General Working at Heights SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers planning, carrying out and completing general work at heights, including access, platforms, fall protection and emergency response. It supports work planning and risk management by addressing height-related hazards throughout the task.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Plan height work and identify site hazards
• Set exclusion zones below overhead work
• Inspect access and fall-protection equipment
• Establish safe access and egress
• Use scaffold platforms
• Operate elevated platforms
• Install and check fall protection
• Inspect elevated structures and openings
• Carry out overhead installations
• Monitor weather conditions
• Respond to a fall emergency
• Demobilise height work and sign off

Who is this for?

For contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out general work at heights.

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, including duties to eliminate or minimise risks so far as is reasonably practicable, provide safe plant and systems of work, consult affected workers, provide information, training, instruction and supervision, and manage risks associated with falls.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces — guidance on performing work on the ground or solid construction first, then fall-prevention devices, work-positioning systems and fall-arrest systems; model guidance only and not automatically legally effective in every jurisdiction.
• Model Code of Practice: Construction work — guidance that construction work involving a risk of a person falling more than 2 m is high risk construction work and requires a SWMS before work starts; model guidance only and not automatically legally effective in every jurisdiction.
• Model Code of Practice: Elevating work platforms — guidance on EWP fall prevention, exclusion zones, platform gates and boom-type EWP harness use; model guidance only and not automatically legally effective in every jurisdiction.
• AS/NZS 1891 series Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices; AS/NZS 5532 Single point anchor device for harness-based work at heights; AS 1657 Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders; AS/NZS 4576 Guidelines for scaffolding; AS/NZS 1576 Scaffolding series; AS 2550.10 Cranes, hoists and winches—Safe use—Mobile elevating work platforms; AS 1892 Portable ladders series.

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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