Safety Harnesses SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers the use of safety harnesses for work at height, from planning and equipment checks through connection, work activities, emergency response and storage. It supports planning for fall hazards, anchorages, transitions, weather changes, rescue and equipment condition.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Plan work at height and consider rescue arrangements
• Establish controlled access and exclusion areas
• Verify anchorages, clearance and potential sharp-edge contact
• Inspect harnesses, lanyards and connectors
• Fit and adjust the harness
• Connect and transfer between work positions
• Undertake restrained work near unprotected edges
• Undertake fall-arrest work where required
• Use a harness in an EWP where applicable
• Respond to an arrested fall
• Manage changing weather and work conditions
• Remove, store and sign off harness equipment

Who is this for?

For contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out work using safety harnesses.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

The template includes references relevant to the documented work, including:

• Applicable Commonwealth, state or territory WHS/OHS legislation and regulations.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces, as adopted or applied in the relevant jurisdiction.
• Model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks, as adopted or applied in the relevant jurisdiction.
• Model Code of Practice: Construction work, as adopted or applied in the relevant jurisdiction.
• AS/NZS 1891 Personal equipment for work at height series, including AS/NZS 1891.4:2025 Personal equipment for work at height—Selection, use and maintenance.
• AS/NZS ISO 22846 Personal equipment for protection against falls—Rope access systems series, where industrial rope access is used.
• AS/NZS 5532 Single point anchor device for harness-based work at height, where applicable.
• AS/NZS 1801 Occupational protective helmets and AS/NZS 2210.3 Personal protective equipment—Safety footwear, where applicable.

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Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)

• Task-specific job steps, hazards and control measures
• Initial and residual risk ratings
• Assigned responsible persons for each job step
• Plant, equipment and PPE requirements where applicable
• Permits, qualifications and high-risk construction work details where applicable
• Worker consultation, sign-off and review sections