Work In or Near Water With a Risk of Drowning
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Work in or near water where there is a risk of drowning is high risk construction work needing a SWMS: work over or beside rivers, tanks, pits, or the sea.
Why this is high risk construction work
A fall into water can drown a worker quickly, especially with tools, cold, or current, and rescue is difficult. Preventing entry to the water is the main control.
Because it is one of the 18 high risk construction work categories, a SWMS is legally required before the work starts (your state's WHS Regulations, provision 299; s 299 in NSW), not a nice-to-have.
The controls a SWMS should set out
In hierarchy of controls order, highest first:
- ✓ Edge protection and barriers to prevent falling in
- ✓ Buoyancy (life jackets) where the fall risk remains
- ✓ Rescue equipment and a trained rescue plan on standby
- ✓ Never work alone near the water
- ✓ Account for current, tide, and cold
Trades that do this work
These trades commonly need a SWMS for this category. Each has a trade-specific SWMS:
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with a Risk of Falling More Than 2 Metreson a Telecommunication TowerDemolition of a Load-Bearing StructureLikely to Disturb AsbestosStructural Alterations Requiring Temporary SupportIn or Near a Confined SpaceAll 18 categories