Landscaping — Safe Work Method Statement

Landscaping is not High Risk Construction Work by itself, but most jobs beyond planting use a mini loader, mini excavator or tipper, and any area where powered mobile plant is moving is HRCW. Digging for irrigation, footings and garden edges can also hit buried electrical cables, which is HRCW as work near energised services. Retaining walls over about a metre and deep excavations have their own hazards and are covered by the retaining wall and excavation templates. Pure soft landscaping with hand tools may not need a SWMS by law, but commercial clients and builders will usually require one.

Plant is the leading cause of serious injury in landscaping. Mini loaders and excavators tip over on slopes and soft ground, reverse into workers and crush people against walls and trucks. Only competent operators should use plant, everyone else stays out of the operating zone, and attachments must be locked on and checked. Lodge a Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) enquiry before any digging and pothole near marked services.

Cutting pavers, concrete, bricks and natural stone with a quick-cut saw or grinder produces respirable crystalline silica. Dry cutting is not acceptable: use wet cutting or on-tool extraction, and wear a P2 respirator as a minimum. Quick-cut saws also kick back violently and are a common source of serious leg and face injuries, so use them only with the guard in place and a firm two-handed grip.

Soil, mulch and potting mix carry biological hazards. Potting mix and compost can carry Legionella bacteria, so wet products down before handling, wear a P2 mask and wash your hands before eating or smoking. Some soils in northern Australia carry melioidosis bacteria, so cover cuts and wear gloves and boots. Long days outside also mean heat stress and UV exposure, and repetitive digging, wheelbarrowing and lifting pavers and sleepers are a constant manual handling load.

Customise this template with the BYDA reference and services found, the plant used and operator competencies, slope and ground conditions, paving and stone types and the cutting method, products used (fertiliser, herbicide, sealers) with SDS references, irrigation trench depth, heat and sun controls, and access arrangements for the client and public.