What is a SWMS?
Short answer
A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is an Australian WHS document that identifies the high-risk construction work being carried out, the hazards arising from that work, and the control measures applied. It must be prepared before high-risk construction work begins.
A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is required under the model Work Health and Safety Regulation (and state equivalents) before any of the 18 categories of high-risk construction work begin. The SWMS:
- identifies the high-risk construction work category that applies,
- describes the hazards that work creates,
- specifies the control measures applied using the hierarchy of controls,
- names who is responsible for implementing each control,
- captures consultation with the workers who will do the work,
- is reviewed and updated as work changes.
The 18 categories are defined in WHS Regulation s.291 and include working at heights ≥ 2 m, in confined spaces, on or near energised electrical installations, with asbestos, demolition work, and so on.
Victoria has a parallel "high-risk construction work" framework under the OHS Regulations 2017 (Vic) that uses similar concepts but different legislation.
A SWMS is not a one-off generic template — it must be specific to the activity, site, workers and conditions. Reusing a generic template across jobs is exactly the failure mode regulators target.