Stormwater Pit and Pipe Installation — Safe Work Method Statement
Safe Work Method Statement for civil stormwater installation including trench excavation, laying reinforced concrete or plastic pipe, setting precast pits, connecting to existing drainage, and backfill and compaction.
Download this template
Civil stormwater installation in subdivisions, roads and commercial sites means deep trenches, heavy pipes and precast pits handled with an excavator, and crews working inside trench shields while plant works above them. It is High Risk Construction Work because trenches are commonly deeper than 1.5 metres, powered mobile plant is moving throughout, and the work is often on or beside a road in use. Connecting to an existing live stormwater system can also mean entering a pit or pipe that meets the definition of a confined space, which is a separate HRCW category requiring confined space controls and a permit.
The key hazards specific to this job are trench collapse, being struck or crushed by a suspended pipe or pit, being caught between pipe and trench wall when homing a joint, and plant tipping at the trench edge. An excavator used to lift pipes and pits must be rated by its manufacturer for lifting, have a load chart, use a rated lifting point (not the bucket teeth), and be fitted with the hose burst protection the manufacturer specifies. Lifting gear such as pipe lifting clutches, chains and slings must be rated for the load and inspected. Compaction plant brings vibration and noise exposure.
Service location is essential. Lodge a Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) enquiry and expose services by non-destructive excavation before digging near them. Where the trench crosses sewer, water or gas, follow the asset owner's conditions. Operators must be competent on the plant, and anyone directing a lift must be competent to sling and signal. If the lift requires a dogging or rigging licence, check your state or territory regulator. Traffic controllers need state accreditation.
The SWMS must set out the trench support method, the lifting method and gear for each pipe and pit size, exclusion zones, how workers enter and exit the trench, and the controls for connecting to existing drainage.
Customise this template with the pipe diameter and material, the heaviest pit or pipe weight, the excavator model and its rated lifting capacity, the trench shield or shoring type, the maximum trench depth, the BYDA reference, the connection points to existing drainage, and the traffic guidance scheme reference.
Personal Protective Equipment
High Risk Construction Work Types
- •Work in or near a shaft or trench deeper than 1.5 metres, or a tunnel
- •Work on, in or adjacent to a road, railway or other traffic corridor in use by traffic
- •Work in an area with movement of powered mobile plant
Risk Assessment
1.Set-out, service location and traffic control
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striking an underground service during excavation | Catastrophic | BYDA plans obtained and services located and marked. Services within the trench line or its clearance zone exposed by NDD before mechanical digging. Spotter watches the bucket when digging within 1 m of a marked service. | Moderate | Supervisor / Excavator Operator |
| Workers struck by traffic | High | Traffic control to approved traffic guidance scheme. Work zone delineated. Plant entry and exit points controlled by traffic controller. | Low | Supervisor / Traffic Controller |
2.Trench excavation and shoring
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trench collapse burying a worker | Catastrophic | No entry to trenches deeper than 1.5 m unless shored, shielded, benched or battered to suit ground conditions. Trench shields used within manufacturer's rated depth and configuration. Spoil and pipes kept at least 1 m from the trench edge. Competent person inspects the trench before each shift and after rain. | Low | Supervisor / Competent Person |
| Plant tips or edge gives way | High | Keep tracks back from the trench edge by a distance set for the soil type and excavation depth. No plant tracking parallel to an unsupported trench edge. | Low | Excavator Operator |
| Falls into the trench | Moderate | Barriers or bunting at least 1 m from the edge on unworked sides. Ladders inside the shield extending 1 m above the landing. Crossing points with handrailed walkways. | Low | Supervisor |
3.Lifting and lowering pipes and pits
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crushed by a suspended pipe or pit | Catastrophic | Excavator used for lifting only if manufacturer-rated for lifting, with load chart and rated lifting point. Use rated pipe clutches, chains or slings; inspect before use. Nobody under a suspended load. Tag lines to control loads. Pipe layer enters the trench only once the load is lowered close to final position and the operator has stopped movement. | Low | Excavator Operator / Pipe Layer |
| Load exceeds excavator rated capacity at radius | High | Check pipe and pit weights against the load chart at the working radius before lifting. Use a larger machine or crane if outside capacity. | Low | Excavator Operator / Supervisor |
4.Laying, jointing and bedding pipes
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hands or feet caught between pipes when homing joints | High | Use a pipe puller, come-along or excavator pushing against a timber block. Keep hands clear of the joint and feet out from under the pipe. One person gives signals to the operator. | Low | Pipe Layer |
| Silica dust from cutting concrete pipe | High | Cut concrete pipe with wet-cutting saws or on-tool extraction. P2 respirator. Cut outside the trench where possible. | Low | Pipe Layer |
5.Connecting to existing stormwater pits and pipes
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hazardous atmosphere or engulfment in existing pit or pipe | Catastrophic | Treat existing pits and pipes as potential confined spaces. Assess before entry; if it is a confined space, issue a confined space entry permit, test the atmosphere, ventilate and have a standby person. Do connection work from outside where possible. | Low | Supervisor / Competent Person |
| Sudden inflow during rain | High | Check the weather forecast. Stop work in the connection pit during rain or when upstream flow is possible. Temporary bungs or bypass pumping where flow cannot be stopped. | Moderate | Supervisor |
6.Backfill and compaction
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-arm vibration and noise from compaction plant | Moderate | Use low-vibration plates and rammers. Rotate operators. Hearing protection. | Low | Crew |
| Struck by bucket or backfill material while in trench | High | No workers in the trench while backfill is placed from above. Operator places material only on the signal of the compaction operator. | Low | Excavator Operator |
7.Site restoration
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open pits left unprotected | Moderate | Pit lids or grates fitted, or pit covered with a secured plate and barricaded, before leaving site. | 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.