Free SWMS Generator

What is a SWMS?

A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a document that sets out the high-risk construction work activities to be carried out at a workplace, the hazards arising from those activities, and the measures to be put in place to control the risks. It is a legal requirement under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) and the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (WHS Regulations) in all Australian jurisdictions that have adopted the harmonised model laws — including New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory, the ACT, and at the Commonwealth level. Victoria and Western Australia operate under their own occupational health and safety legislation but impose substantially similar SWMS obligations for high-risk construction work.

The SWMS must be prepared before high-risk construction work commences. It is not a generic safety plan or a one-off compliance checkbox — it is a working document that must be specific to the work being performed, the site conditions, and the workers involved. The person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) who commissions the work is responsible for ensuring a SWMS is in place, and the document must be prepared in consultation with the workers who will carry out the work.

When is a SWMS required?

A SWMS is required whenever high-risk construction work is being performed, as defined in the WHS Regulations (Regulation 291). High-risk construction work includes, but is not limited to, the following activities:

• Work where there is a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres
• Work on or near pressurised gas distribution mains or piping
• Work on or near energised electrical installations or services
• Work in areas with artificial extremes of temperature
• Work in or near a confined space
• Work involving demolition of a load-bearing structure
• Work involving tilt-up or precast concrete elements
• Work on or near chemical, fuel, or refrigerant lines
• Work involving structural alterations or repairs requiring temporary support to prevent collapse
• Work on or near a telecommunications tower
• Work involving diving
• Work involving excavation to a depth greater than 1.5 metres
• Work involving the use of explosives
• Work on or adjacent to roadways or railways used by road or rail traffic
• Work carried out on a construction site where there is movement of powered mobile plant
• Work involving scaffolding that is erected or dismantled at a height greater than 4 metres

If the work you are performing falls into any of these categories, a SWMS must be prepared, communicated to all workers, and kept accessible at the workplace before work begins. A principal contractor for a construction project must not allow high-risk construction work to commence until a compliant SWMS has been provided.

What must a SWMS include?

Under the WHS Regulations, a SWMS must include the following elements:

• Description of the high-risk construction work — the specific activities and scope of work being performed
• Hazards identified — all foreseeable hazards associated with each work activity, including environmental, mechanical, chemical, electrical, and human-factor hazards
• Risk assessment — an evaluation of the likelihood and consequence of each identified hazard to determine the risk level
• Control measures — the specific controls to be implemented to eliminate or minimise each risk, following the hierarchy of controls (elimination, substitution, isolation, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment)
• How the control measures will be implemented, monitored, and reviewed — who is responsible, what triggers a review, and how effectiveness will be assessed

The SWMS should also identify the persons responsible for implementing each control measure, the qualifications or licences required for the work, the PPE to be worn, and the emergency procedures applicable to the site. While not all of these are explicitly mandated by the Regulations, regulators such as SafeWork NSW and WorkSafe Victoria expect them as part of a compliant document.

How to create a SWMS

1. Enter the project name, site address, your business name, ABN, and the principal contractor's details.
2. Select the type of high-risk construction work and describe the specific activities being performed.
3. For each activity, identify the associated hazards, assess the likelihood and consequence, and record the risk rating.
4. Define control measures following the hierarchy of controls and list all required PPE.
5. Add responsible persons, review the document, collect worker acknowledgements, and download as PDF.

SWMS vs JSA vs risk assessment

A JSA and a SWMS share a similar structure — both break work into steps and identify hazards and controls for each step. The key difference is that a SWMS is a legislated document with specific content requirements and is mandatory for high-risk construction work. A JSA is a voluntary best-practice tool used across industries. A generic risk assessment is broader still, typically covering an entire workplace or operation rather than a specific task.

SWMS compliance tips

Review before starting work. The SWMS must be reviewed at the workplace before the high-risk construction work commences. This is not a formality — it is a legal obligation. Workers should walk through the document, understand the hazards, and confirm the controls are appropriate for the actual site conditions they observe.

All workers must sign. Every worker who will carry out the high-risk construction work should acknowledge that they have read and understood the SWMS. While the WHS Regulations do not explicitly require signatures from workers, regulators consistently advise it as evidence of consultation and communication, and most principal contractors require it as a condition of site access.

Update when conditions change. A SWMS is not a static document. It must be revised if the work method changes, new hazards are identified, an incident or near-miss occurs, the site conditions change (e.g. weather, adjacent work), or the regulator issues a direction. Working to an outdated SWMS can be as dangerous — and as non-compliant — as having no SWMS at all.

Retain for at least 2 years. Under the WHS Regulations, a SWMS must be kept until the high-risk construction work to which it relates is completed, and then retained for at least 2 years after completion. Principal contractors should keep copies of all SWMS provided by subcontractors for the same period. Digital storage is acceptable provided the document remains accessible and legible.

Principal contractor obligations. The principal contractor for a construction project must ensure that a copy of each relevant SWMS is kept and is readily accessible to any person who wants to inspect it, including workers and WHS inspectors. The principal contractor must not allow high-risk construction work to start unless a SWMS has been prepared and provided.

Frequently asked questions

Who is responsible for the SWMS?

The PCBU that commissions the high-risk construction work is responsible for ensuring a SWMS is prepared before work begins. On most construction projects, the principal contractor requires each subcontractor to prepare a SWMS for their scope of work. The SWMS must be developed in consultation with the workers who will perform the work, and responsible persons should be named within the document for each control measure.

What happens if you don't have a SWMS?

Performing high-risk construction work without a compliant SWMS is a breach of the WHS Regulations. Regulators can issue prohibition notices to immediately stop the work and issue improvement notices. Financial penalties apply — fines can exceed $50,000 for individuals and $500,000 for a body corporate, depending on the jurisdiction and circumstances. In the event of a serious workplace injury or fatality, the absence of a SWMS will be a significant factor in any prosecution.

How often should a SWMS be reviewed?

A SWMS must be reviewed whenever circumstances change — including changes to the work method, site conditions, personnel, or equipment. It should also be reviewed after any incident or near-miss. As a matter of best practice, many contractors review the SWMS at the start of each shift or work phase through a pre-start briefing. The key principle is that the document must always reflect the actual work being done and the current risks present.

Can a SWMS cover multiple activities?

Yes, a single SWMS can address multiple high-risk construction activities, provided each activity is individually identified with its own hazards, risk assessments, and control measures. However, combining too many activities into one document can make it difficult for workers to follow and for supervisors to monitor compliance. Where activities are distinct in nature or performed by different teams, preparing separate SWMS for each scope of work is generally more practical and effective.