Do landscapers need SWMS?

Yes, when landscaping involves excavation (especially trenching over 1.5 metres), tree work at height, operating heavy plant, or working near underground services. These are classified as high-risk construction work under WHS Regulations s.291.

Is tree removal covered?

Yes. Our landscaping pack includes a dedicated tree work SWMS covering tree felling, pruning at height, chainsaw operations, chipper safety, and drop zone management — referenced to AS 4373 Pruning of amenity trees.

What about excavation for landscaping?

Our earthworks SWMS covers excavation safety including trench shoring, benching, Dial Before You Dig requirements, underground service location, plant operations, and soil stability assessment.

Landscaping SOP

Earthworks, retaining walls, irrigation, paving, and tree work

Landscaping Complete Pack

10 documents — everything you need for landscaping compliance.

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Also available for Landscaping: SWMS — from $67.96 JSA — from $16.96 Toolbox Talk — from $21.21 Risk Assessment — from $33.96 Induction — from $21.21 Emergency — from $42.46

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 — $33.96 each

	Document	Price
	Site Earthworks, Grading and Levelling — Safe Work Method Statement Covers site clearing, cut-and-fill earthworks, grading and levelling operations using plant and hand tools. Includes soil compaction, removal of vegetation and debris, and establishment of finished surface levels to design specifications. What's inside this document 5 work steps 10 hazards identified 10 control measures 5×5 risk matrix Worker sign-off section Legislation Referenced WHS Reg 2011, Reg 291(1)(d) - Excavation to depth greater than 1.5m WHS Reg 2011, Reg 306 - Specific control measure — excavation work WHS Reg 2011, Part 3.1 - Managing risks to health and safety PPE Requirements (with AS/NZS standards) Hard hat (Type 1) (AS/NZS 1801) Safety footwear (steel cap) (AS/NZS 2210.3) Safety glasses (AS/NZS 1337.1) Hi-visibility vest (Class D/N) (AS/NZS 4602.1) Gloves (task-appropriate) (AS/NZS 2161.1) Australian Standards Referenced AS/NZS 1801 — Occupational protective headwear AS/NZS 2210.3 — Occupational protective footwear	$33.96
	Timber and Block Retaining Wall Construction — Safe Work Method Statement Covers construction of timber sleeper and concrete block retaining walls up to 1.5m height including excavation of footing, placement of drainage aggregate, backfilling, and installation of tie-back anchors where required. What's inside this document 5 work steps 8 hazards identified 8 control measures 5×5 risk matrix Worker sign-off section Legislation Referenced WHS Reg 2011, Reg 291(1)(d) - Excavation to depth greater than 1.5m WHS Reg 2011, Reg 306 - Specific control measure — excavation work WHS Reg 2011, Part 3.1 - Managing risks to health and safety PPE Requirements (with AS/NZS standards) Hard hat (Type 1) (AS/NZS 1801) Safety footwear (steel cap) (AS/NZS 2210.3) Safety glasses (AS/NZS 1337.1) Hi-visibility vest (Class D/N) (AS/NZS 4602.1) Gloves (task-appropriate) (AS/NZS 2161.1) Australian Standards Referenced AS/NZS 1801 — Occupational protective headwear AS/NZS 2210.3 — Occupational protective footwear	$33.96
	Irrigation System Installation and Trenching — Safe Work Method Statement Covers trenching and installation of irrigation pipework, sprinkler heads, drip systems, solenoid valves and controllers. Includes connection to mains water supply, electrical wiring of controllers and solenoid valves, and system commissioning and pressure testing. What's inside this document 5 work steps 8 hazards identified 8 control measures 5×5 risk matrix Worker sign-off section Legislation Referenced WHS Reg 2011, Reg 306 - Specific control measure — excavation work WHS Reg 2011, Part 3.1 - Managing risks to health and safety WHS Reg 2011, Reg 36 - Hierarchy of control measures PPE Requirements (with AS/NZS standards) Hard hat (Type 1) (AS/NZS 1801) Safety footwear (steel cap) (AS/NZS 2210.3) Safety glasses (AS/NZS 1337.1) Hi-visibility vest (Class D/N) (AS/NZS 4602.1) Gloves (task-appropriate) (AS/NZS 2161.1) Australian Standards Referenced AS/NZS 1801 — Occupational protective headwear AS/NZS 2210.3 — Occupational protective footwear	$33.96
	Paver and Flagstone Laying — Safe Work Method Statement Covers preparation of sub-base, screeding of bedding sand, laying of concrete pavers and natural stone flagging, cutting of pavers, jointing and compaction. Includes use of paver saws, plate compactors and hand tools for residential and commercial paving works. What's inside this document 5 work steps 8 hazards identified 8 control measures 5×5 risk matrix Worker sign-off section Legislation Referenced WHS Reg 2011, Part 3.1 - Managing risks to health and safety WHS Reg 2011, Reg 36 - Hierarchy of control measures WHS Reg 2011, Reg 39 - Provision of information, training and instruction PPE Requirements (with AS/NZS standards) Hard hat (Type 1) (AS/NZS 1801) Safety footwear (steel cap) (AS/NZS 2210.3) Safety glasses (AS/NZS 1337.1) Hi-visibility vest (Class D/N) (AS/NZS 4602.1) Gloves (task-appropriate) (AS/NZS 2161.1) Australian Standards Referenced AS/NZS 1801 — Occupational protective headwear AS/NZS 2210.3 — Occupational protective footwear	$33.96
	Tree Felling and Stump Removal — Safe Work Method Statement Covers assessment, felling and removal of trees including sectional dismantling, use of chainsaws, stump grinding and disposal of timber and green waste. Applies to trees in residential and commercial landscape settings where proximity to structures and services must be managed. What's inside this document 5 work steps 9 hazards identified 9 control measures 5×5 risk matrix Worker sign-off section Legislation Referenced WHS Reg 2011, Reg 291(1)(a) - Risk of fall of 2m or more WHS Reg 2011, Part 3.1 - Managing risks to health and safety WHS Reg 2011, Reg 36 - Hierarchy of control measures PPE Requirements (with AS/NZS standards) Hard hat (Type 1) (AS/NZS 1801) Safety footwear (steel cap) (AS/NZS 2210.3) Safety glasses (AS/NZS 1337.1) Hi-visibility vest (Class D/N) (AS/NZS 4602.1) Gloves (task-appropriate) (AS/NZS 2161.1) Australian Standards Referenced AS/NZS 1801 — Occupational protective headwear AS/NZS 2210.3 — Occupational protective footwear	$33.96
	Hedge Trimming and Pruning at Height — Safe Work Method Statement Covers trimming and shaping of hedges, shrubs and small trees using powered hedge trimmers and hand tools. Includes work from ladders, scaffolding and elevated work platforms where hedge height exceeds 2m from ground level. What's inside this document 4 work steps 7 hazards identified 7 control measures 5×5 risk matrix Worker sign-off section Legislation Referenced WHS Reg 2011, Reg 291(1)(a) - Risk of fall of 2m or more WHS Reg 2011, Part 3.1 - Managing risks to health and safety WHS Reg 2011, Reg 36 - Hierarchy of control measures PPE Requirements (with AS/NZS standards) Hard hat (Type 1) (AS/NZS 1801) Safety footwear (steel cap) (AS/NZS 2210.3) Safety glasses (AS/NZS 1337.1) Hi-visibility vest (Class D/N) (AS/NZS 4602.1) Gloves (task-appropriate) (AS/NZS 2161.1) Australian Standards Referenced AS/NZS 1801 — Occupational protective headwear AS/NZS 2210.3 — Occupational protective footwear	$33.96
	Turf Preparation and Laying — Safe Work Method Statement Covers soil preparation, rotary hoeing, fine grading, fertiliser application and laying of rolled turf. Includes use of bobcat/skid-steer for soil spreading, hand tools for fine levelling, and mechanical turf cutters for removal of existing lawn. What's inside this document 5 work steps 9 hazards identified 9 control measures 5×5 risk matrix Worker sign-off section Legislation Referenced WHS Reg 2011, Part 3.1 - Managing risks to health and safety WHS Reg 2011, Reg 36 - Hierarchy of control measures WHS Reg 2011, Reg 39 - Provision of information, training and instruction PPE Requirements (with AS/NZS standards) Hard hat (Type 1) (AS/NZS 1801) Safety footwear (steel cap) (AS/NZS 2210.3) Safety glasses (AS/NZS 1337.1) Hi-visibility vest (Class D/N) (AS/NZS 4602.1) Gloves (task-appropriate) (AS/NZS 2161.1) Australian Standards Referenced AS/NZS 1801 — Occupational protective headwear AS/NZS 2210.3 — Occupational protective footwear	$33.96
	Garden Bed Construction and Planting — Safe Work Method Statement Covers construction of raised and in-ground garden beds including timber or stone edging installation, soil preparation, mulching and planting of trees, shrubs and groundcovers. Includes use of hand tools, small plant and handling of bulk landscaping materials. What's inside this document 5 work steps 8 hazards identified 8 control measures 5×5 risk matrix Worker sign-off section Legislation Referenced WHS Reg 2011, Part 3.1 - Managing risks to health and safety WHS Reg 2011, Reg 36 - Hierarchy of control measures WHS Reg 2011, Reg 39 - Provision of information, training and instruction PPE Requirements (with AS/NZS standards) Hard hat (Type 1) (AS/NZS 1801) Safety footwear (steel cap) (AS/NZS 2210.3) Safety glasses (AS/NZS 1337.1) Hi-visibility vest (Class D/N) (AS/NZS 4602.1) Gloves (task-appropriate) (AS/NZS 2161.1) Australian Standards Referenced AS/NZS 1801 — Occupational protective headwear AS/NZS 2210.3 — Occupational protective footwear	$33.96
	Landscape Drainage and Stormwater Work — Safe Work Method Statement Covers excavation and installation of sub-surface drainage systems including agricultural drains, stormwater pits, PVC drainage pipe, rubble drains and connection to existing stormwater infrastructure. Includes trenching, pipe laying, backfilling and reinstatement. What's inside this document 5 work steps 8 hazards identified 8 control measures 5×5 risk matrix Worker sign-off section Legislation Referenced WHS Reg 2011, Reg 291(1)(d) - Excavation to depth greater than 1.5m WHS Reg 2011, Reg 306 - Specific control measure — excavation work WHS Reg 2011, Part 3.1 - Managing risks to health and safety PPE Requirements (with AS/NZS standards) Hard hat (Type 1) (AS/NZS 1801) Safety footwear (steel cap) (AS/NZS 2210.3) Safety glasses (AS/NZS 1337.1) Hi-visibility vest (Class D/N) (AS/NZS 4602.1) Gloves (task-appropriate) (AS/NZS 2161.1) Australian Standards Referenced AS/NZS 1801 — Occupational protective headwear AS/NZS 2210.3 — Occupational protective footwear	$33.96
	Bobcat and Mini Excavator Operations — Safe Work Method Statement Covers operation of skid-steer loaders (bobcats) and mini excavators for landscaping tasks including site clearing, material spreading, trenching, grading and loading. Includes pre-start checks, safe operating procedures, working near services and pedestrian management. What's inside this document 5 work steps 10 hazards identified 10 control measures 5×5 risk matrix Worker sign-off section Legislation Referenced WHS Reg 2011, Reg 291(1)(d) - Excavation to depth greater than 1.5m WHS Reg 2011, Reg 291(1)(h) - Work involving movement of powered mobile plant WHS Reg 2011, Part 3.1 - Managing risks to health and safety PPE Requirements (with AS/NZS standards) Hard hat (Type 1) (AS/NZS 1801) Safety footwear (steel cap) (AS/NZS 2210.3) Safety glasses (AS/NZS 1337.1) Hi-visibility vest (Class D/N) (AS/NZS 4602.1) Gloves (task-appropriate) (AS/NZS 2161.1) Australian Standards Referenced AS/NZS 1801 — Occupational protective headwear AS/NZS 2210.3 — Occupational protective footwear	$33.96

Landscaping SOP — Common Questions

What is the difference between a SOP and a SWMS?

A SOP provides step-by-step instructions for completing a task safely. A SWMS is a legal document specifically for high-risk construction work that focuses on hazard identification and risk control. SOPs are broader and apply to all tasks, not just HRCW.

Why do I need SOPs if I have SWMS?

SWMS only cover high-risk construction work. SOPs cover all tasks, including routine operations, equipment use, and procedures that don't qualify as HRCW but still need standardised safe practices.

Are your SOPs trade-specific?

Yes. Each SOP is written for specific trade activities, with relevant safety controls, PPE requirements, and references to applicable Australian Standards.

Last updated: March 2026

Landscaping SOP

Landscaping Complete Pack

Individual Documents — $33.96 each

Landscaping SOP — Common Questions

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