Product Overview

This General Building and Construction Work SWMS is a comprehensive Safe Work Method Statement designed to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement effective controls for everyday construction activities on Australian worksites. It delivers end-to-end coverage for a wide range of building tasks, helping your business maintain WHS compliance and manage High Risk Construction Work obligations with confidence.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Planning and sequencing of general building and construction activities to minimise site risks
• Safe methods for construction or renovations, including demolition, strip-out, and structural alterations
• Control of dust, noise, vibration, and other environmental impacts during renovation works
• Use of hand tools and power tools for cutting, drilling, fixing, and finishing building materials
• Safe mounting and fixing of equipment, fixtures, and fittings on brick or concrete walls
• Selection and use of appropriate anchors, fasteners, and drilling techniques for masonry substrates
• Working at height while mounting items on walls, including use of ladders and temporary platforms
• General construction site clean-up, rubbish removal, and segregation of waste and recyclables
• Housekeeping controls to keep work areas clear of trip hazards, offcuts, and construction debris
• Manual handling of building materials, tools, waste, and equipment to reduce strain and injury
• Traffic management for vehicles, mobile plant, and pedestrian interfaces on and around the site
• Emergency preparedness, incident response, and first aid arrangements for building works
• Communication of SWMS requirements to workers, subcontractors, and site visitors

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for builders, carpenters, general contractors, renovation specialists, maintenance teams, and site supervisors managing general building and construction activities.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Code of Practice: Construction Work – Guidance on managing WHS risks in construction projects
• Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces – Requirements for working at height during construction and mounting tasks
• Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks – Controls for lifting, carrying, and handling construction materials and waste
• Code of Practice: Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work – Controls for noisy construction tools and processes
• Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace – Safe use of powered tools and equipment on construction sites
• Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks – Framework for hazard identification and risk control
• AS/NZS 3012: Electrical installations – Construction and demolition sites – Requirements for temporary electrical installations on building sites
• AS 1319: Safety signs for the occupational environment – Requirements for safety signage on construction sites
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017