Important: This SWMS template is provided as a starting point only. It must be reviewed and customised to reflect the specific conditions, hazards, and controls for your workplace and task. The PCBU remains responsible for ensuring the SWMS is suitable for the specific work. This template does not constitute legal advice. Refer to your state or territory WHS regulator for compliance requirements.

Excavation & Earthworks

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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Personal Protective Equipment

Hard hat (Class 1)High-visibility vest (Class 2)Steel-capped safety bootsSafety glassesGloves (leather)Hearing protectionP2 respirator (concrete works)

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

By signing below, I confirm that I have read, understood and agree to comply with this Safe Work Method Statement.

Name: ___________________Date: ___________________