Suspended Access and Swing Stages SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers suspended access and swing stage activities from planning and rigging through platform operation, maintenance, emergency response and demobilisation. It supports planning work at suspended access locations and managing hazards involving falls, dropped objects, suspension equipment, electrical systems, drilling and platform movement.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Plan suspended access work and rescue arrangements
• Establish exclusion zones below the work area
• Inspect equipment and supporting documents
• Prepare roof access areas
• Install suspension rigging
• Fit portable davit arms
• Prepare BMU operation
• Assemble and verify the cradle
• Connect power and controls
• Operate the suspended platform
• Drill from the suspended platform and perform maintenance
• Work on suspended floors, respond to emergencies and demobilise

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out suspended access and swing stage activities.

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 manage risks, provide safe plant, prevent falls, consult workers, use competent persons and prepare/review SWMS for applicable high-risk construction work.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces (guidance only unless adopted or approved in the relevant jurisdiction). It identifies suspended scaffolds, BMUs and temporary work platforms as fall-prevention measures and specifies trained operation, suitable harness anchorage and horizontal platform travel.
• Model Code of Practice: Construction Work (guidance only unless adopted or approved in the relevant jurisdiction), including SWMS requirements for construction work with a risk of a fall of more than 2 metres.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace (guidance only unless adopted or approved in the relevant jurisdiction).
• AS/NZS 1576.1 Scaffolding—General requirements; AS/NZS 1576.2 Scaffolding—Couplers and accessories; AS/NZS 1576.4 Scaffolding—Suspended scaffolding; AS/NZS 4576 Guidelines for scaffolding.
• AS 1418.2 Cranes, hoists and winches—Serial hoists and winches; AS 1418.13 Cranes, hoists and winches—Building maintenance units; AS 2550.13 Cranes—Safe use—Building maintenance units.
• AS/NZS 1891 series Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices; AS 2759 Steel wire rope—Use, operation and maintenance; AS/NZS 3012 Electrical installations—Construction and demolition sites.
• Confirm the current legal status, editions and jurisdiction-specific requirements with the relevant WHS/OHS regulator before issue; model laws, model Codes and cited standards do not automatically have legal effect in every jurisdiction.

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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