Everyday and service work guide
Review hazards and checks for each example, then prepare an assessment and work documents for your actual site.
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Local documents and scope
Use a Risk Assessment for the task and check whether it is high risk construction work before selecting a SWMS. A SWMS is not the name for every Australian JSA. Confirm the relevant state or territory requirements and regulator guidance, including Victoria where applicable. Connect the plan with a Pre-start / Toolbox discussion and the permits required for the actual work.
- Risk Assessment
- Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)
- Permit to Work
- Pre-start / Toolbox Talk
- Pre-start Inspection Checklist
This is a planning reference. Verify numerical limits, permits and qualifications for the jurisdiction, sector and equipment. Record fresh site measurements, people and signatures for each job.
From example to site use
- 1
Define the job
Identify equipment, location, sequence, people, nearby activities and access. Separate preparation, execution and close-out, and record hazards observed at the site.
- 2
Match controls to each step
Consider elimination, substitution and engineering controls first, then procedures and PPE. Assign an owner, a verification method and stop-work conditions for each control.
- 3
Connect documents and site checks
Choose the local assessment, procedure and applicable permits, then brief the crew. Add drawings and checklists, reassess changes and retain the output for this job.
Task hazards and checks 10
Forklift Pallet Loading and Transport in Logistics Warehouse
- Potential hazards
- Forklift tip-over during sharp turns, pedestrian collision due to obstructed view
- Checks to verify and specify on site
- Separate vehicles and pedestrians; check visibility, reversing and loading areas. Set speed and signalling for the site, and stop for unstable loads or ground.
- Verify weight, centre of gravity, lifting points, rated capacity and sling angles. Define ground conditions, route, exclusion zone and signals; follow the lift plan.
Patient Mobility Assistance and Medical Waste Handling in Wards
- Potential hazards
- Falls during patient transfer, infection from needlestick injuries
- Checks to verify and specify on site
- Verify task-specific training, qualifications and procedures. Record process and equipment protections, exposure controls, emergency arrangements and the responsible person's checks in the work plan.
Mowing and Tree Pruning in Green Zones
- Potential hazards
- Impact from flying debris due to broken blades, shock from overhead power lines
- Checks to verify and specify on site
- Check manufacturer procedures, guards, energy isolation and release of stored energy; account for people and tools before restart.
- Equipment, circuits, supplies, backfeed, induced voltage and stored energy; Disconnection, prevention of re-energisation, locks and tags; Voltage detector, functional check, absence-of-voltage result and tester; Earthing/short-circuiting where required; adjacent live-part protection and boundaries; Completion, personnel clearance, lock removal and re-energisation authority.
Foot Patrol in Vulnerable Areas and Traffic Marshaling
- Potential hazards
- Collision with incoming vehicles, assault/injury from suspicious persons during night patrol
- Checks to verify and specify on site
- Separate vehicles and pedestrians; check visibility, reversing and loading areas. Set speed and signalling for the site, and stop for unstable loads or ground.
- Verify task-specific training, qualifications and procedures. Record process and equipment protections, exposure controls, emergency arrangements and the responsible person's checks in the work plan.
Laboratory Reagent Preparation and Analytical Equipment Operation
- Potential hazards
- Toxic gas leakage due to poor hood performance, chemical burns from reagent splashing
- Checks to verify and specify on site
- Check the SDS, compatibility, containment, extraction, leak isolation and emergency response. Select test targets, limits and respiratory protection for the actual substances and exposure.
Underground Parking Lot Deep Cleaning and High-pressure Washing
- Potential hazards
- Collision with uncontrolled vehicles, electric shock from power tools in wet areas
- Checks to verify and specify on site
- Separate vehicles and pedestrians; check visibility, reversing and loading areas. Set speed and signalling for the site, and stop for unstable loads or ground.
- Equipment, circuits, supplies, backfeed, induced voltage and stored energy; Disconnection, prevention of re-energisation, locks and tags; Voltage detector, functional check, absence-of-voltage result and tester; Earthing/short-circuiting where required; adjacent live-part protection and boundaries; Completion, personnel clearance, lock removal and re-energisation authority.
Waste Shredder Operation and Inlet Clog Removal
- Potential hazards
- Body parts caught in shredder inlet, crushing due to unexpected startup by others
- Checks to verify and specify on site
- Check manufacturer procedures, guards, energy isolation and release of stored energy; account for people and tools before restart.
Exterior Glass Cleaning and Boatswain's Chair Operation
- Potential hazards
- Falls due to rope wear or failure, impact on pedestrians from falling tools
- Checks to verify and specify on site
- Avoiding height work; platforms and collective fall protection; Fall restraint/arrest equipment, anchors and required clearance; Access, fragile surfaces, openings and falling-object controls; Weather, work conditions, equipment inspection and stop criteria; Site rescue method, people, equipment, communication and readiness.
Food Pre-processing and Large Cauldron Cooking in Mass Catering
- Potential hazards
- Slipping and falls due to wet floors, burns from hot oil or steam contact
- Checks to verify and specify on site
- Verify task-specific training, qualifications and procedures. Record process and equipment protections, exposure controls, emergency arrangements and the responsible person's checks in the work plan.
Server Rack Installation and Tray Laying in Data Centres
- Potential hazards
- Crushing from rack inertia during moving, falls from ladders during high work
- Checks to verify and specify on site
- Verify weight, centre of gravity, lifting points, rated capacity and sling angles. Define ground conditions, route, exclusion zone and signals; follow the lift plan.
- Avoiding height work; platforms and collective fall protection; Fall restraint/arrest equipment, anchors and required clearance; Access, fragile surfaces, openings and falling-object controls; Weather, work conditions, equipment inspection and stop criteria; Site rescue method, people, equipment, communication and readiness.
Fresh site records
Record date, location, equipment ID, responsible people, crew, permit references, measurements, times, testers, inspections and changes. Do not reuse previous signatures or readings.
Official references
These sources support local terminology and scope. The examples are editorial planning prompts from Smart JSA Bridge, not official forms.
- Safe Work Australia · High risk construction work and SWMS ↗
- WorkSafe Victoria · SWMS ↗
- Safe Work Australia · Risk management and worker consultation ↗
https://smartjsabridge.com/en-AU/guideline/general