fatal head injuries
Corneal abrasion, foreign body penetration, permanent vision loss
Falls from scaffold, mobile platforms or trestles — serious injury or death
Chemical burns, dermatitis, respiratory sensitisation, eye damage
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1ELIMINATION: Do not cut, grind or process engineered stone — prohibited nationally from 1 July 2024 under WHS Regulation 2025. Substitute with porcelain, sintered stone or natural stone alternatives.
- 2ENGINEERING — On-tool water suppression: All cutting and grinding to be performed wet using integrated water feed at minimum 0.5 L/min, or with H-class HEPA-filtered local exhaust ventilation (LEV) capturing dust at the source.
- 3ENGINEERING — Isolated cutting stations: Establish dedicated wet-cutting bays with fixed extraction, slurry capture and physical separation from other workers (minimum 5 m exclusion zone).
- 4ADMINISTRATIVE — Air monitoring: Conduct personal RCS air monitoring per AS 2985 at task commencement and at minimum every 12 months, or whenever controls or processes change. Workplace exposure standard is 0.05 mg/m³ (8-hour TWA).
- 5ADMINISTRATIVE — Health monitoring: All workers exposed to RCS must undergo health monitoring in accordance with WHS Regulation 2025 Schedule 14, including baseline and biennial low-dose HRCT chest scans and respiratory questionnaires by a registered medical practitioner.
- 6PPE — Respiratory protection: Minimum P2 half-face respirator for low-exposure tasks; powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) with P3 filter for cutting, grinding or dressing operations. Fit-test annually per AS/NZS 1715.
- 7PPE — Hearing protection: Class 5 earmuffs or dual protection (plugs + muffs) for tools exceeding 100 dB(A); selected per AS/NZS 1270.
- 8PPE — Eye and face protection: Wide-vision goggles AS/NZS 1337.1 plus face shield when using angle grinders or chipping.
- 9ANGLE GRINDER CONTROLS: Only diamond-rated wet-cut blades; guard fitted at all times; two-handed operation with auxiliary handle; RCD protection on all 240V circuits; no abrasive cutting discs on stone.
- 10MANUAL HANDLING: Mechanical lifting (vacuum lifters, slab trolleys, jib cranes) for stone over 25 kg; two-person lift for 16–25 kg; pre-task manual handling assessment documented.
- 11HOUSEKEEPING: No dry sweeping or compressed air for clean-up. Use H-class HEPA vacuum or wet methods. Clean PPE, clothing and work area at end of each task and shift.
- 12DECONTAMINATION: Provide change facilities, separate clean/dirty lockers, and laundering of work clothing on-site. Workers must not wear dust-contaminated clothing home.
- 13TRAINING: All workers to complete silica awareness training (Safe Work Australia model or RTO-delivered) before commencing work, with annual refresher.
- 14FALL PROTECTION: Edge protection, scaffold compliant with AS/NZS 1576, or EWP for cladding installation above 2 m. Tool tethering and exclusion zones below.
Applicable Codes of Practice
Primary CoP for managing RCS in stonemasonry — controls hierarchy, air monitoring, health monitoring, training requirements
Mandates RCS exposure standard (0.05 mg/m³), health monitoring, and air monitoring obligations
SWMS preparation requirements for HRCW, principal contractor duties, consultation
RPE selection, fit-testing, program management for silica-exposed workers
Performance standard for P2/P3 filters and PAPR systems used in stone cutting
Noise risk assessment, control hierarchy, hearing protection selection and audiometry
Sampling methodology for RCS personal air monitoring
Compliance with 85 dB(A) LAeq,8h exposure standard and 140 dB(C) peak
Risk management for handling stone slabs, blocks and cladding
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Cutting, grinding, dressing and polishing natural stone (sandstone, granite, bluestone) liberates respirable crystalline silica well above the 0.05 mg/m³ workplace exposure standard. Stonemasonry is explicitly captured under the silica HRCW provisions in WHS Regulation 2025 and the national crystalline silica framework introduced from 1 September 2024.
Because this work is HRCW, regulation 299 of the WHS Regulation 2025 requires a SWMS to be prepared before work commences, kept available for inspection, and reviewed if controls are not effective. Conducting HRCW without a compliant SWMS is a strict-liability offence. Failure to prepare a SWMS attracts penalties of up to $6,000 (individual) or $30,000 (body corporate); a Category 2 reckless conduct offence under s.32 of the WHS Act attracts up to $300,000 or 5 years imprisonment for an individual, and $1.8 million for a body corporate.
Who this is for
- →Stonemasons and apprentices undertaking natural stone cutting, dressing and installation
- →Stone cladding and feature wall installation contractors
- →Heritage and restoration masonry contractors working with sandstone and bluestone
- →Landscape construction businesses cutting pavers, capping and feature stone on-site
- →Principal contractors engaging stonemasonry subcontractors on commercial and residential projects
- →Self-employed stonemasons operating as sole-trader PCBUs
What you receive
- ✓Fully editable Microsoft Word (DOCX) SWMS template — branded with your company logo, ABN and project details
- ✓State-specific legislation schedule (NSW, Vic, Qld, WA, SA, Tas, ACT, NT) with current regulation references
- ✓Pre-populated hazard register with 11 stonemasonry-specific hazards, risk ratings and hierarchy-of-controls
- ✓Worker sign-on register and daily pre-start review sheet
- ✓Crystalline silica air monitoring and health monitoring schedule template
- ✓Plant and equipment register (angle grinders, wet saws, PAPRs, H-class vacuums)
- ✓Emergency response and silica exposure incident procedure
- ✓Free 12-month update access reflecting changes to the WHS Regulation and silica CoP
Worked example
A heritage restoration project in inner Sydney requires re-dressing of weathered sandstone blocks for a façade rebuild. The principal contractor engages a four-person stonemasonry crew. Before mobilisation, the masonry PCBU completes this SWMS, identifying RCS as the critical hazard. They establish a wet-cutting bay 8 m from other trades, fitted with a Husqvarna wet saw and on-tool water suppression on all hand-held grinders. Each mason is fit-tested for a 3M Versaflo PAPR with P3 filter, and a baseline low-dose HRCT chest scan is arranged through an occupational physician. On day one, the foreman walks the SWMS through with the crew at toolbox talk, all four workers sign the register, and personal RCS air monitoring is conducted by an occupational hygienist on the heaviest cutting task. Results return at 0.038 mg/m³ — below the WES but triggering the action level for ongoing controls verification. The SWMS is reviewed mid-project when an additional dressing task is added, controls are updated, and workers re-sign. At project completion, monitoring records, sign-on sheets and the SWMS are archived for 30 years in line with health monitoring record retention requirements under WHS Regulation 2025.
Related legislation
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth model) — ss.19, 20, 27, 32, 33
- Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 — Part 6.3 (HRCW & SWMS), Chapter 7 (Hazardous Chemicals), Schedule 14 (Health Monitoring)
- Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic) and OHS Regulations 2017 — Part 4.1 Construction, Part 4.5 Hazardous Substances
- Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) and WHS Regulations 2022
- National prohibition on the use of engineered stone (effective 1 July 2024)
- Workers Compensation legislation in each jurisdiction (silicosis is a deemed disease)
- Environmental Protection Act (state-based) — slurry and waste stone disposal
- Hazardous Chemicals Information System (HCIS) — silica entry
Frequently asked questions
Is a SWMS legally required for natural stone cutting if we already have a Safe Operating Procedure?
Yes. A Safe Operating Procedure (SOP) does not satisfy regulation 299 of the WHS Regulation 2025. Stonemasonry that disturbs crystalline silica is High Risk Construction Work, and a SWMS must be prepared before work commences, kept on site, made available to the principal contractor and any HSR, and reviewed if controls fail or work changes. An SOP can sit alongside a SWMS but does not replace it.
Does this SWMS cover engineered stone?
No. The use, supply and manufacture of engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs is prohibited nationally from 1 July 2024. This SWMS explicitly excludes engineered stone work and treats encountering it as a stop-work trigger. It covers natural stone (sandstone, granite, bluestone, limestone, marble) and porcelain/sintered alternatives only.
How often does the SWMS need to be reviewed?
The SWMS must be reviewed whenever controls are not effective, a notifiable incident occurs, work changes (new tools, new stone type, new location), or a worker requests review through their HSR. As a minimum, we recommend a documented review every 12 months or at the start of each new project, whichever is sooner.
What air monitoring and health monitoring is required for silica-exposed workers?
Personal RCS air monitoring per AS 2985 must be conducted whenever you cannot reasonably determine that exposure is below the 0.05 mg/m³ workplace exposure standard. Health monitoring under Schedule 14 of the WHS Regulation 2025 is mandatory and must include a baseline assessment, low-dose HRCT chest scan, respiratory questionnaire and lung function test, repeated at intervals determined by a registered medical practitioner (typically every 1–3 years). Records must be kept for 30 years.
Can a P2 disposable mask be used instead of a PAPR?
Only for low-exposure, short-duration tasks where air monitoring confirms exposure is well below the WES. For active cutting, grinding or dressing of stone, a P2 disposable provides insufficient assigned protection factor. Industry best practice and the Safe Work Australia silica CoP recommend a PAPR with P3 filter (APF 50) as the minimum for these tasks. All RPE must be fit-tested annually per AS/NZS 1715.
Is this SWMS valid in all Australian states and territories?
Yes. The template includes a state-specific legislation schedule covering NSW, Qld, SA, Tas, ACT, NT and WA (model WHS), and Victoria (OHS Act 2004 / OHS Regulations 2017 equivalents). You select your jurisdiction and the corresponding regulation citations populate automatically.