Under Australian Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations, not every construction task requires a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS). However, there are 18 specific activities classified as High Risk Construction Work (HRCW).
If your work involves any of these activities, you are legally required to prepare a SWMS before work commences. Failure to do so is a breach of the law.
The 18 High-Risk Activities
Check this list carefully. If your project involves one or more of these, you need a SWMS.
- Risk of a person falling more than 2 metres. (Note: In some states, this height may vary, but 2m is the national model standard).
- Work carried out on a telecommunication tower.
- Demolition of an element of a structure that is load-bearing or otherwise related to the physical integrity of the structure.
- Work that involves, or is likely to involve, the disturbance of asbestos.
- Structural alterations or repairs that require temporary support to prevent collapse.
- Work that is carried out in or near a confined space.
- Work that is carried out in or near a shaft or trench with an excavated depth greater than 1.5 metres.
- Work that is carried out in or near a tunnel.
- Use of explosives.
- Work that is carried out on or near pressurised gas distribution mains or piping.
- Work that is carried out on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines.
- Work that is carried out on or near energised electrical installations or services.
- Work that is carried out in an area that may have a contaminated or flammable atmosphere.
- Work that involves tilt-up or precast concrete.
- Work that is carried out on, in or adjacent to a road, railway, shipping lane or other traffic corridor that is in use by traffic other than pedestrians.
- Work that is carried out in an area at a workplace in which there is any movement of powered mobile plant.
- Work that is carried out in an area in which there are artificial extremes of temperature.
- Work that is carried out in or near water or other liquid that involves a risk of drowning.
What If My Job Involves Multiple Risks?
It is common for a single job to involve multiple high-risk activities. For example, an electrician working on a ladder near a road might trigger three categories:
- Risk of falling > 2m.
- Work on energised electrical installations.
- Work adjacent to a road.
In this case, your SWMS must address all relevant hazards. You do not need three separate documents; a single, comprehensive SWMS that covers all aspects of the job is preferred.
Compliance Made Easy
Identifying the risk is the first step. Managing it is the second. BlueSafe offers a vast library of SWMS templates specifically designed to cover these 18 high-risk activities, ensuring you can get to work quickly and legally.
Need a starting point? Browse construction SWMS packs or download a Working at Heights SWMS.