SWMS vs JSA: What is the Difference?

Why This Difference Matters

On Australian worksites, the terms SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) and JSA (Job Safety Analysis) are often used as if they are the same thing. They are not.

Under the WHS Regulations, a SWMS is legally required for any work that is classed as High Risk Construction Work (HRCW). A JSA, on the other hand, is a general risk assessment tool for lower-risk or routine tasks.

If you treat a JSA as if it were a SWMS, you can:

• Fail a SafeWork inspection.
• Invalidate your WHS system and insurances.
• Leave supervisors and PCBUs exposed to enforcement action.

This guide explains the difference in plain language so you can choose the right document for the job.

What is a SWMS?

A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a formal, regulated document. It must be prepared before any High Risk Construction Work starts.

A SWMS must:

• Identify the high-risk construction activities to be carried out.
• Describe the hazards associated with those activities.
• Specify the control measures to eliminate or minimise the risks.
• Explain how the work will be monitored and reviewed.

Examples of work that require a SWMS

High Risk Construction Work includes tasks such as:

• Work where there is a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres.
• Work involving asbestos (removal or disturbance).
• Work on or near energised electrical installations or services.
• Work in or near confined spaces.
• Work in trenches or shafts deeper than 1.5 metres.
• Work involving the use of explosives.

If any of the 18 High Risk activities apply, you must have a SWMS. A JSA on its own is not enough to satisfy the law.

What is a JSA?

A Job Safety Analysis (JSA) – sometimes called a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) – is a structured way to look at a task and decide how to do it safely.

A JSA is typically used for:

• Routine tasks that do not fall into the High Risk category.
• General labouring and maintenance work.
• Low to medium risk activities where the main requirement is to show due diligence.

A JSA normally:

• Breaks the job into steps.
• Identifies the hazards for each step.
• Lists the controls that will be used.

There is no single regulation that says you must have a JSA for every job, but regulators expect you to demonstrate that you have thought about the risks and consulted workers. A well-completed JSA is strong evidence of this.

SWMS vs JSA: Key Legal Difference

The key difference is that:

• A SWMS is mandatory for High Risk Construction Work, and the requirement sits directly in the WHS Regulations.
• A JSA is best practice for managing other tasks, and supports your duty of care and due diligence obligations.

You cannot substitute one for the other. If work is high risk, you need a SWMS. If work is not high risk but still presents hazards, a JSA is usually the right tool.

Typical Structure of a SWMS vs a JSA

Both documents usually contain similar elements, but the depth and legal status are different.

SWMS

A good SWMS will typically include:

• Project and site details.
• Description of the High Risk Construction Work.
• Detailed task breakdown.
• Hazards, risk ratings, and control measures.
• Emergency procedures. description: "Learn when you must use a SWMS instead of a JSA to stay compliant with Australian WHS laws."

JSA

A JSA usually includes:

• Job or task description. content: "SWMS, JSA, High Risk Construction Work, WHS, Safe Work Method Statement, Job Safety Analysis, Australia" relatedProducts:
  • "/store/construction/swms-packs"
• Worker sign-off or acknowledgement.

Why This Difference Matters

On Australian worksites, the terms SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) and JSA (Job Safety Analysis) are often used as if they are the same thing. They are not.

Under the WHS Regulations, a SWMS is legally required for any work that is classed as High Risk Construction Work (HRCW). A JSA, on the other hand, is a general risk assessment tool for lower-risk or routine tasks.

If you treat a JSA as if it were a SWMS, you can:

• Fail a SafeWork inspection.
• Invalidate your WHS system and insurances.
• Leave supervisors and PCBUs exposed to enforcement action.

This guide explains the difference in plain language so you can choose the right document for the job.

What is a SWMS?

A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a formal, regulated document. It must be prepared before any High Risk Construction Work starts.

A SWMS must:

• Identify the high-risk construction activities to be carried out.
• Describe the hazards associated with those activities.
• Specify the control measures to eliminate or minimise the risks.
• Explain how the work will be monitored and reviewed.

Examples of work that require a SWMS

High Risk Construction Work includes tasks such as:

• Work where there is a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres.
• Work involving asbestos (removal or disturbance).
• Work on or near energised electrical installations or services.
• Work in or near confined spaces.
• Work in trenches or shafts deeper than 1.5 metres.
• Work involving the use of explosives.

If any of the 18 High Risk activities apply, you must have a SWMS. A JSA on its own is not enough to satisfy the law.

What is a JSA?

A Job Safety Analysis (JSA) – sometimes called a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) – is a structured way to look at a task and decide how to do it safely.

A JSA is typically used for:

• Routine tasks that do not fall into the High Risk category.
• General labouring and maintenance work.
• Low to medium risk activities where the main requirement is to show due diligence.

A JSA normally:

• Breaks the job into steps.
• Identifies the hazards for each step.
• Lists the controls that will be used.

There is no single regulation that says you must have a JSA for every job, but regulators expect you to demonstrate that you have thought about the risks and consulted workers. A well-completed JSA is strong evidence of this.

SWMS vs JSA: Key Legal Difference

The key difference is that:

• A SWMS is mandatory for High Risk Construction Work, and the requirement sits directly in the WHS Regulations.
• A JSA is best practice for managing other tasks, and supports your duty of care and due diligence obligations.

You cannot substitute one for the other. If work is high risk, you need a SWMS. If work is not high risk but still presents hazards, a JSA is usually the right tool.

Typical Structure of a SWMS vs a JSA

Both documents usually contain similar elements, but the depth and legal status are different.

SWMS

A good SWMS will typically include:

• Project and site details.
• Description of the High Risk Construction Work.
• Detailed task breakdown.
• Hazards, risk ratings, and control measures.
• PPE requirements.
• Emergency procedures.
• Worker consultation records and sign-off.

JSA

A JSA usually includes:

• Job or task description.
• Step-by-step breakdown of how the job is done.
• Hazards for each step.
• Selected control measures.
• Worker sign-off or acknowledgement.

When to Use Which Document

Use this simple rule of thumb on site:

• Is the task one of the 18 High Risk Construction Work activities?
  • Yes → You must use a SWMS.
  • No → Use a JSA or similar risk assessment tool.

Examples:

• Installing roofing at height → High risk → SWMS.
• Using a scissor lift near power lines → High risk → SWMS.
• Painting internal walls at ground level → Lower risk → JSA.
• Routine servicing of plant in a workshop → Lower risk → JSA.

Making Documents Site-Specific

Regulators and auditors are very clear: a generic template that has not been customised to the site is not enough.

Whether you are using a SWMS or a JSA, you should:

• Walk the site and look for actual conditions (weather, other trades, access, traffic, ground conditions).
• Involve workers in discussing how the work will be done.
• Add site-specific hazards and controls to the document.
• Review and update the document if conditions change or an incident occurs.

How BlueSafe Templates Help

Writing SWMS and JSAs from scratch takes time, and many businesses simply do not have an in-house WHS specialist. Poorly written documents can be just as risky as having none.

BlueSafe provides pre-written, regulation-aligned SWMS templates that you can quickly adapt for your own sites. They are designed to:

• Align with Australian WHS legislation.
• Use clear, trade-friendly language.
• Include the typical hazards and controls inspectors expect to see.
• Give you a strong starting point for site-specific customisation.

By understanding when to use a SWMS and when a JSA is enough, you protect your workers, satisfy your legal duties, and present a professional WHS system to clients and regulators.