Excavation SWMS software for Australia
Build a site-specific SWMS for excavation and trenching - the underground services, trench collapse, ground conditions, plant and access risks that are particular to breaking ground - then record acknowledgement, keep versions and evidence, and export a PDF.
When an excavation SWMS is required
A SWMS is required before high risk construction work starts. Work in or near a shaft or trench deeper than 1.5 metres, or a tunnel, is high risk construction work in its own right. Shallower excavation is not automatically caught - but breaking ground very often triggers other categories regardless of depth: work on or near underground electrical, gas or fuel services; work in or near a confined space; an area with movement of powered mobile plant; a contaminated or flammable atmosphere; or a risk of drowning. Assess the actual job against the high risk construction work categories rather than assuming from the depth alone.
Two things sit at the heart of an excavation SWMS. Underground services are treated as present until proven otherwise - a Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) enquiry then careful potholing confirms their position before machine digging. And collapse is controlled by design - benching, battering or shoring chosen for the ground and depth, not by hoping a trench stands unsupported. Requirements also differ by jurisdiction: most states and territories run the model WHS laws, while Victoria operates under the OHS Act 2004 and OHS Regulations 2017 through WorkSafe Victoria.
Excavation hazards a real SWMS has to cover
A generic template will not stand up. These are the excavation-specific hazards your SWMS should address for the actual job:
Trench & ground collapse
The hazard that kills - unsupported walls giving way. Benching, battering or shoring chosen for the actual ground and depth, not assumed.
Underground services
Gas, electricity, water and comms struck while digging - BYDA enquiry, potholing to confirm position, exclusion distances and a strike plan.
Ground conditions & stability
Soil type, groundwater, fill and previously disturbed ground that change how the excavation behaves and what support it needs.
Falls into the excavation
People or plant falling into an open trench or pit - edge protection, barriers, covers and marked crossing points.
People & plant interaction
Excavators, trucks and people sharing the same ground - exclusion zones, spotters, reversing controls and clear separation.
Safe access & egress
Getting in and out safely - ladders, ramps and a means of escape if the excavation starts to fail.
Spoil & surcharge loads
Spoil, materials and plant set back from the edge so their weight does not overload and collapse the excavation wall.
Water ingress & drowning
Flooding and water collecting in the excavation - dewatering, and controls where there is a risk of drowning.
Atmospheric & confined space
Deep or enclosed excavations that can become a confined space - oxygen deficiency, gases and the atmospheric testing that entails.
Excavation near buildings also risks undermining adjacent structures and their foundations - the SWMS should address support and monitoring where you dig close to them.
How Complys builds your excavation SWMS
The workflow keeps the SWMS specific to the ground and the crew, and keeps the evidence attached to the work:
- 1Set the site and project the excavation is for
- 2Choose the activity - trenching, bulk excavation, pit or shaft
- 3Confirm the high risk construction work that applies (depth, services, confined space, plant)
- 4Answer the site-specific questions (depth, ground, groundwater, BYDA plans, adjacent structures)
- 5Lay out the work steps and their hazards
- 6Set the specific controls for each hazard
- 7Assign the responsible person for each control
- 8Define how controls and ground conditions are monitored on site
- 9Consult the crew and record their acknowledgement
- 10Review and re-version after rain, a strike or any change
- 11Export the PDF and keep the evidence against the job
Excavation SWMS - FAQs
Does every excavation job need a SWMS?
Not automatically. A SWMS is required for high risk construction work, and work in or near a shaft or trench deeper than 1.5 metres (or a tunnel) is high risk construction work in its own right. Shallower excavation is not automatically caught - but it very often triggers other categories anyway: work on or near underground electrical, gas or fuel services, work in or near a confined space, an area with movement of powered mobile plant, a contaminated or flammable atmosphere, or a risk of drowning. Assess each job against the categories rather than assuming from the depth alone.
How do we deal with underground services?
Treat services as present until proven otherwise. A Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) enquiry locates known assets, then careful potholing - hand digging or non-destructive excavation - confirms their position before machine digging near them. The SWMS should record the BYDA plans, the potholing method, exclusion distances around live services, and what happens if a service is found or struck.
How is trench collapse controlled?
By choosing the right control for the ground and the depth - benching, battering back the walls to a safe angle, or shoring with trench boxes, shields or props - rather than assuming a trench will stand unsupported. The SWMS should tie the control to the actual ground conditions and depth, and require re-assessment after rain, vibration or any change to the excavation.
Does it work in Victoria?
Yes. Most states and territories run the model WHS laws, but Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and OHS Regulations 2017 through WorkSafe Victoria, which also requires a SWMS for high risk construction work. Complys works across both - follow the rules for the state or territory you are working in.
Can a principal contractor collect our excavation SWMS?
Yes. If you engage excavation or groundworks crews as subcontractors, Complys lets you collect and check their SWMS, licences and insurance as part of onboarding, before anyone breaks ground.
Can I export the excavation SWMS as a PDF?
Yes - generate a clean PDF for the site folder or the principal contractor, while the live, versioned copy and worker acknowledgements stay in Complys.
Keep going
The parent guide to SWMS across all high risk construction work.
Manage your WHS obligations under the model WHS laws in one place.
See the format and build one free - no card required.
Trenching, hazards and controls, in detail.
Erection, alteration and dismantling - falls, ties, loading.
Fragile surfaces, pitch, skylights, edge protection and weather.
Build your excavation SWMS today
Start free for 90 days - no card. Site-specific, acknowledged by the crew, and ready as a PDF.