Free Concreting SWMS Template
Covers formwork, reinforcement, pump pours and finishing for slab and footing concrete work. No signup, no email required.
How is this template compliant?
Every state and territory publishes its own guidance on what a SWMS should cover. We've taken the highest-common-denominator approach: for each required element — job steps, hazards, controls, PPE and the rest — we've built this template to the most complete state recommendation for that category, not the lowest. The result is a single template that meets the bar in every state, rather than one written for a single state and hoping it holds up elsewhere.
Applicability
This template covers concreting work that falls under one or more high-risk construction work (HRCW) categories, where a SWMS is mandatory before work starts. It's written for use in every Australian state and territory — under the WHS Regulations in most jurisdictions, and the equivalent OHS Regulations in Victoria.
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20 high risk activities, hazards, and controls unique to Concreting for a SWMS
This template is built specifically for slab, footing and formwork concrete pours — not a generic SWMS with the trade name swapped in. Here's what's pre-filled.
Concrete pump line whip or blockage under pressure
- ✓ Only a trained, competent operator runs the pump
- ✓ Exclusion zone maintained around the hose end during pumping
- ✓ Line depressurised fully before clearing any blockage
Chemical burns from wet concrete
- ✓ Gloves, gumboots and long sleeves worn for all placing and finishing work
- ✓ Wash station and eye wash available on site
- ✓ Skin washed immediately on contact with wet concrete
Manual handling of reinforcement and formwork
- ✓ Mechanical lifting used for heavy or long reinforcement
- ✓ Team lifts for formwork panels
- ✓ Exposed bar ends capped or bent over
Powered mobile plant movement (pump trucks and agitators)
- ✓ Spotter used for all reversing and positioning movements
- ✓ Exclusion zone maintained around operating plant
- ✓ Site traffic management plan followed for delivery vehicles
Formwork collapse or blowout during concrete placement
- ✓ Formwork designed and braced to engineered specification before pour
- ✓ Props and bracing checked immediately before pour starts
- ✓ Exclusion zone maintained around formwork during pour
- ✓ No work permitted under unsupported or partially stripped formwork
Contact with overhead power lines during pump boom operation
- ✓ Pump position and boom reach checked against overhead line clearance before setup
- ✓ Spotter used when the boom is operating near powerlines
- ✓ No-go zone agreed with the energy authority for work near high-voltage lines
Falls from height on elevated slab edges, tilt-up panels or formwork
- ✓ Edge protection installed before elevated pour or finishing work begins
- ✓ Harness and anchor point used for work above 2 metres
- ✓ No work on unsecured or partially propped tilt-up panels
Entanglement or crush injury from power trowels, screeds and vibrating equipment
- ✓ Guards fitted and functional on power trowels and screeds
- ✓ Equipment isolated before clearing blockages or making adjustments
- ✓ Loose clothing and jewellery removed before operating equipment
Silica dust exposure from cutting, grinding or polishing hardened concrete
- ✓ Wet cutting or on-tool dust extraction used
- ✓ P2 respirator worn for dust-generating cutting or grinding
- ✓ Cutting and grinding done away from other workers where practical
Cement dust and dry mix exposure during bagged cement handling
- ✓ Dust mask worn when tipping or mixing dry cement
- ✓ Bags opened and poured carefully to minimise airborne dust
- ✓ Gloves worn to prevent skin contact with dry cement
Trips and falls on reinforcement mesh, bar and formwork ties
- ✓ Walkways kept clear of loose bar, mesh and tie wire offcuts
- ✓ Exposed bar ends capped or bent over
- ✓ Site kept tidy between reinforcement fixing and the pour
Noise exposure from vibrators, saws and power trowels
- ✓ Hearing protection worn for all high-noise equipment
- ✓ Task rotation used to limit individual exposure duration
- ✓ Low-noise equipment selected where available
Hand-arm vibration from poker vibrators and power trowels
- ✓ Tool use time limited and rotated between crew members
- ✓ Low-vibration equipment selected where available
- ✓ Any tingling or numbness reported and reviewed
Eye injury from concrete splash, grinding debris and cutting
- ✓ Safety glasses or goggles worn for placing, finishing, cutting and grinding
- ✓ Face shield used for grinding and cutting tasks
- ✓ Eye wash station available on site
Slips on wet or uncured concrete surfaces
- ✓ Appropriate footwear with grip worn for placing and finishing
- ✓ Walkways and access routes kept clear of standing water and slurry
- ✓ Barriers or signage placed around freshly poured or curing concrete
Heat stress placing and finishing concrete outdoors in summer
- ✓ Hydration breaks scheduled during hot conditions
- ✓ Pours scheduled for cooler parts of the day where practical
- ✓ Shade provided for breaks
UV exposure during extended outdoor pours
- ✓ Sun-protective clothing and hat worn
- ✓ Sunscreen applied and reapplied through the day
- ✓ Shade used for breaks where available
Concrete washout contaminating stormwater or waterways
- ✓ Washout only performed at a designated, bunded area
- ✓ Washout kept clear of stormwater drains and waterways
- ✓ Set concrete washout waste collected and disposed of correctly
Struck by falling formwork, props or panels during strip-out
- ✓ Strip-out sequence followed per the formwork design
- ✓ Exclusion zone maintained below strip-out work
- ✓ Props removed in the correct order, not all at once
Crane lift hazards during tilt-up or precast panel placement
- ✓ Lift plan prepared and followed for all panel lifts
- ✓ Exclusion zone maintained during lifting operations
- ✓ Only dogman/rigger-certified crew direct the lift
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 slab, footing and formwork concrete pours?
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 concreting 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.