Landscaping · Australia

SWMS for retaining wall construction

By Safety PaperworkBuilt from Safe Work Australia and state regulator guidance · How we write and check theseUpdated 9 November 2026

Yes. Retaining wall construction usually includes high risk construction work (work in an area with movement of powered mobile plant), so a SWMS is required by law before work starts.

It must list the hazards, the controls and how they will be put in place, monitored and reviewed, and the workers must be consulted and sign before starting. The main hazards are silica dust from concrete, brick, stone and tiles, hitting underground services, trench or excavation collapse and being hit by mobile plant.

Make this SWMS now Word template PDF

SWMS example: retaining wall construction

This is a complete SWMS for retaining wall construction, with 10 job steps. Open it in the builder to add your site, crew and signatures, change anything, and download a PDF. Or download the free Word template below and fill it in by hand.

Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)

Retaining wall construction · Landscaping · Example

Document SWMS-001 · Rev 1

High risk construction work covered

Work in an area with movement of powered mobile plant

Job steps, hazards and controls

#	Job step	Hazards	Risk before	Controls	Risk after
1	Get BYDA plans and check the wall has an engineer's design where needed, such as most walls over 1 m or any wall holding up a building, driveway or slope	Hitting underground services	Extreme	Keep machine buckets well clear of marked services and use a spotter. Isolate Scan the area with a cable locator before digging and mark services on the ground. Engineering Hand dig or vacuum excavate to expose services before using a machine near them. Engineering Lodge a free BYDA (Before You Dig Australia) request and get the plans before any digging. Administrative Keep plans or locate tickets on site and check them again if the work area grows. Administrative If you hit a service, stop, get everyone clear, and call the owner and emergency services. Administrative Wear safety boots, gloves and hi-vis when digging. PPE	Medium
2	Check neighbouring footings, fences and structures near the cut, and get engineer advice before digging close enough to undermine them	Trench or excavation collapse Public entering the work area	Extreme	Use methods that keep people out of the trench, such as directional boring or working from the surface. Eliminate Barricade or cover the excavation so people and plant cannot fall in. Isolate Trench or excavation collapse: see step 4 for the full controls Administrative Fence off the site with secure temporary fencing and lock the gates when you leave. Isolate Give pedestrians a safe, marked path around the work, with ramps for prams and wheelchairs. Isolate Public entering the work area: see step 10 for the full controls Administrative	Medium
3	Set up an exclusion zone around the machines	Being hit by mobile plant	Extreme	Separate people and plant with barriers, exclusion zones and marked walkways. Isolate Use plant with working reversing alarms, cameras and lights. Engineering Being hit by mobile plant: see step 7 for the full controls Administrative	Medium
4	Excavate the cut in short sections, battered or benched to the engineer's or geotechnical advice, and never let anyone work between an unsupported cut face and the wall	Trench or excavation collapse Being hit by mobile plant	Extreme	Use methods that keep people out of the trench, such as directional boring or working from the surface. Eliminate Barricade or cover the excavation so people and plant cannot fall in. Isolate Shore, bench or batter the walls of any trench 1.5 metres deep or more before anyone goes in, unless a geotechnical engineer advises in writing that the sides are safe. Engineering Keep spoil, materials and plant at least 1 metre back from the edge. Engineering Provide a safe way in and out, such as a ladder near where people work. Engineering Inspect the excavation at the start of each shift and after rain or anything that could weaken it. Record it. Administrative Never work alone in a trench. Watch for water, cracks and bulging walls, and get out if you see them. Administrative Wear a hard hat, hi-vis and safety boots. PPE Have a traffic management plan showing plant routes, loading areas and pedestrian paths. Administrative Use a spotter when reversing or working near people. Administrative Being hit by mobile plant: see step 7 for the full controls Administrative	Medium
5	Pour the footing or lay the base, capping any reo bars	Wet concrete and cement burns Impalement on reo bars	High	Use long-handled tools and pumps to cut down contact. Engineering Wash concrete off skin straight away with clean water. Administrative Have clean water and eye wash at the pour. Administrative Wear waterproof gloves, long sleeves and gumboots with trousers worn over the top. PPE Wear safety glasses or goggles to stop splashes. PPE Cover or cap all exposed bar ends with approved caps or covers. Engineering Bend bars over where the design allows. Engineering Use edge protection near starter bars so nobody can fall onto them. Engineering Keep walkways clear of exposed bars and mark the hazard. Administrative Wear gloves, safety glasses and safety boots when handling bar. PPE	Low
6	Lay drainage and the first course	Lifting and carrying heavy loads Repetitive work and awkward postures	High	Plan to avoid carrying: have materials delivered, and old items picked up, as close as possible to where they are used. Eliminate Use lighter or smaller loads: order smaller bags and shorter lengths, and drain or break down old items before moving them. Substitute Lifting and carrying heavy loads: see step 7 for the full controls Administrative Use tools that cut the effort: powered screwdrivers, long-handled tools and extension poles for overhead work. Substitute Set work up at waist height on benches or trestles where you can. Engineering Use light tools with good grips, and keep blades and bits sharp. Engineering Rotate tasks and take short breaks every hour on repetitive work. Administrative Warm up before heavy physical work and report aches and pains early. Administrative Wear knee pads for kneeling work and gloves for grip. PPE	Medium
7	Lift blocks or sleepers with machines or two people	Lifting and carrying heavy loads Being hit by mobile plant	Extreme	Plan to avoid carrying: have materials delivered, and old items picked up, as close as possible to where they are used. Eliminate Use lighter or smaller loads: order smaller bags and shorter lengths, and drain or break down old items before moving them. Substitute Use trolleys, pallet jacks, hoists, vacuum lifters or plant instead of carrying by hand. Engineering Use a two-person lift for anything heavy, long or awkward. Plan the route first and clear it. Administrative Keep the load close, back straight and no twisting. Turn with your feet. Administrative Rotate tasks and take breaks on long lifting jobs. Administrative Wear gloves for grip and safety boots to protect your feet. PPE Separate people and plant with barriers, exclusion zones and marked walkways. Isolate Use plant with working reversing alarms, cameras and lights. Engineering Have a traffic management plan showing plant routes, loading areas and pedestrian paths. Administrative Use a spotter when reversing or working near people. Administrative Make eye contact with the operator before going near. Stay out of the swing radius. Administrative Operators hold a High Risk Work Licence where needed (for example forklift) and are trained and assessed on other plant. Administrative Do a pre-start check on each machine every day and record it. Administrative Wear hi-vis clothing and a hard hat. PPE	Medium
8	Cut blocks wet, never dry	Silica dust from concrete, brick, stone and tiles Saw cuts and kickback Loud noise	Extreme	If the job involves engineered stone: do not supply, fabricate or install engineered stone benchtops, panels or slabs (banned since 1 July 2024). Removing, repairing or making minor changes to existing engineered stone is only allowed with water suppression or on-tool extraction, a fitted respirator, and written notice to the regulator before the work starts. Eliminate Order materials cut to size, or use low-dust methods such as score and snap or a block splitter. Substitute Cut outdoors or in a separate area, with other people well away and upwind. Isolate Use water on the blade or on-tool dust extraction connected to an H-class vacuum. Engineering Clean up with a vacuum or wet methods. Never dry sweep or use compressed air. Administrative If the cutting, grinding or drilling is high risk, prepare a silica risk control plan (or include the r.529CA assessment in this SWMS), train workers in silica risks and give them the plan before work starts. Administrative Wear a fit-tested P2 (or better) respirator. PPE Keep blade guards fitted and working, and use the riving knife on table saws. Engineering Use push sticks and clamps, and support long pieces so they do not pinch the blade. Engineering Use a sharp, undamaged blade made for the material. Administrative Stand to one side of the blade line, out of the kickback path. Administrative Let the blade stop fully before reaching in or putting the saw down. Administrative Use quieter tools and methods, such as cut-to-size materials, low-noise machines and battery tools. Substitute Keep noisy plant away from work areas, and use screens or distance between the noise and people. Isolate Keep tools maintained and use mufflers on compressors and generators. Engineering Limit time on noisy tools and rotate workers. Administrative If you have to shout to be heard 1 metre away, wear hearing protection. Administrative Keep exposure below 85 dB(A) over 8 hours. Give hearing tests to workers who often need hearing protection. Administrative	Medium
9	Backfill and compact behind the wall in layers as it goes up	Hand-arm and whole-body vibration Being hit by mobile plant Trench or excavation collapse	Extreme	Use low-vibration tools and methods, such as a breaker on an excavator instead of a hand jackhammer. Substitute Keep tools sharp and well maintained, and use anti-vibration handles and seats. Engineering Limit trigger time on high-vibration tools and rotate workers. Administrative Keep hands warm and dry, and take regular breaks. Administrative Report tingling, numbness or white fingers early. Administrative Being hit by mobile plant: see step 7 for the full controls Administrative Trench or excavation collapse: see step 4 for the full controls Administrative	Medium
10	Barricade the top of the wall until the permanent fence or balustrade is in, then clean up	Public entering the work area Poor housekeeping and waste	High	Fence off the site with secure temporary fencing and lock the gates when you leave. Isolate Give pedestrians a safe, marked path around the work, with ramps for prams and wheelchairs. Isolate Use hoarding, covered walkways or catch fans where work is above public areas. Engineering Put signs at each entry: site name, contact number and "No unauthorised entry". Administrative Make the site safe at the end of each day: cover holes, lower plant, remove ladders and lock tools away. Administrative Use a spotter when moving plant or materials across public paths. Administrative Order materials to size and send packaging back where you can. Eliminate Put skip bins and waste chutes close to the work. Engineering Clean as you go, and do a full clean up at the end of each day. Administrative Keep exits, stairs and walkways clear at all times. Administrative Stack materials neatly on level ground, away from edges. Administrative Wear gloves when handling waste. PPE	Low

PPE

Steel cap bootsHi-vis shirt or vestWork glovesSafety glassesHearing protection (earmuffs or plugs)P2 dust maskHard hatChemical-resistant gloves (nitrile)Safety gogglesKnee padsHalf-face respirator (P2 or P3 filters)

Plant and equipment

Excavator: Verification of competency (VOC) for the machineSkid steer (Bobcat): Verification of competency (VOC) for the machineWacker plateConcrete sawHand tools

Emergency

Call 000. Add the nearest hospital, the assembly point and the first aider for your site.

Sign-off

Supervisor and every worker sign to confirm they have read and understood this SWMS.

Free SWMS template for retaining wall construction

Word (.docx) and PDF, A4 landscape, no email needed. Fill in your site details, then print or send it.

Word template (.docx)PDF template

Make yours in 2 minutes

Same document, filled in for your job. Answer a few yes or no questions, the crew signs on the phone, and you send the PDF.

Start this SWMS

Pre-start checklist for retaining wall construction

Tick these off before work starts. They come from the hazards, permits and equipment in this job.

SWMS read, explained and signed by everyone on the job
BYDA plans on site and services located
Trench support, benching or battering in place; spoil kept back from the edge
Water suppression or on-tool extraction fitted; respirators fit tested
Exclusion zone and spotter set up for plant and traffic
Exclusion zone below the work and public kept out
First aider, first aid kit and emergency number (000) confirmed
PPE checked and worn: steel cap boots, hi-vis shirt or vest, work gloves, safety glasses

The safe sequence of work

Get BYDA plans and check the wall has an engineer's design where needed, such as most walls over 1 m or any wall holding up a building, driveway or slope
Check neighbouring footings, fences and structures near the cut, and get engineer advice before digging close enough to undermine them
Set up an exclusion zone around the machines
Excavate the cut in short sections, battered or benched to the engineer's or geotechnical advice, and never let anyone work between an unsupported cut face and the wall
Pour the footing or lay the base, capping any reo bars
Lay drainage and the first course
Lift blocks or sleepers with machines or two people
Cut blocks wet, never dry
Backfill and compact behind the wall in layers as it goes up
Barricade the top of the wall until the permanent fence or balustrade is in, then clean up

Hazards to watch on retaining wall construction

The hazards most specific to this job, and the step where each one comes up.

Step 5Impalement on reo barsA worker falls or trips onto exposed reo or starter bars and is impaled or badly cut.

Step 2, 4, 9Trench or excavation collapseThe trench walls cave in and bury or crush a worker. Trenches 1.5 metres deep or more must be shored, benched or battered unless a geotechnical engineer advises in writing that the sides are safe.

Step 5Wet concrete and cement burnsWet concrete, mortar and cement burn skin and eyes. Burns can be deep and are often not felt until later.

Step 9Hand-arm and whole-body vibrationLong periods on jackhammers, grinders, compactors or riding plant cause white finger, numbness and back damage.

Step 1Hitting underground servicesDigging, drilling or driving pegs hits a buried power cable, gas pipe or water main, causing electrocution, explosion or flooding.

Step 3, 4, 7, 9Being hit by mobile plantExcavators, loaders, telehandlers and trucks run over or crush workers, especially when reversing or slewing.

Highest risk on retaining wall construction: Extreme before controls (B), down to Medium after controls (A), on the Australia 5 by 5 risk matrix (likely and catastrophic becomes unlikely and major).

What changes on your site

This example covers the job itself. Your site may add more. Add controls for any of these that apply (the builder asks you these as yes or no questions):

Will anyone work more than 2 metres off the ground?
Will anyone use a ladder or stepladder?
Will anyone work on a roof?
Is there a skylight, clear sheet, fibro or other fragile roofing?
Will you use a scaffold or mobile tower?

Licences and legal requirements in Australia

This task can involve these high risk construction work categories under the WHS Regulations:

Work in an area with movement of powered mobile plant

Equipment on this job that needs a licence, ticket or training:

Excavator: Verification of competency (VOC) for the machine
Skid steer (Bobcat): Verification of competency (VOC) for the machine

A SWMS must be prepared before any high risk construction work starts. It must list the high risk work, the hazards and risks, the control measures, and how those controls will be put in place, monitored and reviewed. It must be easy for the workers to read and understand.

Rules that apply: WHS Regulations, Part 6.3 Division 3 (Excavation work, r.304 to 306); WHS Regulation 2011, Part 5.1 Plant; WHS Regulation 2011, Part 4.2 Hazardous manual tasks; WHS Regulations, Chapter 8A (Crystalline silica substances and engineered stone); WHS Regulation 2011, Part 4.1 Noise.

Each state has its own regulator and some extra rules: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Australian Capital Territory.

Why SWMS get rejected

Principal contractors send documents back for these reasons. This example avoids them, but check yours too.

It is generic: another site address, tasks that are not on this job, or no sign it was reviewed for this site. WorkSafe WA says a generic SWMS may not meet the regulations unless it is reviewed and amended for the workplace.
The HRCW boxes are not ticked, or the ticks do not match the tasks (for example a roof job with no falls box ticked).
Falls are controlled only by "be careful", training or a harness, with no edge protection or scaffold and no reason why higher controls are not reasonably practicable.
Workers will clip on to a harness but there is no rescue plan for someone left hanging.
The "how controls are implemented, monitored and reviewed" part is missing, or it says the same thing on every row.
No worker sign-on, no person responsible for compliance, or a date given to the principal contractor that is before they actually received it.
Licence or White Card details are missing for workers operating plant or doing licensed high risk work.

Questions

Do I need a SWMS for retaining wall construction?

Yes. Retaining wall construction usually includes high risk construction work (work in an area with movement of powered mobile plant), so a SWMS is required by law before work starts.

Who signs the SWMS?

The person conducting the business (PCBU) or their supervisor prepares it with the workers, and every worker doing the high risk work signs to show they were consulted and understand it. Give a copy to the principal contractor before work starts.

How long do I keep it?

Keep this SWMS, and every revised version, until the high risk construction work is finished, where workers and inspectors can see it on site. If a notifiable incident happens during the work, keep it for at least 2 years after the incident.

What PPE is needed for retaining wall construction?

Usually Steel cap boots, Hi-vis shirt or vest, Work gloves, Safety glasses, Hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs), P2 dust mask, Hard hat, Chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile), Safety goggles, Knee pads, Half-face respirator (P2 or P3 filters). The site rules may add more, so check with the principal contractor.

More landscaping SWMS

SWMSTree Removal10 steps SWMSPaving5 steps SWMSTurf Laying5 steps SWMSFence Installation6 steps SWMSIrrigation Installation5 steps SWMSGarden Maintenance6 steps

Related jobs in other trades

ConcretingConcrete Slab PourAlso involves being hit by mobile plant ConcretingConcrete Cutting and Core DrillingAlso involves hitting underground services Excavation and earthworksTrenchingAlso involves hitting underground services ConcretingFormworkAlso involves being hit by mobile plant RoofingRoof Tile ReplacementAlso involves public entering the work area DemolitionInternal Strip OutAlso involves loud noise

Toolbox talks for this job

Toolbox talkSilica Dust Toolbox talkHearing Protection and Noise Toolbox talkHand-Arm Vibration Toolbox talkExcavation and Trench Safety

Blank SWMS template: free SWMS templates. Also for other countries: United Kingdom (RAMS) · United States (JHA) · Canada (FLHA)