Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS)

A SWMS is a document that sets out the high risk construction work (HRCW) to be carried out at a workplace, the hazards arising from these activities, and the measures to be put in place to control the risks. SWMS must be prepared before HRCW commences.

The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (OHS Regulations) require employers and self-employed persons to prepare a SWMS before starting HRCW.

High-risk construction work involves activities

1. where there is a risk of a person falling more than 2m
2. on or next to roadways or railways used by road or rail traffic
3. in, over or next to water or liquids where there is a risk of drowning
4. at workplaces where there is any movement of powered mobile plant
5. where there are structural alterations that require temporary support to prevent collapse
6. in an area where there are artificial extremes of temperature
7. on or near energised electrical installations or services
8. involving a trench or shaft more than 1.5m deep
9. on or near pressurised gas distribution mains or piping
10. involving demolition
11. involving a confined space
12. on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines
13. involving tilt-up or precast concrete
14. on telecommunications towers
15. involving diving
16. involving removal or disturbance of asbestos
17. in an area that may have a contaminated or flammable atmosphere
18. involving the use of explosives
19. involving a tunnel

Preparing SWMS

Who must ensure a SWMS has been prepared before commencing HRCW?

In practice, whoever is most familiar with the HRCW activity to be performed, should be involved with developing the SWMS, including affected employees and their HSRs.

SWMS duties

• Duty holders (employers and self employed persons) must ensure that HRCW is performed in line with the SWMS.
• If the SWMS is not complied with the HRCW must stop immediately, or as soon as it is safe to do so. HRCW cannot resume until it complies with a SWMS or the SWMS is reviewed and, if necessary, revised.
• The duty holder, in consultation with the affected employees and their health and safety representatives (HSRs), must review and revise the SWMS whenever the HRCW changes or there is an indication that risks are not adequately controlled.
• The duty holder must retain a copy of the SWMS for the duration of the HRCW.

The SWMS should be available at the location of the HRCW, where it can be readily referenced by affected persons or reviewed and revised as necessary. Copies can be kept in electronic format.

How to prepare a SWMS

1. Bring together the relevant employees, their HSRs and supervisors at the location of the proposed works, if possible.
2. Review the proposed works and consider any site-specific factors that could impact the works.
3. Ensure all proposed HRCW activities are identified and hazards and risks listed.
4. Select the risk control measures and describe them alongside each of the hazards and risks that are listed.
5. Assess, review and update the SWMS if anything changes on-site, for example: weather or scope of work.

Hand written amendments can be made on site.

Selecting risk control measures for HRCW

To control the hazards of HRCW, employers must use the hierarchy of control to:

Implementing these controls does not reduce the requirement to implement mandated controls specified by law (e.g. the OHS Regulations 2017).

Can a SWMS address matters other than HRCW?

Only hazards and risks that are directly related to HRCW activities need be included in a SWMS. Non-HRCW hazards and risks may also be included if it is helpful to do so, however, this should not occur to such extent that the intended focus on HRCW is lost.

What is a 'generic SWMS' and are they acceptable?

A 'generic SWMS' is a pre-prepared SWMS which seeks to address a range of hazards related to specific HRCW activities. For a generic SWMS to be acceptable, duty holders need to review it on-site and include all HRCW and risks associated with the activity before works commence. Any content that is not relevant to the site should be removed.

What should be included in a SWMS

You should describe or name all of the following:

• the HRCW relevant to the SWMS being prepared – check all of the applicable HRCW activities listed on page 4 of the template
• the specific task/activity being undertaken, example: roof framing
• the hazard that has the potential to cause harm, example:where there is a risk of a person falling more than 2m or involving a trench or shaft more than 1.5m deep (see list of 19 HRCW activities on page 1 of the template)
• the controls to stop the harm from occurring, example: guard rails, scaffold, or catch platforms*
• who is responsible for implementing the controls, example: foreman.

*Refer to the hierarchy of control and Regulation 44 for the Falls hierarchy of control.

What may not be included

• References to other documents, such as Australian or Industry standards, as these may be subject to change and may not be easily obtained by employees.
• Risk matrix, risk scores are not legally required.