Concrete & Pumping SWMS

Concrete work exposes workers to respirable crystalline silica dust that causes irreversible lung disease, wet concrete with a pH of 13 that causes chemical burns, and formwork and pump systems that can fail catastrophically. The workplace exposure limit for RCS is dropping by 50% in December 2026 under WHS Regulation 2025 Part 8A. This template covers concrete cutting, placing, pumping, and finishing with controls mapped to the binding Respirable Crystalline Silica Code of Practice effective February 2026.

Legal Requirements

regulation

WHS Regulation 2025 Part 8A — Respirable Crystalline Silica; Part 4.4 — HRCW

hrcw category

General construction work (silica-generating, formwork collapse risk)

code of practice

Managing Respirable Crystalline Silica Dust (binding February 2026 under Section 26A)

section 26a binding

Yes — RCS code binding February 2026. Non-compliance is admissible as evidence of breach.

Hazards

Hazard	Consequence	Likelihood
Respirable crystalline silica dust from cutting, grinding, and drilling concrete	Silicosis (irreversible), lung cancer (IARC Group 1)	Likely
Chemical burns from wet concrete contact (pH 13)	Severe skin burns, eye damage, dermatitis	Likely
Formwork collapse during or after concrete pour	Multiple fatalities, crush injuries	Unlikely
Concrete pump line whip or blockage blowout	Fatal blunt trauma, crush injuries	Possible
Manual handling of heavy formwork components, vibrators, and screeds	Musculoskeletal injuries, hand-arm vibration syndrome	Likely

Controls (Hierarchy of Controls)

Use wet cutting methods for all concrete sawing, drilling, and grinding to suppress silica dust at source

Provide local exhaust ventilation (on-tool extraction) where wet cutting is not feasible

Supply and enforce P2 respiratory protection for all silica-generating tasks

Require long-sleeved clothing, alkali-resistant gloves, and eye protection for all wet concrete handling

Ensure formwork is designed by a qualified engineer for pours exceeding 4 metres in height

Restrain concrete pump lines at every coupling and bend to prevent whip in case of blockage

Conduct pre-pour formwork inspection by competent person with documented sign-off

Recent Prosecutions

Concrete silica exposure cases (multiple jurisdictions)$100,000–$300,000 (various cases)

Workers diagnosed with accelerated silicosis after dry cutting concrete without dust controls or respiratory protection. Employers failed to provide health monitoring or exposure assessments.

2024 — Safe Work Australia Silica Enforcement Reports

What Your SWMS Must Include

✓Silica dust control measures for each concrete cutting or grinding task — wet method or LEV specified

✓Respiratory protection selection and fit testing records for all workers exposed to RCS

✓Formwork engineer design reference and pre-pour inspection checklist

✓Concrete pump line restraint specifications and blockage clearing procedure

✓Wet concrete PPE requirements — alkali-resistant gloves, long sleeves, eye protection

Need a compliant Concrete Work SWMS?

Our WHS consultants develop concrete SWMS with silica controls mapped to the new WEL and formwork inspection procedures that satisfy regulator expectations.