Product Overview

This Wood Chipper Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a comprehensive safety planning document designed to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement effective controls for wood chipping operations on Australian worksites. It provides end-to-end coverage of wood chipper operation, from set-up to shutdown, supporting strong WHS compliance and consistent safe work practices.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Safe set-up, positioning, and stabilisation of wood chippers and shredders on various ground conditions
• Pre-start inspection of wood chippers, including guards, emergency stops, infeed and discharge components
• Safe operation of a wood chipper, including feeding techniques and maintaining exclusion zones
• Management of kickback, pull-in, and entanglement risks during wood chipping operations
• Selection, use, and maintenance of personal protective equipment (PPE), including eye, hearing, hand, and leg protection
• Control of noise, dust, flying debris, and projectiles around the chipper work area
• Manual handling of logs, branches, and green waste to minimise musculoskeletal injuries
• Safe handling and clearing of blockages and jams, including lock-out/tag-out procedures
• Traffic and pedestrian management around chipper locations, including use on roadsides and public areas
• Fuel handling, refuelling, and fire prevention controls for petrol or diesel-powered chippers
• Emergency response procedures, including isolation, first aid, and incident reporting
• Environmental controls for managing noise, waste material, and work near services or structures

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for arborists, tree loppers, landscaping and grounds maintenance crews, civil and council maintenance teams, and site supervisors overseeing wood chipping operations.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice: Guidance on the safe use, inspection, and maintenance of plant such as wood chippers
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice: Requirements and controls for high-noise equipment and environments
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice: Risk management for lifting, carrying, and handling branches and timber
• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice: Relevant where chipping is associated with tree work or work near edges and slopes
• Work Health and Safety Consultation, Cooperation and Coordination Code of Practice: Ensuring PCBUs, workers, and contractors coordinate on safe wood chipping activities
• AS/NZS 4024 Safety of Machinery (series): General principles for guarding, emergency stops, and safe machinery design
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017