Slips Trips and Falls SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers planning and managing work to reduce slip, trip and fall hazards across accessways, floors, stairs, ramps and elevated areas. It supports hazard identification, housekeeping, safe access and final checks throughout the work.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Plan work and consult on changing conditions and slip, trip and fall hazards
• Inspect floors, accessways, surfaces, mats and grates
• Set up clear pedestrian routes and manage vehicle interaction
• Control spills, contamination and wet-weather ingress
• Manage leads, hoses, tools and equipment storage
• Maintain suitable lighting and visibility
• Use stairs, ramps and elevated access areas safely
• Move loads while maintaining clear vision and access
• Select and maintain suitable footwear
• Carry out routine housekeeping and keep access clear
• Respond to incidents, defects and uncontrolled hazards
• Complete final inspections and secure the area

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out work where slips, trips or falls may occur.

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: apply primary duty-of-care, consultation, risk-management, workplace-layout, safe-access and fall-risk duties relevant to the jurisdiction and work activity.
• Model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks — use the hierarchy of controls, consult workers, and review controls when conditions change.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the work environment and facilities (November 2024) — guidance for safe floors, walking surfaces, lighting, accessways and housekeeping.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces — guidance for managing falls between levels; confirm the code's adoption and legal status in the relevant jurisdiction before relying on it as an approved code.
• Model Code of Practice: Construction work (November 2024) — apply where the activity is construction work and a SWMS is required for identified high risk construction work.
• AS 4586 Slip resistance classification of new pedestrian surface materials; AS 4663 Slip resistance measurement of existing pedestrian surfaces; AS 1657 Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders; AS/NZS 1891 Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices, 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