Gutter vacuuming SWMS, drafted for your job
Gutter cleaning with a vacuum pole brings overhead wires, awkward pole loads and contaminated gutter debris into the same work area. Tell us the job and the site: your SWMS is drafted around them, and you check it on site before work starts.
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
Gutter vacuuming
Site Your site address
Law Your state
High-risk construction work
Job steps, hazards and controls
| 1 | Inspect gutters from the ground | Wires and loose gutter sections | High | Check the pole route and gutter condition before setup |
| 2 | Set up the vacuum | Hoses across pedestrian paths | Medium | Barrier the work area and route hoses clear of access |
| 3 | Raise and guide the pole | Pole strain and wire contact | High | Use stable footing and keep clear of overhead services |
| 4 | Clear a blocked hose | Sharp objects in the suction line | Medium | Isolate the vacuum and clear debris with tools |
| 5 | Empty and clean equipment | Contaminated gutter waste | Medium | Contain sludge; use gloves and wash after handling |
Illustrative first page. Yours carries your business name only.
What you get
What your gutter vacuuming 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
High-risk work on this job
This task is not usually high-risk construction work. If your job involves any category, tick it when you start and the SWMS covers it.
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 gutter vacuuming 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
Vacuum poles reaching overhead service wires beside the gutter
Extreme- Inspect the whole pole route for wires before assembling or raising sections
- Keep poles outside the exclusion area set for electrical lines and change method if clearance is uncertain
- 2
Shoulder strain controlling extended gutter vacuum poles
Medium- Use the shortest workable pole assembly and support it as the maker describes
- Move along the gutter from stable ground and alternate pole work with other tasks
- 3
Roof grit and gutter fragments falling onto paths below
Medium- Barrier the area beneath the gutter before lifting the vacuum head
- Check the gutter condition and stop if brackets or sections start moving
- 4
Skin and breathing exposure while emptying mouldy gutter sludge
Medium- Empty the collection drum without shaking or dry brushing the waste
- Wear waterproof gloves and splash protection; wash before eating or drinking
- 5
Cuts from sharp gutter debris caught in the vacuum hose
Medium- Switch off and isolate the vacuum before disconnecting hoses
- Use tools to remove trapped debris and bag sharp fragments separately
- 6
Trips over vacuum hoses while following the gutter line
Medium- Route hoses away from the walking line and keep a clear path beside the building
- Move the vacuum to shorten hose runs instead of pulling across steps or garden beds
How the job usually runs
- 1Inspect gutters from the groundWires and loose gutter sections → Check the pole route and gutter condition before setup
- 2Set up the vacuumHoses across pedestrian paths → Barrier the work area and route hoses clear of access
- 3Raise and guide the polePole strain and wire contact → Use stable footing and keep clear of overhead services
- 4Clear a blocked hoseSharp objects in the suction line → Isolate the vacuum and clear debris with tools
- 5Empty and clean equipmentContaminated gutter waste → Contain sludge; use gloves and wash after handling
PPE for this job
- Safety boots
- Waterproof gloves
- Safety glasses
- Long sleeves
- Respiratory protection for dusty debris
- Hearing protection
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
Gutter vacuuming 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
Can gutter vacuuming be done from the ground?
Yes. The draft starts with ground-based vacuum poles and covers stable footing, pole handling and hoses. Tell us if any section needs separate access equipment so that method can be addressed.
What if the gutter contains sharp rubbish or mould?
The draft covers isolating the vacuum before clearing blockages, using tools for sharp debris, containing collected sludge and cleaning hands and equipment after handling gutter waste.
How much does a gutter vacuuming 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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