Civil Works Risk Assessment
Road works, drainage, kerbing, stormwater, and earthmoving
Civil Works Risk Assessment
One document — covers civil works for this product type.
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Civil construction work involves multiple high-risk activities including excavation, working near traffic, operating heavy plant, and working near underground services — all requiring SWMS under WHS Regulations s.291.
Our civil works SWMS pack covers 12 activities including road works, drainage installation, kerb and gutter construction, stormwater systems, earthmoving operations, and traffic management. Each document addresses hazards specific to civil construction such as trench collapse, underground service strikes, plant-pedestrian interactions, and exposure to traffic.
Key Hazards Covered
- Trench collapse and excavation cave-in
- Underground service strikes (gas, electricity, water, comms)
- Plant-pedestrian interactions on site
- Exposure to live traffic during road works
- Manual handling of heavy pipes and materials
- Silica dust from cutting concrete and masonry
Relevant Australian Standards
- AS 4678 Earth-retaining structures
- AS/NZS 3000 Electrical installations
- AS 1742 Manual of uniform traffic control devices
- AS 2550 Cranes, hoists and winches
Individual Documents — $33.95 each
Civil Works Risk Assessment — Common Questions
What is the difference between a risk assessment and a SWMS?
A risk assessment provides a broad overview of all hazards for a scope of work at a site. A SWMS is task-specific and legally required for high-risk construction work. Both are important but serve different purposes.
Do I need a risk assessment if I have a SWMS?
Yes. A SWMS covers specific high-risk tasks. A site-specific risk assessment covers all hazards at the site, including those not classified as high-risk construction work.
What risk matrix do your assessments use?
Our risk assessments use a 5×5 likelihood-consequence matrix, providing initial risk ratings before controls and residual ratings after controls are applied.
Last updated: March 2026