Quick answer: Working at heights is the number one risk in roofing, and it is the source of some of the most serious injuries and fatalities in the Australian construction industry. Roofers must have a SWMS in place before every job involving work above 2 metres, and must implement appropriate fall protection controls. This page pulls together the essential WHS resources, guides, and SWMS templates that roofers and roofing businesses need to operate safely and compliantly.
Last reviewed: 12 June 2026
Roofing is one of the highest-risk trades in Australia. The combination of elevated work, unguarded edges, steep pitches, fragile surfaces, and variable weather conditions makes roofing work consistently over-represented in serious workplace injuries and fatalities. Falls from roofs and ladders account for a significant proportion of construction industry deaths each year.
For roofers, WHS compliance starts with understanding that almost all of your work is high risk construction work (HRCW) under the WHS Regulations — and that means SWMS obligations apply on virtually every job. Beyond SWMS, a roofing business needs a broader set of WHS documents and systems to meet its duties as a PCBU.
This page is a practical resource hub for roofers and roofing businesses. It links to guides, checklists, SWMS templates, and WHS document resources relevant to residential and commercial roofing in Australia.
Note: WHS laws in Australia are based on the model Work Health and Safety Act 2011, but each state and territory has its own legislation and regulator. Always check the requirements that apply in your jurisdiction.
Working at heights: the number one roofing risk
Falls from height are the leading cause of serious injury and death for roofers. Unlike many other trades, roofers regularly work at heights where a fall will almost certainly result in severe injury or death — and the work itself often involves exposed edges, sloped surfaces, and conditions that make maintaining footing difficult.
The 2-metre rule: Under the WHS Regulations, any construction work carried out at a height of more than 2 metres above the ground or another surface is HRCW. For roofers, this threshold is reached on almost every single job.
The hierarchy of controls for fall hazards
When managing fall risks, roofers must work through the hierarchy of controls:
- Eliminate the risk — can the work be performed from the ground? (For example, using prefabricated panels or pre-assembled components.)
- Fall prevention devices — edge protection, guardrails, scaffolding, or perimeter screens that prevent a fall from occurring.
- Work positioning systems — equipment such as industrial rope access or work positioning lanyards that allow work to be performed in a position where a fall cannot occur or is arrested before it becomes a freefall.
- Fall arrest systems — safety harnesses connected to a suitable anchor point that arrest a fall after it has begun. This is a last resort control, not a first choice.
Roofers must not simply default to a safety harness as the primary control without first considering higher-order controls. Selecting the right fall protection system for the specific roof type, pitch, and task is a critical part of the SWMS preparation process.
Common fall hazards on roofing jobs
- Unguarded roof edges and eaves
- Working on steep or wet roof surfaces
- Skylights and fragile roof materials (e.g., fibreglass sheeting)
- Incorrect or overloaded ladder placement
- Anchor points that have not been inspected or certified
- Safety harnesses that are not correctly fitted or connected
- Changing weather conditions during a job
- Fatigue during extended work periods at height
WHS obligations for roofers
Duty as a PCBU
Any roofer operating a business — sole trader, partnership, or company — is a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) under Australian WHS legislation. As a PCBU, a roofer must ensure the health and safety of:
- their own workers (employees and labour hire)
- subcontractors and their workers engaged on the job
- other people who may be affected by the work, including members of the public and building occupants
The duty is to eliminate risks so far as is reasonably practicable, or if elimination is not possible, to minimise risks so far as is reasonably practicable. For roofing businesses, this means implementing robust fall protection systems, maintaining equipment, and ensuring workers are trained and competent before they set foot on a roof.
Duty as a subcontractor
Roofers are often engaged as subcontractors by builders or principal contractors. Working as a subcontractor does not remove your WHS obligations — you remain a PCBU with duties to your own workers and to others on the site. As a roofing subcontractor, you must:
- Prepare and follow your own SWMS for all HRCW activities
- Comply with the principal contractor's site rules and WHS management plan
- Consult and cooperate with other duty holders on site
- Report hazards, incidents, and near misses to the principal contractor
- Ensure your workers are inducted and competent before commencing work
SWMS requirements for roofers
When does a roofer need a SWMS?
A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) must be prepared before commencing any HRCW activity. For roofers, this means a SWMS is required on virtually every job — because any work above 2 metres is HRCW, and most roofing work is performed well above that threshold.
A SWMS must:
- Identify the specific HRCW activity being performed
- List the hazards associated with that activity
- Set out the risk controls that will be implemented, including fall protection measures
- Be reviewed and signed by workers before the work commences
- Be kept on site and accessible to workers throughout the activity
- Be reviewed and updated if work methods or site conditions change
Who is responsible for the SWMS?
The SWMS must be prepared by the person conducting the HRCW — that is, the roofing business performing the work. If you are a roofing subcontractor, it is your obligation to prepare the SWMS for your activities. If you are the principal contractor for a project, you must ensure SWMS exist for all HRCW on the site, including work performed by any subcontractors you engage.
Common SWMS for roofers
The table below lists the SWMS most commonly needed on roofing jobs, with the typical situations in which they apply.
| SWMS | When needed |
|---|---|
| Working on Roofs SWMS | Required on almost every roofing job — any work performed on a roof above 2 metres |
| Roof Installation and Tiling SWMS | Installation of roof sheeting, metal roofing, tiles, and related materials |
| Fall Arrest Systems SWMS | Any work involving the use of fall arrest systems, including inertia reels and fall limiters |
| Safety Harnesses SWMS | Use of full-body harnesses and associated lanyard and anchor systems |
| Ladders SWMS | Use of portable ladders for access to and from roofs, and for work on ladders |
| Elevating Work Platform (EWP) SWMS | Operation of boom lifts, scissor lifts, or other EWPs for roof access or perimeter work |
| Roof Plumbing SWMS | Installation and maintenance of gutters, downpipes, flashings, and associated roof plumbing work |
WHS documents a roofing business needs
Beyond SWMS, a roofing business needs a broader set of WHS documents to support a compliant and well-managed operation. The table below outlines the core documents, their purpose, and when they are required.
| Document | Purpose | When required |
|---|---|---|
| WHS Policy | Demonstrates leadership commitment to health and safety; sets out responsibilities | Any business with workers; expected by clients, builders, and insurers |
| SWMS | Identifies HRCW activities, hazards, and risk controls including fall protection | Before commencing any HRCW activity; kept on site throughout |
| Site Induction Records | Evidence that workers have received site-specific safety information | Before any person commences work on a new site |
| Hazard / Risk Register | Documents identified hazards, risk ratings, and controls | Maintained for the business; updated as new hazards are identified |
| Incident Register | Records incidents, near misses, dangerous occurrences, and work-related injuries | Ongoing; serious incidents must be reported to the regulator |
| Plant and Equipment Register | Tracks equipment including harnesses, anchors, EWPs, and ladders; inspection status | Maintained while equipment is in use; inspection records updated as required |
| Training Register | Records qualifications, licences, and training — including working at heights and EWP tickets | Ongoing; workers must hold required licences before performing licensed work |
| Contractor / Subcontractor Register | Documents any subcontractors engaged, their insurances, and WHS compliance | Maintained for all subcontractors engaged |
| Emergency Plan | Sets out emergency response procedures, including rescue from height | Required for all workplaces |
| Fall Protection Inspection Records | Documents pre-use inspections of harnesses, lanyards, anchors, and other fall protection equipment | Before each use of fall protection equipment |
| Toolbox Talk Records | Documents safety briefings conducted with workers | Ongoing; records date, topic, presenter, and attendees |
For a detailed guide on the WHS documents a roofing business needs, see WHS Documents for Roofing Businesses.
Pre-start checklist for roofing jobs
The following checklist covers the steps that should be completed before any roofing work commences. Use it alongside your SWMS.
Before arriving on site:
- SWMS prepared for all HRCW activities on this job
- SWMS reviewed with all workers; sign-off obtained
- Fall protection system selected and appropriate for this roof type and pitch
- All fall protection equipment inspected — harnesses, lanyards, anchor devices, edge protection
- Ladders inspected; footing and top secured
- Weather conditions assessed; work postponed if unsafe
On site before work commences:
- Site induction completed (if required by principal contractor or client)
- Roof inspected for fragile materials, skylights, and unstable areas
- Anchor points identified or installed; load capacity confirmed
- Edge protection or guardrails installed if used as primary fall control
- Emergency rescue plan in place for rescue from height
- Contact details for emergency services confirmed
- Exclusion zone below the work area established
During the work:
- SWMS controls being followed by all workers
- Fall protection equipment in use at all times when at height
- Changing conditions (weather, roof condition) monitored; work stopped if controls no longer adequate
- Near misses and incidents recorded
- SWMS updated if work methods or conditions change
For a detailed checklist, see the Working at Heights Checklist.
Useful guides for roofers
The following guides cover the WHS topics most relevant to roofing businesses.
- Roofing SWMS Guide — How SWMS apply to roofing work and what a compliant roofing SWMS must include
- Working at Heights SWMS Guide — SWMS requirements for work at height, fall protection selection, and anchor requirements
- Fall Arrest SWMS Guide — How to document fall arrest systems correctly in a SWMS
- WHS Documents for Roofing Businesses — Full guide to the WHS documents a roofing business needs
- Working at Heights Checklist — Pre-start and ongoing checklist for working at heights safely
SWMS templates for roofers
Blue Safe Online provides SWMS templates for the roofing activities most commonly needed on residential and commercial jobs. Templates are professionally prepared, editable, and ready to customise to your specific site, roof type, and work methods.
Browse the full range of roofing SWMS at Blue Safe Online.
Frequently asked questions
What SWMS does a roofer need?
A roofer needs a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) for every high risk construction work (HRCW) activity they perform. Because virtually all roofing work is performed at height above 2 metres, a working on roofs SWMS is required on almost every job. Depending on the specific work, roofers commonly also need SWMS for roof installation and tiling, fall arrest systems, safety harness use, ladder use, elevating work platforms, and roof plumbing. The SWMS must be prepared before the work starts, reviewed with workers, and kept on site throughout the activity.
Is a roofer a PCBU?
Yes. Any roofer who carries on a business — whether as a sole trader, partnership, or company — is a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) under Australian WHS legislation. As a PCBU, a roofer has a primary duty of care to ensure the health and safety of their workers and others who may be affected by their work, so far as is reasonably practicable. This duty applies whether the roofer has employees, engages subcontractors, or works alone on the tools.
What are the fall protection requirements for roofing work in Australia?
Under the WHS Regulations, work at a height of more than 2 metres is high risk construction work, and a SWMS must be in place before work commences. The hierarchy of controls requires that fall hazards be eliminated where possible, or controlled using fall prevention devices (such as edge protection or guardrails), work positioning systems, or fall arrest systems (such as safety harnesses connected to a suitable anchor). The selection of fall protection must be appropriate to the specific roof type, pitch, and work activity. Workers using fall arrest equipment must be competent in its use, and all equipment must be inspected before each use.
Does a roofing contractor need a WHS management plan?
A WHS management plan is required for notifiable construction work — generally projects valued at $250,000 or more (the threshold varies by state and territory). The obligation to prepare the plan rests with the principal contractor for the project. If a roofing contractor is engaged as a subcontractor on a larger project, the principal contractor is responsible for the WHS management plan, though the roofer must still prepare and follow their own SWMS. If the roofing contractor is the principal contractor (for example, on a standalone roofing project above the notifiable threshold), the obligation to prepare the WHS management plan falls on them.
Get your WHS documents sorted
Blue Safe Online provides SWMS templates and WHS management systems for Australian roofers and roofing businesses. Whether you are setting up your business for the first time, updating outdated documents, or looking for compliant SWMS templates for your next job, Blue Safe Online gives you access to professionally prepared, ready-to-customise WHS documents for the roofing industry.
Browse SWMS and WHS documents for roofers on Blue Safe Online
This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. WHS requirements may vary by state or territory, project type, contract conditions, and your role on site. Consult the relevant WHS regulator or a qualified WHS professional for advice specific to your circumstances.