Remote control trench roller SWMS, drafted for your job
A remote trench roller can crush someone against a trench wall without an operator in the cab, and the person holding the controller can lose sight of the edge. Tell us the job and the site: your SWMS is drafted around them, and you check it with the crew 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
Remote control trench roller
Site Your site address
Law Your state
High-risk construction work
- Work where powered mobile plant is moving
- Work in or near a deep trench, shaft or tunnel
Job steps, hazards and controls
| 1 | Check roller and remote controls | Failed stop or lost signal | Extreme | Test movement, emergency stop and signal-loss response in a clear area |
| 2 | Prepare trench and operator position | Unprotected edges and unstable walls | Extreme | Confirm trench protection and a firm viewing position |
| 3 | Lower roller into the trench | Suspended compacting machine | High | Use designated lifting points and clear the landing zone |
| 4 | Compact backfill in sequence | Crushing and excavator interaction | Extreme | Keep people out and separate filling from roller operation |
| 5 | Stop, recover and secure roller | Unexpected movement during retrieval | High | Isolate the machine before connecting lifting gear or approaching |
Illustrative first page. Yours carries your business name only.
What you get
What your remote control trench roller 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 in or near a deep trench, shaft or tunnel
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 remote control trench roller 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
Trench roller continuing to move after remote control signal loss
Extreme- Test signal-loss stopping and emergency controls in a clear area before use
- Stop work if commands fail or the roller responds unpredictably
- 2
Operator stepping backwards over the trench edge while watching the roller
High- Set a firm protected operating position away from the edge
- Keep the machine visible without walking backwards along an unprotected trench
- 3
Workers trapped between the remote roller and trench walls
Extreme- Keep people out of the trench while the roller travels or vibrates
- Isolate the roller before anyone approaches for inspection or retrieval
- 4
Roller vibration loosening trench walls and undermining nearby edges
Extreme- Confirm trench protection and ground suitability before compaction starts
- Stop if cracking, slumping or movement develops around the trench
- 5
Dropped trench roller during lowering or recovery by excavator
High- Use the designated lifting points and a planned mechanical lifting arrangement
- Keep workers outside the lift path and machine landing area
- 6
Excavator bucket entering the trench while roller compaction continues
High- Separate fill placement and roller operation into distinct work periods
- Park the roller clear and confirm crews are out before the excavator places fill
How the job usually runs
- 1Check roller and remote controlsFailed stop or lost signal → Test movement, emergency stop and signal-loss response in a clear area
- 2Prepare trench and operator positionUnprotected edges and unstable walls → Confirm trench protection and a firm viewing position
- 3Lower roller into the trenchSuspended compacting machine → Use designated lifting points and clear the landing zone
- 4Compact backfill in sequenceCrushing and excavator interaction → Keep people out and separate filling from roller operation
- 5Stop, recover and secure rollerUnexpected movement during retrieval → Isolate the machine before connecting lifting gear or approaching
PPE for this job
- Safety boots
- High visibility clothing
- Head protection
- Safety glasses
- Hearing protection
- Handling 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
Remote control trench roller 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
Where should the operator stand with the roller remote?
Stand in a firm protected position with the roller and trench edge visible. The draft includes selecting that position before compaction and stopping to reposition rather than following the machine backwards along an open edge.
Can the excavator add fill while the trench roller runs?
Separate those activities. The draft includes parking the roller clear, confirming people are outside the trench and handing the area over before the excavator places the next layer of fill.
How much does a remote control trench roller 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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