• SWMS template · jetties, pontoons and marine works

Marine construction SWMS template Australia

Work in or near water where someone could drown is high-risk construction work, and so is work beside a shipping lane or channel in use. Jetties, pontoons, seawalls, boat ramps and marina works usually involve both, plus barges, cranes and the weather. This page shows what a marine construction SWMS should cover.

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When marine construction is high-risk construction work

Typical jobs are jetties, pontoons, seawalls, boat ramps and marina works. Check every category on the high-risk construction work checklist.

Work in or near water with a risk of drowning.
Work adjacent to a shipping lane or channel in use by vessels.
Diving work, which has its own separate requirements.

Filled example: timber jetty repair from a work barge

Illustrative example of replacing piles and decking on a timber jetty beside a navigation channel, working from a barge with a crane. The business and site are made up.

Document: SWMS — marine construction
Site: Timber jetty beside a channel (illustrative)
HRCW: Risk of drowning; adjacent to a shipping lane in use

Example layout only — not a copy-paste legal document. See the crane and lifting SWMS for lift planning.

Step	Hazards	Controls	5×5 risk
1. Plan around tides and weather; set up rescue gear Responsible: Supervisor	Falls into water and drowning Strong currents, wind and changing tides Cold water	Work windows set from tide and weather forecasts; stop-work wind and swell limits PFDs worn at all times near the water; throw lines and a rescue boat ready Nobody works alone near the water; rescue plan briefed	InitialL3×C5 = 15 High ResidualL1×C5 = 5 Medium
2. Position the barge beside the channel Responsible: Vessel master	Collision with passing vessels Barge movement while people step on and off	Notify the relevant waterways authority where required; markers and lights on the barge Barge moored and stable before transfer; edge protection or rails at the transfer point	InitialL3×C4 = 12 High ResidualL2×C3 = 6 Medium
3. Lift piles and decking over water with the barge crane Responsible: Crane operator / dogger	Falling loads Barge instability during the lift Slippery decking	Lift plan accounting for barge stability; licensed operator and dogger No one under the load; tag lines used Slip-resistant footwear; decking kept clear of weed and debris; edge protection on the fixed jetty	InitialL3×C5 = 15 High ResidualL2×C4 = 8 Medium

What the generator changes for marine work

Tell it the structure, the water conditions, the plant and the state. It drafts the steps, hazards and controls for the job, which you then review and edit. Check what a SWMS must include or start from the SWMS template.

Frequently asked questions

When does marine construction need a SWMS?

When it is high-risk construction work under model WHS regulation 291. Work in or near water or other liquid that involves a risk of drowning, work adjacent to a shipping lane or other traffic corridor in use, and diving work are all listed. Most jetty, pontoon, seawall and boat ramp work hits at least one.

Is a marine construction SWMS free to download?

Creating an account is free and needs no card; creating and editing your own site-specific draft is free too. The $20/month subscription is only needed to download the PDF. This page is an example layout, not a Word file you print and sign.

Does this SWMS cover diving work?

No. Diving work is high-risk construction work, and separate requirements apply to it under the WHS Regulations, including diver competency and dive planning. Use this page for above-water marine construction and plan any diving separately.

What rescue arrangements should the SWMS include?

A rescue plan for a person in the water: lifejackets or PFDs worn, throw lines or a rescue boat ready, nobody working alone near the water, and how you'll raise the alarm and get emergency services. Plan around tides, currents and weather.

Do I need to notify a waterways authority?

It depends on the waterway and the work. Where required, notify the relevant waterways or port authority and arrange vessel exclusion or notices to mariners. Record what applies to this site in the SWMS.

Check the official guidance

A SWMS sets out the high-risk construction activities, their hazards and the controls to use. Prepare it before the work starts, adapt it to the site and review it when the work or controls change. Consult the people doing the work. An AI draft or example needs review before use.

Model WHS guidance and Victorian requirements differ. Check the rules that apply to your workplace.

Write the marine construction SWMS for this job

Describe the structure, the water, the plant and the state. Free account, no card to sign up. $20/month for unlimited PDF downloads.

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