Free swms template

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. Every worker involved in the high-risk work must read and sign onto the SWMS before starting.

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. It is the principal contractor's responsibility to ensure a SWMS is in place, but the workers carrying out the task should be involved in preparing it. The WHS Regulations define 19 categories of high-risk construction work that require a SWMS, including working at heights, demolition, confined space entry, excavation deeper than 1.5 metres and work near energised electrical installations. WHS Regulations 2011, Chapter 6, Part 6.3, define the 19 categories of high-risk construction work (HRCW) that require an SWMS. The SWMS must be prepared before the work commences, reviewed with all workers, and revised whenever conditions change. Keeping completed SWMS on file provides documented evidence of compliance during regulator audits and insurance reviews.

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Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack

When you move your checklists from paper to MapTrack, you get:

• Field users can easily scan a QR code to complete a form on mobile. Unlimited users.
• Automatically get alerts when faults are identified.
• Link every form digitally as a PDF to the relevant asset, location or person.
• Receive a digital PDF copy with every submission to your email.
• Ability to share forms digitally.
• Build conditional logic (show or hide questions based on answers).
• Take pictures or attach photos. Not possible with a paper-based form.
• Electronic signatures.
• Edit forms later without reprinting.
• Restrict permissions (who can view, complete or approve).
• Build forms with AI (describe what you need and MapTrack suggests the form).
• Escalate critical hazards instantly to safety managers via push notification.
• Maintain an auditable safety register that satisfies WHS regulator requests.
• Correlate incident trends across sites with built-in safety analytics.

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What to include in a swms template

This swms template covers 9 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.
• 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 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.

Applicable regulatory standards

This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:

• WHS Regulations 2011 - Chapter 6 (construction work)
• Safe Work Australia - Guide: Safe Work Method Statements
• WHS Act 2011 (Section 19 - Primary duty of care)
• ISO 31000 - Risk management

Related resources

More safety templates and guides:

• Construction JSA / SWMS
• Take 5 risk assessment
• Risk assessment template
• Site induction checklist
• Toolbox talk attendance form
• Inspections and compliance
• Asset tracking
• Construction industry
• Pricing