Free SWMS template

Free SWMS template for high-risk construction work in Australia, including QLD: the 18 work types, steps, hazards, controls, review and worker sign-on.

Updated 2 Oct 2026

Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)

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0 of 5 rows started

List each work step in sequence. Identify hazards for each step, assign a risk rating (H = High, M = Medium, L = Low), and describe the control measures to manage each risk.

#	Step #	Work activity / step	Hazards identified	Risk (H/M/L)	Control measures	Responsible person
e.g.	-	-	-	-	-	S. Carter
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The PDF includes all 12 numbered rows, ready to print or fill on screen.

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Date

Approved by

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These templates are free general guides provided as-is. They do not constitute legal, safety or compliance advice. You are responsible for ensuring any form meets your specific workplace obligations, industry standards and applicable regulations.

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Updated 2 October 2026

Also see:Compliance and inspections →Best inspection software →MapTrack vs SafetyCulture →

Key takeaways

The MapTrack SWMS template has 6 columns and room for 12 entries. Columns: Step #, Work activity / step, Hazards identified, Risk (H/M/L), Control measures, Responsible person.

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What is a SWMS template?

A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a written document required under the Australian Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations before any high-risk construction work begins. It identifies the type of high-risk work, breaks the job into steps, lists the hazards associated with each step, assesses the risk level, and describes the control measures that will be used to eliminate or minimise those risks. A copy must be readily accessible to every worker doing the high-risk work (regulation 303), and Safe Work Australia's own SWMS template has a section for each worker to sign and date when they receive it.

A SWMS is not just a compliance document. When prepared properly and reviewed on site, it is a practical tool that ensures everyone involved understands the hazards they face and the controls they must follow. The business carrying out the high-risk work must make sure a SWMS is prepared before the work starts (regulation 299), and on a construction project of $250,000 or more the principal contractor must take all reasonable steps to get a copy first (regulation 312). Safe Work Australia says the person carrying out the work is best placed to prepare it, with the workers who'll do the job. The model WHS Regulations list 18 types of high-risk construction work that require a SWMS, 19 in the ACT and Victoria, including working at heights, demolition, confined space entry, excavation deeper than 1.5 metres and work near energised electrical installations. Part 6.3 of the Regulations sets out the SWMS duties, from preparing the statement before the work starts (regulation 299) to keeping it (regulation 303). It must be reviewed and, as necessary, revised whenever the control measures for the work are revised (regulation 302), and if the work isn't being done the way the SWMS sets out, it must stop until it can be (regulation 300). Keeping completed SWMS on file provides documented evidence of compliance during regulator audits and insurance reviews.

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Benefits of using this SWMS template

Legal compliance: a SWMS is mandatory for high-risk construction work under Australian WHS Regulations. Without one, a PCBU faces enforcement action and penalties.
Risk reduction: breaking work into steps and identifying hazards at each step forces a structured risk assessment before work begins, catching risks that might otherwise be overlooked.
Worker awareness: every worker signs onto the SWMS, confirming they have read and understood the hazards and controls. This creates shared accountability on site.
Audit trail: a signed SWMS provides documented evidence that risks were assessed, controls were planned, and workers were informed, which is critical during regulator audits and incident investigations.
Subcontractor management: principal contractors can require subcontractors to submit a SWMS before starting work, ensuring consistent safety standards across all trades on site.
Incident records: after an incident, a completed SWMS shows how the work was planned and which controls were meant to be in place, and it must be kept for at least 2 years after a notifiable incident (regulation 303).

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What to include in a SWMS template

This SWMS template covers 10 key areas:

High-risk work activity: the specific type of high-risk construction work being carried out (e.g. working at heights, demolition, confined space entry).
Work steps: each task or activity broken into sequential steps, from set-up through to pack-down.
Hazards per step: the hazards identified for each work step (e.g. falls, falling objects, electrical contact, crush injuries).
Risk rating: a risk assessment for each hazard (High, Medium or Low) based on likelihood and consequence.
Control measures: the specific controls to eliminate or minimise each risk, following the hierarchy of controls.
Responsible persons: who is responsible for implementing each control measure.
PPE requirements: the personal protective equipment required for the work (hard hat, harness, respirator, etc.).
Emergency procedures: what to do if something goes wrong, including emergency contacts and rescue plans.
Monitoring and review: how the controls will be implemented, monitored and reviewed, who reviews the SWMS and when (regulation 299 requires this).
Sign-on register: every worker involved in the high-risk work signs to confirm they have read, understood and agreed to follow the SWMS.

How to use this SWMS template

Identify the high-risk construction work activity: Determine which category of high-risk construction work (HRCW) applies from the list in the WHS Regulations: a risk of falling more than 2 metres, demolition of load-bearing structure, work likely to disturb asbestos, confined spaces, trenches or shafts deeper than 1.5 metres, work near energised electrical installations, use of explosives, work beside roads or railways in use, work where powered mobile plant is moving, and the rest of the 18 in regulation 291. Record the activity description at the top of the SWMS. One SWMS can cover several high-risk activities on the same job, or you can prepare a separate one for each activity.
Break the job into sequential work steps: List every step of the task from setup through to pack-down in the order they will be performed. Keep steps granular enough to identify specific hazards at each stage. For example, rather than a single step "erect scaffold", break it into "unload scaffold components", "lay sole boards and base plates", "erect first lift", "install bracing and ties" and so on. Involve the workers who will perform the task because they know the practical steps better than anyone.
Identify hazards for each work step: For every step, ask: what could go wrong and who could be harmed? Record each hazard alongside the step it relates to. Common hazards for HRCW include falls from height, falling objects, crush injuries from plant, electrical contact, engulfment, atmospheric hazards in confined spaces and structural collapse. Consider interactions between trades, weather conditions, ground conditions and the sequence of work.
Assess the risk and define control measures: Rate each hazard as High, Medium or Low using a risk matrix based on likelihood and consequence. For each hazard, define the control measures that will eliminate or minimise the risk, following the hierarchy of controls. Be specific: rather than "use PPE", write "all workers to wear full-body harness with twin-tail lanyard connected to a rated anchor point at all times above 2 metres". Assign a responsible person for each control.
Document PPE requirements and emergency procedures: List every item of PPE required for the work: hard hat, safety glasses, hi-vis vest, steel-cap boots, harness, respirator, hearing protection and any task-specific items. In the emergency procedures section, describe what to do if something goes wrong, including rescue procedures for work at height or confined space, first aid arrangements, emergency contact numbers and the location of emergency equipment.
Brief workers and complete the sign-on register: Before any high-risk construction work begins, brief every worker who will carry out the task on the SWMS content. Walk through each step, hazard and control measure. Allow time for questions and concerns. Each worker then signs the sign-on register to confirm they have read, understood and agree to follow the SWMS. Keep the signed SWMS on site and accessible to all workers throughout the duration of the work.

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How often should you complete this checklist?

A SWMS must be prepared before any high-risk construction work (HRCW) commences, as required by WHS Regulations 2011 Chapter 6. Before each shift or work day, the SWMS should be reviewed on site to confirm that the documented hazards and controls still reflect actual conditions. If weather, ground conditions or the sequence of work has changed since the SWMS was written, it must be revised and workers re-briefed before the task resumes.

Beyond the daily pre-start review, the SWMS should be formally reassessed whenever a new trade or subcontractor joins the task, when the scope of work changes, after an incident or near miss related to the activity, or when new plant or materials are introduced. At a minimum, principal contractors should audit SWMS compliance monthly across all active high-risk activities on site. Annually, the organisation's library of SWMS templates should be reviewed against current legislation, codes of practice and Safe Work Australia guidance to ensure they remain current. ISO 31000 principles recommend embedding this review into the broader risk management cycle.

Frequently asked questions

A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a document that sets out the high-risk construction work activities to be carried out, the hazards arising from those activities, and the measures to be put in place to control the risks. Under Australian WHS Regulations, a SWMS must be prepared before any high-risk construction work begins.

A SWMS is required before any high-risk construction work starts. Regulation 291 of the model WHS Regulations lists 18 types, including work with a risk of falling more than 2 metres, demolition of load-bearing structure, work likely to disturb asbestos, confined spaces, trenches deeper than 1.5 metres, work near energised electrical installations, work beside roads or railways in use and work where powered mobile plant is moving. Safe Work Australia says a SWMS isn't required for work of a minor nature.

The business carrying out the high-risk construction work must make sure a SWMS is prepared before the work starts (regulation 299). Safe Work Australia says the person carrying out the work is best placed to prepare it, generally the builder for their own workers or the subcontractor for their crew, in consultation with the workers doing the job. On a construction project of $250,000 or more, the principal contractor must take all reasonable steps to get a copy before the work starts (regulation 312).

Yes. Enter your email on this page and it downloads as a ready-to-print PDF, with no MapTrack account needed. Fill in the job details, the high-risk work, each step with its hazards, risk rating and controls, and how you'll monitor and review them, then brief the crew before work starts. If you'd rather keep SWMS on a phone, you can build it as a form in MapTrack with signature fields, fill it in offline and download each completed SWMS as a PDF.

A SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is a legally mandated document under WHS Regulations 2011 Chapter 6 that must be prepared before any high-risk construction work begins in Australia. It is specific to the 18 types of high-risk construction work listed in regulation 291 of the model WHS Regulations, 19 in the ACT and Victoria. A JSA (Job Safety Analysis) is a broader risk assessment tool that can be used for any task in any industry, not limited to construction or high-risk activities. While both break tasks into steps and identify hazards and controls, only the SWMS carries a specific legal requirement under the WHS Regulations for high-risk construction work.

The model WHS Regulations don't require signatures. They require a copy to be readily accessible to every worker doing the high-risk work (regulation 303), and the work to be done the way the SWMS sets out (regulation 300). Safe Work Australia's own template has a section for workers to sign and date when they receive it, and this template has a sign-on register for the same reason: it's a simple record that each worker was briefed.

Keep a copy until the high-risk construction work it covers is finished (regulation 303). If a notifiable incident happens in connection with that work, keep it for at least 2 years after the incident. While you're keeping it, a copy has to be readily accessible to the workers doing the work and available for an inspector. Safe Work Australia says a SWMS can be kept electronically.

Yes, as a starting point. Safe Work Australia says a generic SWMS used at different workplaces should first be reviewed for the hazards and risks at the specific workplace, and amended as necessary. Fill in the site, the actual work steps, the hazards on that site and the controls you'll use, then go through it with the crew before the work starts.

Yes, this one works for Queensland. The Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld) uses the same SWMS rules and section numbers as the model regulations: section 291 lists the same 18 types of high-risk construction work, section 299 requires a SWMS before that work starts and sets what it must cover, and section 303 sets how long to keep it. The template has a section for each thing section 299 lists.

Applicable regulatory standards

This template is a starting point. Check the current requirements that apply to your equipment, work and location. The template alone does not establish compliance.

WHS Regulations 2011 - Chapter 6 (construction work)
Safe Work Australia - Safe work method statement for high risk construction work: information sheet
Model Code of Practice: Construction work (Safe Work Australia)
Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld) - Part 6.3
WHS Act 2011 (Section 19 - Primary duty of care)
ISO 31000 - Risk management

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  <p style="font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.05em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#071D49;margin:0;">Free template</p>
  <p style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;color:#071D49;margin:6px 0 0;">SWMS template</p>
  <ul style="margin:12px 0 0;padding-left:18px;color:#374151;font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;">
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">High-risk work activity: the specific type of high-risk construction work being carried out (e.g. working at heights, demolition, confined space entry).</li>
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Work steps: each task or activity broken into sequential steps, from set-up through to pack-down.</li>
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Hazards per step: the hazards identified for each work step (e.g. falls, falling objects, electrical contact, crush injuries).</li>
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Risk rating: a risk assessment for each hazard (High, Medium or Low) based on likelihood and consequence.</li>
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Control measures: the specific controls to eliminate or minimise each risk, following the hierarchy of controls.</li>
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Responsible persons: who is responsible for implementing each control measure.</li>
  </ul>
  <p style="font-size:13px;color:#6B7280;margin:14px 0 0;padding-top:12px;border-top:1px solid #E5E7EB;">Free <a href="https://www.maptrack.com/templates/swms-template" style="color:#071D49;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;">SWMS template</a> by MapTrack</p>
</div>

Free to reuse, including commercially. This template is published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. Copy it, adapt it, put it on your own site or in your own docs. All we ask is that you credit MapTrack with a link back to this page. The snippet above already includes that credit, so if you use it as-is you’re covered.

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Writing about this topic? You’re welcome to quote this checklist. Here’s the wording to use so your readers can find the original.

The MapTrack SWMS template has 6 columns and room for 12 entries.

Short attribution: MapTrack SWMS template, https://www.maptrack.com/templates/swms-template
Reference list: MapTrack. (2026). SWMS template [Checklist template]. Retrieved from https://www.maptrack.com/templates/swms-template

Free to reuse with credit under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. If you’d rather link straight to it, the page is https://www.maptrack.com/templates/swms-template.

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Free SWMS template

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Key takeaways

What is a SWMS template?

Benefits of using this SWMS template

Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack

Try MapTrack free for 30 days

What to include in a SWMS template

How to use this SWMS template

How often should you complete this checklist?

Frequently asked questions

What is a SWMS?

When is a SWMS required in Australia?

Who prepares a SWMS?

Is the SWMS template free to use without MapTrack?

What is the difference between a SWMS and a JSA?

Does a SWMS need to be signed?

How long do you keep a SWMS?

Can I use a generic SWMS template?

Is there a SWMS template for Queensland?