Landscaping Risk Assessment
Earthworks, retaining walls, irrigation, paving, and tree work
Landscaping Risk Assessment
One document — covers landscaping for this product type.
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Landscaping work involves high-risk activities including excavation, working near underground services, operating powered mobile plant (excavators, skid steers), and tree work at height — all requiring SWMS under WHS Regulations s.291.
Our landscaping SWMS pack covers 10 activities including earthworks and excavation, retaining wall construction, irrigation system installation, paving and concreting, tree removal and pruning, garden bed construction, turf laying, and plant/equipment operations. Documents address hazards such as trench collapse, underground service strikes, chainsaw injuries, plant-pedestrian interactions, and manual handling of heavy materials.
Key Hazards Covered
- Trench collapse during excavation
- Underground service strikes
- Chainsaw injuries during tree work
- Plant-pedestrian interactions (excavators, skid steers)
- Manual handling of heavy stone, pavers and soil
- Venomous snakes and insects in vegetation
Relevant Australian Standards
- AS 4373 Pruning of amenity trees
- AS 4678 Earth-retaining structures
- AS 2550 Cranes, hoists and winches
- AS/NZS 1891.1 Fall-arrest systems
Individual Documents — $33.95 each
Landscaping 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