Working Near & Over Water SWMS
Work near and over water — jetty and pontoon inspection, marine construction supervision, floating plant operation, and emergency rescue planning. Life jacket requirements and man-overboard procedures.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Working near or over water covers jetty and pontoon inspection, marine construction supervision, floating plant operation and rescue planning. WHS Regulation 2025 classifies risk of drowning and falls from floating structures as High Risk Construction Work, requiring a documented SWMS before works commence.
Hazards identified
3 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Fatal asphyxiation, cold-water shock
Serious injury, unconscious immersion
Hypothermia, death from exposure
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Issue AS 4758 Level 100+ life jackets; mandatory wear within 2m of edge.
- 2Install edge protection, fall-arrest anchors and rescue ladders on all floating work platforms.
- 3Brief man-overboard plan with throw lines, rescue craft and trained spotter on standby.
Applicable Codes of Practice
Primary code for water edge controls and rescue planning
Buoyancy level selection for marine work environments
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Tasks performed adjacent to or above water with immersion risk.
Pontoon edges, vessel decks and jetty levels exceed 2m fall distance.
SWMS mandatory before work; PCBU fines to $30,000 for non-compliance.
What you receive
- ✓Editable DOCX SWMS template
- ✓State-specific WHS legislation schedule
- ✓Hazard and risk register
- ✓Worker sign-on and review register
Related legislation
- WHS Act 2011 s.19 — primary duty of care
- WHS Regulation 2025 Part 6.3 — High Risk Construction Work
- AMSA Marine Order 504 — vessel operations and safety