Managing Risks in Public Protection and Site Security

Hoarding Installation & Removal SWMS

Compliant with AS 4687 for Temporary Fencing and Hoardings

Generate SWMS Now View Sample PDF

No credit card required • Instant access • 100% compliant in every Australian state

5 sec

Creation Time

100%

Compliant

2,000+

Companies

$3.6K

Fines Avoided

Avoid WHS penalties up to $3.6M—issue compliant SWMS to every crew before work starts.

This Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) provides a comprehensive procedure for the safe installation and removal of construction site hoarding. Hoarding is a critical element for securing a worksite and protecting the public, but the work itself involves high-risk activities, including working near traffic, manual handling, and ensuring structural stability. This document is essential for compliance with Australian Work Health and Safety (WHS) regulations and relevant Australian Standards.

Start Generating SWMS See How It Works

Unlimited drafts • Built-in WHS compliance • Works across every Australian state

Overview

What this SWMS covers

The installation and removal of construction hoarding is a specialised task essential for public safety and site security. The process involves erecting a temporary, solid wall around a construction site. This typically includes setting out the hoarding line, establishing foundations or counterweight systems, erecting a structural frame of timber or steel, and cladding it with panels such as plywood or composite sheets. The design must be certified by an engineer to withstand environmental loads, particularly wind. Removal involves a careful deconstruction process in reverse order to ensure the structure does not become unstable at any point.

Create Custom SWMS Download Sample PDF

Fully editable, audit-ready, and aligned to Australian WHS standards.

Why this SWMS matters

A SWMS for hoarding is critical because the structure is often the primary interface between a high-risk construction site and the public. A structural failure, particularly due to high winds, can lead to the hoarding collapsing onto a footpath or road, with potentially fatal consequences. The work itself involves risks such as working at height, manual handling of large panels, and operating in close proximity to public traffic. This SWMS ensures that all legal and technical requirements, such as compliance with AS 4687 for temporary hoardings, are met. It provides a documented plan for managing wind load calculations, foundation requirements, and a safe sequence for both erection and dismantling, which is fundamental to fulfilling the PCBU's duty of care.

Reinforce licensing, insurance, and regulator expectations for Hoarding Installation Removal crews before they mobilise.

Hazard identification

Surface the critical risks tied to this work scope and communicate them to every worker.

Risk register

Structural Collapse of Hoarding

high

Inadequate design, incorrect assembly, or extreme weather (high winds) can cause the hoarding to collapse.

Consequence: Multiple fatalities or serious injuries to the public or workers, significant property damage.

Manual Handling Injuries

high

Lifting, carrying, and positioning heavy hoarding panels, frames, and counterweights can cause severe musculoskeletal injuries.

Consequence: Back injuries, hernias, shoulder and knee strain, leading to chronic pain and inability to work.

Falls from Height

high

Workers may fall while installing panels or bracing on hoardings over 2 metres high, often from ladders or elevating work platforms (EWPs).

Consequence: Serious fractures, spinal or head injuries, or death.

Struck by Moving Plant or Traffic

high

Workers setting up hoarding adjacent to live traffic lanes or in busy construction sites are at risk of being struck by vehicles, forklifts, or other mobile plant.

Consequence: Serious impact injuries or fatality.

Control measures

Deploy layered controls aligned to the hierarchy of hazard management.

Implementation guide

Engineering Certification and Design Compliance

Engineering

Ensure the hoarding is designed by a qualified engineer to withstand all expected loads.

Implementation

1. Obtain a certified structural design for the hoarding that complies with AS 4687 and considers site-specific wind loads. 2. Strictly follow the engineer’s drawings for footing details, counterweight requirements, bracing, and fastener specifications. 3. Do not make any modifications to the design without consulting the engineer. 4. Obtain a certificate of compliance from the engineer upon completion.

Traffic and Pedestrian Management Plan

Administrative

Isolate the work area from public and site traffic.

Implementation

1. Develop and implement a site-specific traffic management plan before work begins. 2. Use accredited traffic controllers to manage vehicle flow when working near live lanes. 3. Establish a clearly marked exclusion zone around the work area using barriers and signage. 4. Provide a safe, alternative path for pedestrians, protected from the work area.

Safe Manual Handling and Mechanical Aids

Engineering/Administrative

Minimise manual handling risks by using mechanical aids and safe practices.

Implementation

1. Use forklifts, cranes, or panel lifters to move panels and counterweights whenever possible. 2. For manual lifts, ensure adequate personnel are available (team lifting). 3. Train all workers in correct kinetic lifting techniques. 4. Break down tasks and rotate workers to prevent fatigue and repetitive strain.

Safe Work at Heights Procedure

Administrative

Use the correct equipment and procedures when working at height.

Implementation

1. For work over 2 metres, use an EWP or mobile scaffold with guardrails as the primary means of access. 2. Ensure all EWP operators hold a valid high-risk work licence (WP class). 3. If using ladders, ensure they are industrial-rated, placed on stable ground, and used for access or short-duration tasks only, maintaining 3 points of contact. 4. Implement a fall-arrest system (harnesses) only as a last resort where other controls are not feasible.

Download complete control procedures

Personal protective equipment

Hard Hat

Requirement: AS/NZS 1801

When: Mandatory for all personnel within the construction site and hoarding work area.

Steel-Capped Safety Boots

Requirement: AS/NZS 2210.3

When: Mandatory at all times to protect against falling materials and trip hazards.

High-Visibility Clothing

Requirement: AS/NZS 4602.1

When: Required for all workers, especially when working near traffic or mobile plant.

Gloves

Requirement: AS/NZS 2161

When: When handling panels with sharp edges, timber, or steel components to prevent cuts and splinters.

Inspections & checks

Before work starts

✓Verify the engineering design has been received and approved for the specific site.
✓Inspect the ground conditions to ensure they are suitable for the hoarding foundations or counterweights.
✓Check all materials (panels, frames, fasteners) to ensure they match the design specifications and are free from defects.
✓Ensure the traffic management plan is in place and all signage and barriers are ready for deployment.

During work

✓Continuously monitor wind conditions and cease work if speeds exceed the limits specified in the design or SWMS.
✓Ensure the structure remains stable and plumb as it is being erected.
✓Check that all fasteners are tightened to the correct torque.
✓Monitor the exclusion zone to ensure no unauthorised personnel enter the area.

After work

✓Conduct a final inspection of the entire hoarding to ensure it has been built in accordance with the certified design.
✓Check that all signage (e.g., danger, site contact details) is correctly affixed.
✓Ensure the surrounding public areas are clean and free from any construction debris.
✓Arrange for a final inspection and certificate of compliance from the engineer.

Step-by-step work procedure

Give supervisors and crews a clear, auditable sequence for the task.

Field ready

Set Out and Prepare Foundations

Mark out the hoarding line according to the site plan. Prepare the foundations as per the engineer's design. This may involve excavating for in-ground footings or clearing and levelling an area for counterweights. Implement the traffic and pedestrian management plan.

Safety considerations

Check for underground services before any excavation. Ensure the work area is properly isolated from the public.

Erect Structural Frame

Erect the vertical and horizontal structural members (e.g., steel posts, timber framing). Brace the frame as you go to ensure it remains stable. If using counterweights, position them correctly as the frame is built.

Safety considerations

Never leave frames freestanding without adequate temporary bracing. Use team lifts or mechanical aids to handle heavy structural components.

Install Hoarding Panels

Starting from one end, lift and fix the hoarding panels to the structural frame using the specified fasteners. Ensure each panel is securely fastened before moving to the next. Use an EWP or scaffold for panels that are out of reach from the ground.

Safety considerations

Be aware of wind catching the large panels during lifting; do not lift panels in high winds. Ensure workers on EWPs are wearing harnesses where required.

Final Fixings and Signage

Once all panels are installed, complete any final fixings, add capping and flashing, and install all required safety and project signage. Conduct a final inspection to ensure the structure is rigid and complete.

Safety considerations

Ensure all edges are smooth and there are no protruding screws or nails that could injure the public.

Dismantling and Removal

Dismantle the hoarding in the reverse order of installation. Remove panels one at a time, ensuring the remaining structure is not left unstable. Lower panels to the ground using mechanical aids or safe manual handling techniques. Remove the structural frame and then the footings or counterweights.

Safety considerations

Plan the dismantling sequence carefully. Never remove bracing from a section before the panels it supports have been removed. Maintain control of the traffic management plan throughout the removal process.

Get risk assessment & procedures

Frequently asked questions

Does a construction hoarding in Australia need to be designed by an engineer?

Yes, in almost all cases. Hoardings are temporary structures that must withstand significant wind loads. Australian Standard AS 4687 requires that they be designed and certified by a qualified engineer to ensure they are structurally sound and will not collapse, especially when located in public areas.

What is the main hazard to the public from a construction hoarding?

The main hazard is structural collapse. A poorly designed or installed hoarding can be blown over in high winds, falling onto pedestrians or traffic and causing severe injuries or fatalities. This is why engineering certification and correct installation are so critical.

What is a counterweight system for a hoarding?

A counterweight system is used to provide stability to a free-standing hoarding where drilling into the ground is not possible (e.g., on a paved footpath). Large, heavy blocks (often concrete) are placed on a frame at the base of the hoarding on the construction site side, providing the weight needed to prevent it from tipping over.

Can I use a ladder to install hoarding panels?

Ladders should only be used for short-duration tasks or for access. For installing multiple panels at height, a more stable work platform like an Elevating Work Platform (EWP) or a mobile scaffold is the required and safer option. This provides a stable platform for workers and their tools, reducing the risk of falls.

Overview of Hoarding Installation and Removal

Construction hoarding is a temporary, solid barrier erected around a building site to prevent unauthorised access and protect the public from construction activities. Installation involves setting up a structural frame, often using counterweights or ground fixings, and attaching solid panels (e.g., plywood, metal sheets). Removal is the reverse process, requiring careful dismantling to prevent uncontrolled collapse. The design must account for wind loads and potential impacts, making structural integrity a key component of the work.

Why a SWMS is Crucial for Hoarding Work

A SWMS is critical for hoarding installation and removal because a failure can have catastrophic consequences. A collapsed hoarding can fall onto pedestrians, passing vehicles, or workers, causing serious injury or death. The work often takes place in busy public areas, amplifying the risk. This SWMS ensures that all risks, from traffic management during setup to the structural calculations for wind loading (as per AS 4687), are systematically addressed. It mandates procedures for securing panels, using correct fixings, and planning a safe dismantling sequence. It is the primary document for demonstrating that the PCBU has met their legal duty of care to protect both their workers and the public from the significant risks associated with this high-stakes temporary work.

Trusted by 1,500+ Australian construction teams