SWMS template · Concrete, Masonry & Roofing

Driveway and Footpath Concreting — Safe Work Method Statement

Safe Work Method Statement for residential driveways, crossovers and footpaths, covering breaking out old concrete, excavation and base preparation, formwork and mesh, concrete truck access, finishing including exposed aggregate, joint cutting and protecting the public.

Category: Concrete, Masonry & Roofing
HRCW: 1 category
Job steps: 7
Hazards rated: 20
PPE items: 8

Most driveway and footpath jobs involve High Risk Construction Work because a skid steer, mini excavator or concrete truck is moving around workers on foot. A SWMS is required. If the work includes a council crossover or a footpath in the road reserve next to traffic, it is also HRCW for work adjacent to a road in use by traffic, so add that type and a traffic management plan. Council permits for crossovers and footpath work are needed in most areas, and the requirements vary between councils.

Residential concreting is tight work. The truck often reverses up a narrow driveway past fences, cars and pits, sometimes with the owner's children or pets nearby. Use a spotter for every reverse, keep the public out with barriers, and check that the ground and any pits, tanks or stormwater pipes under the truck's path can carry the load. Pedestrians on the footpath need a safe route around the work, not just a sign.

Breaking out an old driveway is often the hardest part of the job. Jackhammers and hydraulic breakers give off noise, vibration and silica dust, and broken slabs are heavy and sharp. Underground services run under driveways and footpaths more often than people expect: water and gas services, power to the house, NBN conduit and stormwater. Get Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) plans, locate services, and take care with every excavator bucket near marked services.

Placing and finishing concrete brings cement burns, heavy reinforcing mesh, and bending and kneeling for hours. Exposed aggregate finishes involve surface retarders and washing off the surface layer, which produces alkaline wastewater that must not go down the stormwater drain. Saw cutting control joints the next day creates silica dust. Wet cut or use on-tool extraction.

Customise this template with the site address, council permit references, whether the work is on private land or in the road reserve, the BYDA reference and services located, the plant to be used, the truck access route and ground conditions, the reinforcement and finish (broom, exposed aggregate, coloured), the washout location, and how the public will be kept off the concrete while it cures.

High Risk Construction Work Types

Work in an area with movement of powered mobile plant

Personal Protective Equipment

Steel-capped safety boots (waterproof, trousers worn over boots)
Waterproof gloves for concrete handling
Cut-resistant gloves (mesh and broken concrete)
Safety glasses
Hearing protection
P2 respirator (breaking out and saw cutting)
High-visibility vest
Knee pads

Risk Assessment

RatingsCatastrophicHighModerateLow

Step 1Site set-up, permits and public protection

Hazard / Risk	Initial Risk	Control Measures	Residual Risk	Responsibility
Pedestrians walking into the work area or onto wet concrete	High	Barricade the work area with fencing or barriers, not just tape. Provide a marked alternative path for footpath users as the council permit requires. Signs at both ends.	Low	Supervisor
Children and pets on a residential site	Moderate	Agree with the owner that children and pets are kept inside or away from the work during plant and truck movements.	Low	Supervisor
Working next to road traffic at the crossover	High	Where work is in the road reserve next to traffic, set up traffic control to the approved plan and list this work as HRCW. Park plant and vehicles off the road where possible.	Moderate	Supervisor

Step 2Breaking out and removing old concrete

Hazard / Risk	Initial Risk	Control Measures	Residual Risk	Responsibility
Silica dust from breaking concrete	High	Wet the concrete while breaking. Use a hydraulic breaker on plant instead of a hand jackhammer where possible. P2 respirator for workers near the breaker.	Low	Concreter
Hand-arm vibration and noise from jackhammers	High	Hearing protection. Rotate jackhammer operators. Use low-vibration tools and limit time on the tool.	Moderate	Concreter
Hand and back injuries lifting broken slabs	Moderate	Break slabs into small pieces. Load with a skid steer or excavator. Cut-resistant gloves for exposed mesh.	Low	Concreter

Step 3Excavation and base preparation

Hazard / Risk	Initial Risk	Control Measures	Residual Risk	Responsibility
Striking gas, water, power or NBN services	High	Obtain BYDA plans. Locate and mark services. Hand dig or vacuum excavate around marked services before using the bucket nearby.	Low	Supervisor
Workers struck by skid steer or excavator	High	Trained operators only. Exclusion zone around operating plant. Workers on foot make eye contact with the operator before approaching. Reversing alarm working.	Low	Plant Operator
Dust and noise from compacting base	Moderate	Dampen the base before compacting. Hearing protection when using a plate compactor or roller.	Low	Concreter

Step 4Formwork and reinforcing mesh

Hazard / Risk	Initial Risk	Control Measures	Residual Risk	Responsibility
Cuts and back strain handling mesh sheets	Moderate	Two-person lift for full sheets. Cut-resistant gloves. Cut mesh with bolt cutters or a saw fitted with a guard and wear safety glasses.	Low	Concreter
Impalement or trips on starter bars, pegs and bar chairs	Moderate	Cap exposed bars and pegs. Keep pegs inside the formwork line. Walk on mesh only where needed and watch your footing.	Low	Concreter

Step 5Concrete truck access and placement

Hazard / Risk	Initial Risk	Control Measures	Residual Risk	Responsibility
Truck reversing over a worker, owner or child	Catastrophic	Dedicated spotter for every reverse, in sight of the driver at all times. Area behind the truck kept clear. Agreed hand signals.	Moderate	Spotter
Truck breaking through a pit, tank, pipe or soft ground	High	Check the truck path for pits, rainwater tanks, septic systems and stormwater pipes. Use a line pump or barrows where the ground cannot take the load.	Low	Supervisor
Strain from barrowing and raking concrete	Moderate	Half-fill barrows on slopes. Use a concrete pump or extra chutes for long runs. Rotate raking and barrowing.	Low	Concreter

Step 6Finishing including exposed aggregate

Hazard / Risk	Initial Risk	Control Measures	Residual Risk	Responsibility
Cement burns to knees and hands	Moderate	Waterproof knee pads and gloves. Wash skin contact straight away. Do not kneel in wet concrete in ordinary trousers.	Low	Concreter
Skin and eye contact with surface retarder and washwater	Moderate	Read the retarder SDS. Gloves and safety glasses when spraying and washing off. Collect washwater and keep it out of the stormwater system.	Low	Concreter
Slips on wet sloping surfaces	Moderate	Work from the top of the slope down. Use boards to stand on. Non-slip boots.	Low	Concreter

Step 7Joint cutting, curing and clean-up

Hazard / Risk	Initial Risk	Control Measures	Residual Risk	Responsibility
Silica dust from cutting control joints	High	Wet cut or use an on-tool extraction saw. P2 respirator. Hose or vacuum the slurry, do not dry sweep.	Low	Concreter
Saw kickback and blade contact	High	Trained operators only. Blade guard in place, two hands on the saw, others kept clear.	Low	Concreter
Public or vehicles on concrete before it has cured	Moderate	Leave barriers in place. Tell the owner how long before foot traffic and vehicles can use it.	Low	Supervisor

Relevant Codes of Practice

Worker Acknowledgement

By signing below, I confirm that I have read, understood and agree to comply with this Safe Work Method Statement.

NameDateSignature

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