Mosaic & Feature Tiling SWMS

Mosaic and feature tiling involves installing small-format tiles (typically 10–50 mm), glass mosaics, natural stone chips, metallic inlays and decorative border strips onto walls, splashbacks, feature panels, pool surrounds and wet-area substrates. The work combines wet trades (adhesive mixing, grouting, sponging) with fine-detail cutting on wet saws and angle grinders to shape mesh-backed sheets around penetrations, corners and profiles. Operatives spend prolonged periods in awkward postures, handle sharp glass and porcelain fragments, work with cementitious and epoxy adhesives that are sensitisers, and generate respirable crystalline silica when dry-cutting stone or porcelain mosaics.

Under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW), section 291 defines high risk construction work (HRCW) and section 299 requires a written Safe Work Method Statement before any HRCW commences. Mosaic and feature tiling frequently triggers HRCW where work is performed at height on scaffolds, on or adjacent to energised services in wet areas, or where silica-generating cutting occurs. Controls follow the hierarchy under Regulation section 36 — elimination and substitution first (pre-cut sheets, low-silica substrates), then engineering (on-tool water suppression, LEV, RCDs), administration (exclusion zones, rotation) and PPE last.

Hazards identified

12 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

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

1. 1Eliminate on-site cutting where feasible by ordering pre-cut mosaic sheets, factory-mitred trims and pre-formed corner pieces; specify low-silica or silica-free substrates in accordance with the SafeWork NSW prohibition on uncontrolled dry cutting.
2. 2Substitute epoxy grouts with cementitious alternatives where the specification allows, and select premixed adhesives to eliminate powder mixing exposure.
3. 3Engineer silica control using wet-cutting on all tile saws with continuous water feed, or on-tool extraction fitted with an H-class HEPA vacuum compliant with AS/NZS 60335.2.69; prohibit dry cutting of stone, porcelain and glass mosaics.
4. 4Provide 30 mA residual current devices on every portable outlet supplying wet saws, mixers and lighting; test and tag all electrical equipment to AS/NZS 3760 and inspect leads before each shift.
5. 5For work above 2 m, install a compliant scaffold or elevating work platform meeting AS/NZS 1576 and AS/NZS 1892; a competent scaffolder erects any scaffold exceeding 4 m platform height in accordance with the SafeWork NSW Code of Practice for Managing the risk of falls at workplaces.
6. 6Implement a documented asbestos identification process before disturbing any pre-2004 substrate; where asbestos is suspected, cease work and engage a licensed removalist in accordance with the WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) Chapter 8 and AS 4964.
7. 7Provide local exhaust ventilation and forced fresh-air supply when working with epoxy resins or solvent-based sealers in wet areas; consult Safety Data Sheets and adhere to workplace exposure standards published by Safe Work Australia.
8. 8Rotate tasks and limit continuous kneeling to 30-minute blocks; supply gel knee pads, adjustable trestles and mechanical tile lifters for sheets over 15 kg in accordance with the SafeWork NSW Code of Practice for Hazardous manual tasks.
9. 9Issue task-specific PPE: cut-resistant gloves rated to AS/NZS 2161.3 Level C for glass handling, nitrile gloves for epoxy work, P2 respirators fit-tested to AS/NZS 1715 for any residual dust, eye protection to AS/NZS 1337.1 and Class 5 hearing protection to AS/NZS 1270 when saws are running.
10. 10Establish exclusion zones around cutting stations, maintain wet-slurry housekeeping using squeegees and wet vacuums, and bund adhesive mixing areas to contain spills.
11. 11Provide health monitoring for workers exposed to crystalline silica and epoxy sensitisers as required by WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) sections 368–378, including baseline and periodic low-dose HRCT and spirometry through an appointed registered medical practitioner.
12. 12All workers hold a current White Card (CPCCWHS1001); the SWMS is developed in consultation with workers under section 47 of the WHS Act 2011 (NSW), signed before work commences, and reviewed under section 302 of the WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) whenever controls change, an incident occurs or at intervals not exceeding 12 months.

Applicable Codes of Practice

High-Risk Construction Work triggered

Worked example

A tiling PCBU is engaged to install a 6-metre high glass and stone mosaic feature wall in a boutique hotel foyer refurbishment in Surry Hills, Sydney. The work involves cutting mesh-backed porcelain mosaic sheets around brass inlay strips, installing from a mobile aluminium scaffold with platforms at 2.4 m and 4.8 m, and applying epoxy grout to the completed surface. Before mobilising, the site supervisor develops this SWMS in consultation with the two tilers and the apprentice under section 47 of the WHS Act. The SWMS identifies a high risk construction work category (fall risk >2 m) triggering section 299. Controls include a scaffold erected by a licensed scaffolder certified to AS/NZS 1576, wet-cutting on a bench saw with continuous water feed positioned in a bunded ground-floor cutting bay, H-class vacuum for residual dust, 30 mA RCD protection, cut-resistant Level C gloves for glass handling, and nitrile gloves and P2 respirators during epoxy grouting. All workers hold current White Cards. The SWMS is signed on-site, reviewed after week one when the scope extends to a curved column, and retained for the project duration.

Related legislation

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW)
• Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW)
• Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) — for slurry and grout waste disposal
• Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) — for licensing of residential wall and floor tiling over threshold value
• Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW)

Frequently asked questions