Product Overview

This General Work Site Practices SWMS is a comprehensive Safe Work Method Statement designed to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement effective controls for everyday site activities. It provides broad coverage of routine construction and maintenance tasks to support WHS compliance and consistent, safe work practices across your site.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Planning and coordination of daily work activities, including pre-start meetings and allocation of tasks
• Site inductions, visitor management, and verification of worker competencies and licences
• Housekeeping standards to prevent slips, trips, falls, and obstruction of access and egress routes
• Safe use, inspection, and storage of hand tools, power tools, and general equipment
• Traffic management on site, including separation of pedestrians and mobile plant or vehicles
• Manual handling and material movement, including use of mechanical aids and team lifting
• Control of noise, dust, and other general environmental hazards affecting workers and the public
• Management of hazardous substances, including labelling, SDS access, and correct storage
• Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), including minimum site PPE requirements and task-specific PPE
• Emergency preparedness, including access to first aid, fire equipment, and emergency evacuation procedures
• Incident, near miss, and hazard reporting processes to support continuous improvement in safety
• Working in and around existing services, utilities, and public areas on or adjacent to the work site
• General fatigue management, fitness for work, and impairment controls (including drugs and alcohol)

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for builders, civil and construction contractors, maintenance teams, facility managers, and site supervisors responsible for managing general work site activities.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
• Code of Practice: Construction Work – guidance on managing risks associated with construction activities and site operations
• Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks – framework for hazard identification, risk assessment, and implementation of controls
• Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities – requirements for amenities, access, lighting, ventilation, and general site conditions
• Code of Practice: Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work – controls for noise exposure from plant, tools, and site activities
• Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks – guidance on reducing risks from lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, and repetitive work
• Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace – requirements for safe storage, handling, and use of chemicals where applicable
• AS/NZS 45001 Occupational health and safety management systems – principles for systematic management of health and safety on site