Vehicle-mounted borehole drilling SWMS, drafted for your job
A raised drill mast reaches into the space overhead lines use, and the rotating string catches clothing and gloves within reach. An open bore beside the rig is a hole the whole site has to respect. Describe your work area and method when you start. Your SWMS is drafted for those details, then checked against the site before work begins.
A$39per job
However many high-risk activities it covers.
- However many high-risk activities it covers.
- 3 for A$99
- 10 for A$249
- Yearly A$129 for 120
- Monthly A$60 for 10
You review it on site before work starts.
Your Business
Safe Work Method Statement
Version 1
Draft
Vehicle-mounted borehole drilling
Site Your site address
Law Your state
High-risk construction work
- Work where powered mobile plant is moving
- Work on or near energised electrical installations
Job steps, hazards and controls
| 1 | Assess site and locate services | Lines overhead and below ground | High | Check clearances; mark services before the rig arrives |
| 2 | Position and level the rig | Soft ground and mast clearance | High | Pads on firm ground; observer near lines |
| 3 | Check guards and hydraulics | Damaged hoses and missing guards | High | Inspect before pressurising; fix leaks first |
| 4 | Drill and add rods | Rotating string and open bore | High | Hands off rotating steel; cap the bore |
| 5 | Sample and close the bore | Open hole and wet pad | Medium | Backfill or cap; clean the pad |
Illustrative first page. Yours carries your business name only.
What you get
What your vehicle-mounted borehole drilling SWMS will contain
An A4 document your crew can read on site, a PDF for the builder and a sign-on register.
- Job and site detailsYour business, the site, the principal contractor, the dates.
- High-risk construction workThe categories your job involves, ticked.
- Step-by-step methodEach step with its hazards, risk rating and controls.
- How controls are checkedWho puts each control in place, monitors and reviews it.
- PPE, plant and permitsEquipment and training the job needs.
- Emergency planAssembly point, first aid, nearest hospital to confirm on site.
- Consultation and reviewWho was consulted, when it is reviewed.
- Sign-on registerYour crew signs by QR or on paper.
High-risk construction work
Categories this task often involves
You tick the ones your job involves. Each ticked category gets its own steps and controls, in your state's wording.
- Work where powered mobile plant is moving
- Work on or near energised electrical installations
State notes
Rules depend on your state
Pick your state when you start. Your state's regulator publishes the rules and guidance for this work.
Hazards and controls
What goes wrong on a vehicle-mounted borehole drilling job, and how the SWMS controls it
These rows are written for this task. Your draft adds the ones your site and method need.
- 1
Drill mast contacting overhead lines during setup
High- Position the rig so the raised mast stays clear of the line exclusion
- Use a dedicated observer while the mast is raised near lines
- 2
Rig overturning on soft or sloping ground
High- Assess bearing and level the rig on pads or mats before drilling
- Stop and reset if jacks sink or the rig moves under load
- 3
Clothing caught in the rotating drill string
High- Keep guards fitted and hands off rotating steel
- Stop rotation before clearing cuttings or handling the string
- 4
Auger striking buried services on the first bore
High- Locate and mark services and check each bore position before drilling
- Open the top of suspect holes by hand or vacuum first
- 5
Hydraulic hose burst injecting oil into skin
High- Inspect hoses and fittings before pressurising
- Depressurise before work and never trace a leak by hand
- 6
Worker falling into an open bore or mud sump
High- Cap or barrier every open bore as it is finished
- Cover sumps and keep the area around the rig clear of holes
- 7
Slippery mud and cuttings on the drilling pad
Medium- Keep cuttings and mud contained and clear of footings
- Clean the pad before walking drill rods or samples across it
How the job usually runs
- 1Assess site and locate servicesLines overhead and below ground → Check clearances; mark services before the rig arrives
- 2Position and level the rigSoft ground and mast clearance → Pads on firm ground; observer near lines
- 3Check guards and hydraulicsDamaged hoses and missing guards → Inspect before pressurising; fix leaks first
- 4Drill and add rodsRotating string and open bore → Hands off rotating steel; cap the bore
- 5Sample and close the boreOpen hole and wet pad → Backfill or cap; clean the pad
- 6Move the rig and reinstatePlant movement and leftover holes → Check the route; confirm every bore is closed
PPE for this job
- Safety helmet with chin strap
- Safety boots
- High-visibility clothing
- Hearing protection
- Safety glasses
- Close-fitting work gloves
Your draft lists the PPE your site and method need.
After you finalise
Brief your crew and send it to your builder
Crew signs by QR
Send to my builder
PDF and register
Builder sent it back?
Make their changes and re-issue the same job free. Workers re-sign the new version.
Questions
Vehicle-mounted borehole drilling SWMS questions
- Last reviewed
- 21 October 2026
- How
- Hazard rows checked against the task; no legal line is stated unless it is logged from primary text.
- Next review
- Every six months, or when the method or rules change
Does it cover drilling near overhead powerlines?
Yes. Identify the lines when you describe the site. The draft covers positioning so the raised mast stays clear of the exclusion, using an observer and stopping where clearance cannot be held.
What about bores left open overnight?
The draft covers capping or covering every bore as it is finished and keeping the area barriered. Open bores are marked and checked before the site is left.
Does it cover mud rotary and auger methods?
Yes. Name the drilling method. The draft covers rotating equipment, hoses and open bores for all methods, plus mud sumps and slippery pads where circulation fluid is used.
How much does a vehicle-mounted borehole drilling SWMS cost?
One job uses 1 SWMS when you finalise: A$39 for one, however many high-risk activities it covers. AI drafting needs a SWMS pack or plan. Packs and Yearly cost less per SWMS.
Is this a template?
No. You describe the job and the site, and the SWMS is drafted for them. You edit anything, then finalise it.
Who checks the SWMS?
You do, with your crew, on site before work starts. The draft gives you a strong starting point; the person running the work makes sure it matches the site.
My builder sent it back. What now?
Open it, make the changes they asked for and re-issue it. Corrections to the same job are free.
How does my crew sign it?
Show the QR code on your phone or print the A4 sign-on sheet. Workers read and sign on their own phones without an account.
Does it work in my state?
Yes. You choose the state before drafting, and the document names the law that applies there. Victoria uses its OHS Regulations.
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