Retaining Wall Construction — Safe Work Method Statement
Safe Work Method Statement for the construction of retaining walls including timber sleeper, concrete block, reinforced concrete, and steel sheet pile retaining systems, covering excavation, drainage, and structural installation.
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Retaining wall construction combines excavation hazards with structural engineering complexity and, in many cases, working at height or in deep excavations. The HRCW classification under Schedule 3 of the model WHS Regulations will apply wherever the associated excavation exceeds 1.5 m depth or the work involves structural elements that could collapse. A SWMS is mandatory for all retaining wall work on construction sites, and a structural engineer's design is required for any retaining wall above 1 metre in height under the National Construction Code (NCC) and applicable state building regulations.
In most Australian states, retaining walls above 1 metre require building approval from the relevant local council before construction commences. In Queensland, retaining walls over 1 metre in height or supporting a surcharge load require a building permit and must be designed by a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ). Similar requirements apply in other states under their respective building acts. The builder must be licensed for structural work — a builder's licence under the relevant state building authority (QBCC, NSW Fair Trading, VBA, etc.) covers this scope.
The excavation required for retaining wall construction must comply with the Safe Work Australia Model Code of Practice: Excavation Work. Ground collapse risk during excavation is particularly significant for retaining walls because the excavation is typically cut at or near the toe of an existing slope or embankment, which is already in a state of marginal equilibrium. A geotechnical engineer should assess the safe excavation geometry and any temporary shoring requirements before excavation commences. Dial Before You Dig (1100) must be contacted and service plans obtained, as retaining walls frequently require footings near existing utility services.
Customise this template with the wall height, wall type, and structural engineer's design reference; the excavation depth and soil type; the shoring method if applicable; and the building approval reference number. This SWMS applies in all Australian states and territories.
Personal Protective Equipment
High Risk Construction Work Types
- •Excavation deeper than 1.5 metres
- •Work at height above 2 metres (retained fill face)
- •Tilt-up and precast concrete works
- •Work near live buried services
Risk Assessment
1.Excavation for wall footing and batter
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collapse of retained embankment during excavation | Catastrophic | Engage a geotechnical engineer to assess slope stability and specify safe excavation batters or temporary shoring requirements before excavation commences. Do not steepen the batter beyond the engineer-specified angle under any circumstances. Install temporary earth anchors or king posts and lagging where engineered shoring is specified. Inspect batter face each morning and after any rain event. Evacuate workers immediately if cracking, slumping, or tension cracks appear at top of embankment. Keep all plant and heavy loads back minimum 1.5 × excavation depth from the top of excavation. | Moderate | Geotechnical Engineer / Site Supervisor |
| Falls into excavation zone | High | Install safety mesh or barrier fencing along all open excavation edges not currently being worked. Trench or excavation edge barriers must comply with AS 1657 fall prevention requirements. Provide fixed access ladders or temporary stair units at maximum 9 m intervals. Do not allow workers to jump in or out of excavations. Clearly mark excavation edges with high-visibility tape and barriers. Review edge protection after any ground disturbance or rainfall. | Low | Site Supervisor / All Workers |
2.Concrete footing pour
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Footing formwork blowout under concrete pressure | High | Design formwork in accordance with AS 3610 Formwork for Concrete. Inspect all formwork and bracing before concrete pour commences. Do not exceed recommended pour rate in formwork design. Ensure all bracing is anchored to stable substrate. Position concrete pump hose to minimise impact loading on formwork panels. Assign a dedicated formwork inspector during pour to monitor for any movement, bulging, or displacement. Immediately stop pour and relieve pressure if any formwork movement is detected. | Low | Formwork Supervisor / Site Supervisor |
3.Block, sleeper, or panel installation
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual handling musculoskeletal injury during wall unit installation | Moderate | Conduct manual handling risk assessment for each wall unit type. Concrete retaining blocks exceeding 20 kg must be installed with mechanical lifting assistance (block clamp on excavator, telehandler, or pallet jack). Timber sleepers over 15 kg to use two-person lift minimum with coordinated lift signal. Workers must not twist during lifts — turn feet, not spine. Provide training in safe lifting technique. Rotate workers to limit individual cumulative manual handling tasks. Workers with musculoskeletal injuries must be assessed before this task. | Low | All Workers / Site Supervisor |
| Struck by falling wall units during delivery or placement | High | Inspect all lifting equipment (chains, slings, clamps) prior to each lift. Use rated block-lifting clamps designed for the specific block profile. Establish exclusion zone of minimum 3 m from lifted load at all times. Workers must never walk under a suspended load. Tag lines to be used for load stabilisation during crane or excavator lifts. Stack delivered wall units on a firm, level surface, restrained by timber baulks or stakes. Do not stack sleepers or blocks more than 1.2 m high. | Low | Rigger / Excavator Operator |
4.Drainage and backfill installation
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wall collapse due to inadequate or premature backfilling | High | Backfilling must only commence once wall has achieved structural capacity as specified by the engineer (e.g. minimum 7-day concrete cure for cast-in-place walls, or after engineer-specified tie-back installation). Backfill in maximum 300 mm compacted lifts. Install drainage aggregate and ag drain pipe at every lift per drainage design before proceeding to the next lift. Do not use excavator bucket to push backfill directly against wall — use material spread at a distance then compact. Engineer to inspect each completed lift before next lift commences. | Moderate | Site Engineer / Site Supervisor |
5.Working at height on top of retained embankment
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falls from top of embankment or wall | High | Install compliant temporary edge protection (guardrail system to AS 1657 with top rail at 900–1100 mm, mid rail, and kickboard) at all embankment edges where the drop to the excavated level exceeds 2 m. Use a safety harness and inertia reel lanyard anchored to a rated anchor point when edge protection cannot be installed (e.g. during formwork stripping at wall face). Workers must not stand within 500 mm of an unprotected edge. Inspect edge protection at start of each shift. | Low | Site Supervisor / All Workers |
Relevant Codes of Practice
Worker Acknowledgement
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