SWMS template (Safe Work Method Statement)

A Safe Work Method Statement is required under the model WHS Regulations before any of the 18 classes of high risk construction work can start. It breaks the work into steps, states the hazards of each step, and records the controls, and it must be given to the principal contractor before work begins. This template gives you the full structure, including the high risk work checklist and the job steps table.

Who it's for: Builders, subcontractors and site supervisors carrying out any of the 18 classes of high risk construction work, and the health and safety leads who review their SWMS.

Free to use and adapt · Last updated 2026-07-27 · No email required

Document details

PCBU / business name and ABN

Principal contractor The SWMS must be given to the principal contractor before the work starts

Project name and site address

SWMS number and revision

Date prepared and prepared by

Reviewed and approved by Someone with authority to commit resources to the controls

Scheduled review date Review whenever the work, the way it is done, or the controls change

High risk construction work covered by this SWMS

Regulation 291 of the model WHS Regulations lists 18 classes of high risk construction work. Tick every class this SWMS covers. If no class applies, you do not need a SWMS, though a JSA or risk assessment is still worth doing.

Risk of a person falling more than 2 metres
Work on or near energised electrical installations or services
Work in or near a confined space
Work in or near a shaft or trench deeper than 1.5 metres, or a tunnel
Demolition of a load-bearing element of a structure
Work involving the disturbance of asbestos
Structural alteration or repair requiring temporary support to prevent collapse
Tilt-up or precast concrete work
Work on, in or adjacent to a road, railway or other traffic corridor in use
Work in an area with movement of powered mobile plant
Work in or near water or other liquid with a risk of drowning
Work on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines
Work on or near pressurised gas distribution mains or piping
Work in an area that may have a contaminated or flammable atmosphere
Use of explosives, diving work, artificial extremes of temperature, or work on a telecommunication tower

Job steps, hazards and controls

Break the work into steps in the order they happen. Every class ticked above must appear as a hazard against at least one step. Choose controls from the top of the hierarchy first: eliminate, then substitute, isolate and engineer, then administrative controls, with PPE last.

Job step	Hazards	Risk rating	Control measures	Person responsible

Plant, permits and PPE

Plant and equipment to be used are listed, with inspection and maintenance records current
High risk work licences (e.g. scaffolding, rigging, crane operation) held and sighted
Permits obtained where needed: confined space entry, hot work, excavation, electrical isolation
Underground and overhead service locations obtained before breaking ground
Exclusion zones and barricading planned and marked
PPE required for each step listed and available on site
Safety data sheets available for hazardous chemicals used in the work
Emergency equipment on site: first aid, fire extinguisher, rescue gear for confined space or fall arrest work

Consultation and sign-on

Workers carrying out the work must be consulted when the SWMS is prepared, and every worker must sign on before starting. Anyone who joins the job later signs on at induction.

Name	Role	Signature	Date

Monitoring and review

If the work is not being carried out in accordance with this SWMS, it must stop. Resume only after the SWMS is followed, or after it is revised and the crew re-briefed.

Review and revise the SWMS whenever the work changes, the way it is carried out changes, or a control proves ineffective. Keep the SWMS until the high risk construction work is completed. If a notifiable incident occurs in connection with the work, keep it for at least 2 years after the incident.

How to use it

Getting the most out of this template

Confirm the work actually is high risk construction work using the checklist. If no class applies, a JSA is the better tool.
Write the job steps with the crew who will do the work, then map every ticked class to at least one step.
Give the SWMS to the principal contractor before work starts and keep a copy available on site.
Sign every worker on before they start, including anyone who joins mid-job.
Stop work if the SWMS is not being followed, fix the SWMS or the work, and re-brief.

This template is general information, not legal advice. Requirements differ by jurisdiction and industry; check the guidance published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and seek advice for your specific circumstances.

Questions

Frequently asked

Is a SWMS legally required?

Yes, for high risk construction work. The model WHS Regulations (regulation 299) require a SWMS to be prepared before any of the 18 classes of high risk construction work starts, in every state and territory that has adopted the model law. Victoria imposes an equivalent duty under its Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017. For construction work outside those classes, a SWMS is not mandatory, though many principal contractors require one anyway.

What is the difference between a SWMS and a JSA?

A SWMS is the specific document the WHS Regulations require for high risk construction work, and it must be given to the principal contractor. A JSA is a general task planning tool with no set legal format. Use a JSA for everyday tasks; use a SWMS whenever the work falls into one of the 18 classes.

How long do I need to keep a SWMS?

Until the high risk construction work it covers is completed. If a notifiable incident occurs in connection with the work, keep it for at least 2 years after the incident.

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