Plumbing SWMS: Cheatsheet with 20 hazard & controls (Free PDF)
Covers underground service location, trenching, pipe laying and testing for drainage, water and gas fitting work. No signup, no email required.
Hazards & controls
1. Trench collapse during excavation deeper than 1.5 metres
- ✓ Shoring, battering or benching applied to trench walls per soil type and depth
- ✓ No entry to unsupported trenches over 1.5 metres
- ✓ Excavated spoil kept clear of the trench edge
- ✓ Daily inspection by a competent person before entry
2. Contact with underground gas or electrical services
- ✓ Dial Before You Dig search completed before any excavation
- ✓ Hand digging within 500mm of a marked service
- ✓ Service locator (cable/pipe locator) used on site
3. Confined space entry in manholes, pits or tanks
- ✓ Permit to work completed before entry
- ✓ Atmosphere tested before and during entry
- ✓ Standby person and rescue plan in place for the duration of entry
4. Contact with contaminated water or sewage
- ✓ Gloves and eye protection worn for all drainage work
- ✓ Hygiene facilities (wash station) available on site
- ✓ Cuts and abrasions covered before starting work
5. Gas leak or explosion during gas fitting installation and testing
- ✓ Gas fitting work performed only by a licensed gas fitter
- ✓ Leak test (soap test or gauge) completed on every joint before use
- ✓ Gas supply isolated before disconnecting or altering pipework
- ✓ No ignition sources permitted in the work area during gas connection
6. Manual handling of pipe, fittings and hot water systems
- ✓ Team lift or mechanical aid used for hot water systems and long pipe lengths
- ✓ Correct manual handling technique briefed at toolbox talk
- ✓ Materials staged close to the work area to limit carry distance
Show all 20 hazards & controls
7. Burns from soldering, brazing and hot works on copper pipework
- ✓ Heat shield or fire blanket used near combustible materials
- ✓ Fire extinguisher available during hot works
- ✓ Gloves and eye protection worn for soldering and brazing
- ✓ Hot pipe and fittings allowed to cool before handling
8. Cuts and lacerations from pipe cutters, hacksaws and angle grinders
- ✓ Cut-resistant gloves worn for pipe cutting
- ✓ Guards fitted and checked on angle grinders
- ✓ Tools inspected before each use
9. Chemical exposure from solvent cement, flux and pipe cleaning agents
- ✓ SDS reviewed before use of any solvent or flux product
- ✓ Gloves and ventilation used when applying solvent cement
- ✓ Product stored and capped correctly between uses
10. Silica dust exposure from cutting concrete, tiles or fibre cement pipe
- ✓ Wet cutting or on-tool dust extraction used
- ✓ P2 respirator worn for dust-generating cutting
- ✓ Cutting done in a ventilated area away from other workers
11. Contact with asbestos cement drainage or water pipe in older properties
- ✓ Suspect material identified and left undisturbed until tested
- ✓ Licensed asbestos removalist engaged if asbestos is confirmed
- ✓ Work stopped and area isolated if suspect material is found
12. Falls from height accessing roof plumbing, gutters and downpipes
- ✓ Compliant ladder or EWP used for roof access
- ✓ Harness and anchor point used for work above 2 metres
- ✓ No work on wet or unstable roof sheeting
13. Struck by mobile plant or vehicles on active excavation sites
- ✓ High-visibility clothing worn at all times on site
- ✓ Spotter used when working near reversing plant
- ✓ Site traffic management plan followed
14. Slips and trips on wet surfaces, trench spoil and uneven ground
- ✓ Work area kept clear of spoil, offcuts and hoses
- ✓ Appropriate footwear worn for wet and uneven conditions
- ✓ Walkways kept clear around open trenches
15. Burns or scalds during hot water system installation and pressure testing
- ✓ System isolated and drained before disconnecting components
- ✓ Pressure released before opening any test point
- ✓ Temperature and pressure relief valve function checked before commissioning
16. Exposure to legionella or bacterial contamination in existing water systems
- ✓ Gloves and eye protection worn when opening old tanks or cylinders
- ✓ Hands washed before eating, drinking or touching the face
- ✓ System flushed and disinfected per manufacturer guidance after opening
17. Noise exposure from drills, saws and compaction equipment
- ✓ Hearing protection worn for high-noise tools
- ✓ Task duration near loud equipment limited where practical
- ✓ Low-noise tool selection used where available
18. Hand-arm vibration from extended use of powered tools
- ✓ Tool use time limited and rotated between crew members
- ✓ Low-vibration tools selected where available
- ✓ Any tingling or numbness reported and reviewed
19. Heat stress working in trenches or outdoors during summer
- ✓ Hydration breaks scheduled during hot conditions
- ✓ Work rescheduled to cooler parts of the day where practical
- ✓ Shade provided for breaks
20. Working alone on isolated or remote plumbing tasks
- ✓ Check-in procedure maintained with the office or supervisor
- ✓ Mobile phone carried and charged at all times
- ✓ Lone work avoided for confined space entry or trench work
Fill out a Safework SWMS in 5 mins with AI
Real Plumbing tasks, hazards and controls — auto-filled, not blank rows for you to research yourself.
Source: SafeWork SWMS (VIC)
- Fully editable by you
- Auto audits the risk assessment
- No more blank canvas syndrome
- Rapid fill & remember business info
Free download · No email required
Plumbing SWMS Cheatsheet
All 20 hazards & controls for drainage, water supply and gas fitting installation, laid out as a printable one-pager for your site file.
utedesk.com.au
Frequently asked questions
What is a SWMS?
A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a legally required document for high-risk construction work. It sets out the job steps, the hazards involved, and the controls you'll use to manage them before work starts.
Do I need a SWMS for drainage, water supply and gas fitting installation?
If the work falls into one of the 18 high-risk construction work categories under the WHS Regulations, a SWMS is mandatory before work can start. This template is pre-mapped to the categories that typically apply to plumbing work of this kind.
Is this template really free?
Yes. Join with your Google account in 10 seconds, no card required, and it's saved to your account ready to customise, publish and get signed by your crew online.
Can I use this template as-is?
Treat it as a starting point, not a finished document. Every site is different — add your site-specific hazards, confirm the controls suit the actual job, and have it reviewed before workers sign it.
This template is a starting point only. Review and adapt it for your actual site conditions before use — it is not a substitute for a competent person's own risk assessment.