Soil testing SWMS, drafted for your job
Soil testing opens pits and boreholes near buried services, while sampling crews work beside drilling rigs and excavators. Unsupported holes and contaminated fill need attention before sampling starts. Describe the investigation and site so the draft covers your method, then review it with the crew 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
Soil testing
Site Your site address
Law Your state
High-risk construction work
- Work in or near a deep trench, shaft or tunnel
- Work where powered mobile plant is moving
Job steps, hazards and controls
| 1 | Locate services and mark holes | Buried cables and pipes | High | Mark services; move hole positions clear |
| 2 | Set up the drill or pit | Plant near workers | High | Exclusion around the rig or excavator |
| 3 | Dig, drill and sample | Collapsing pit and rotating gear | High | Support or stay out; hands off moving parts |
| 4 | Bag and label the samples | Contaminated material | Medium | Gloves; seal and label every sample |
| 5 | Backfill and reinstate | Open holes left behind | High | Fill or barrier every hole before leaving |
Illustrative first page. Yours carries your business name only.
What you get
What your soil testing 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 in or near a deep trench, shaft or tunnel
- Work where powered mobile plant is moving
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 soil testing 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
Test pit walls collapsing on the sampler
High- Sample from outside the pit or support it before anyone enters
- Keep pits shallow, spoil back from the edge and check walls after rain
- 2
Auger or excavator striking buried services
High- Locate and mark services before choosing hole positions
- Hand dig near marked crossings and stop on anything unexpected
- 3
Worker falling into an open test pit
High- Barrier every open hole and backfill or cover it the same day
- Mark and re-check any hole left before leaving site
- 4
Rotating auger catching clothing or gloves
High- Keep guards on and hands off the string while it turns
- Stop rotation before clearing cuttings or changing tools
- 5
Drilling rig or excavator striking the sampling crew
High- Keep a clear exclusion around the rig while it operates
- Approach only after the operator stops and acknowledges
- 6
Contaminated soil and groundwater on hands
Medium- Assess suspect fill before disturbing it and stop sampling if unexpected contamination appears
- Use sampling tools and gloves; seal suspect samples separately and wash before eating
- 7
Strains lifting sample bags and hand augers
Medium- Move sample loads and augers with trolleys or mechanical aids
- Split sample loads into manageable bags and keep the carrying route clear
How the job usually runs
- 1Locate services and mark holesBuried cables and pipes → Mark services; move hole positions clear
- 2Set up the drill or pitPlant near workers → Exclusion around the rig or excavator
- 3Dig, drill and sampleCollapsing pit and rotating gear → Support or stay out; hands off moving parts
- 4Bag and label the samplesContaminated material → Gloves; seal and label every sample
- 5Backfill and reinstateOpen holes left behind → Fill or barrier every hole before leaving
PPE for this job
- Safety boots
- High-visibility clothing
- Work gloves
- Safety glasses
- Hearing protection near the rig
- Safety helmet near plant
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
Soil testing 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 hand-dug test pits and machine drilling?
Yes. Describe the investigation method. The draft covers service checks and open holes for both, plus pit support for test pits and rotating equipment for auger and rig work.
What if the soil looks contaminated?
Unexpected staining, odour or suspect fill needs assessment before sampling continues. The draft covers stopping disturbance, isolating the area and sealing suspect samples separately using the site's sampling method.
Does it cover working beside an excavator or drill rig?
Yes. The draft covers keeping a clear exclusion around operating plant and approaching only after the operator stops and acknowledges you.
How much does a soil testing 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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