Concreting SWMS Template
Safe Work Method Statement for concrete pouring, finishing, pumping, and formwork on construction sites
What This SWMS Covers
This SWMS covers concreting operations including footing and slab preparation, concrete pumping and placement, finishing (screeding, floating, trowelling), formwork erection and stripping, precast/tilt-up panel erection, concrete cutting and grinding, and post-tensioning. Concreting involves multiple HRCW categories: work at heights on elevated slabs, tilt-up/precast erection, excavation for footings, and work near mobile plant.
Who Needs This SWMS
Concreters, concrete finishers, formwork carpenters, concrete pump operators, steel fixers, principal contractors managing concrete pours
Key Hazards & Control Measures
| Hazard | Risk Level | Control Measures | Hierarchy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact with wet concrete (cement burns) | Serious | Waterproof gloves and gumboots, long pants tucked into boots, wash skin immediately on contact, pH-neutral wash stations available | PPE / Administrative |
| Silica dust (cutting, grinding cured concrete) | Critical | Wet cutting mandatory, dust extraction, P2 RPE, silica management plan per Safe Work Australia guide, health monitoring | Engineering / PPE |
| Falls from height (elevated slabs, formwork) | Fatal | Edge protection before pour commences, penetration covers secured and marked, fall arrest for leading-edge work | Engineering / PPE |
| Concrete pump failure / boom strike | Fatal | Exclusion zone around boom, outriggers fully extended on firm ground, spotter for boom movement, pump operator competency verification | Administrative / Engineering |
| Tilt-up panel collapse | Fatal | Engineered lift plan, certified rigging, exclusion zone during lift and bracing, bracing design by engineer, no work under suspended panels | Engineering / Administrative |
| Formwork collapse | Fatal | Formwork design by competent person (engineer for >4m), inspection before pour, progressive loading schedule, back-propping | Engineering / Administrative |
| Manual handling (steel mesh, rebar, formwork) | Moderate | Mechanical lifting (crane/excavator) for mesh and rebar, team lifts for formwork, mesh carried flat not rolled | Engineering / Administrative |
| Plant interaction (agitators, pumps, bobcats) | Fatal | Traffic management plan, spotters, exclusion zones, high-vis clothing, no workers near reversing plant | Administrative / PPE |
| Noise exposure (vibrators, cutting, grinding) | Moderate | Hearing protection, noise assessment for sustained operations, quieter vibrators where available | PPE / Substitution |
| Heat stress (outdoor pours in summer) | Moderate | Work-rest regimes, shade, hydration stations, early morning pours in high-heat periods, monitoring for heat illness symptoms | Administrative |
PPE Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
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Pre-filled hazards and controls for concreting work. Preview free, export when ready.