Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) Services

A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a legally required document for high risk construction work, helping businesses identify hazards, implement control measures and comply with Australian workplace health and safety legislation. While SWMS are mandatory for many high-risk activities, Job Safety Analyses (JSAs) are commonly used alongside them to assess task-specific risks before work begins.

Your Safety Partners develops compliant SWMS, JSAs, job hazard assessments and practical risk management systems that help businesses perform work safely and meet their WHS obligations.

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    What Is A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)?

    A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) documents the hazards associated with high risk construction work and specifies the control measures required to complete the work safely. It is a legal requirement under Australian WHS legislation whenever high risk construction work is undertaken.
    Many businesses also use a Job Safety Analysis (JSA) alongside their SWMS. A JSA breaks a task into individual steps, identifies hazards at each stage and helps workers understand the risks and required controls before work begins.

    A SWMS or supporting JSA is commonly developed when:

    • High risk construction work is being performed
    • A Safe Operating Procedure does not exist
    • The work is non-routine
    • The task is unfamiliar
    • The work environment has changed
    • New equipment or plant is being introduced

    SWMS and JSAs are widely used across construction, maintenance, logistics, manufacturing, utilities and field service industries to improve planning, manage workplace risks and support WHS compliance.

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    When A SWMS Is Required

    A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is required for high risk construction work. In construction, a SWMS is often used alongside a JSA construction process to ensure hazards are identified and controlled before work starts.

    High risk construction work includes
    • Working at heights
    • Work near traffic or rail
    • Work near water
    • Work involving mobile plant
    • Excavation and trenching
    • Work near live electrical services
    • Confined space work
    • Demolition work
    • Asbestos removal
    • Work in extreme temperatures
    • Work involving lifting operations

    A SWMS must be completed before work starts and kept for the duration of the work.

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    SWMS Development & Workplace Safety Documentation

    SWMS Development

    Preparation of compliant SWMS tailored to your work activities, hazards and legislative obligations.

    Pre Job Hazard Assessment Process

    Implementation of pre job hazard assessment procedures before non routine work begins.

    High Risk Construction Documentation

    Development of SWMS and supporting documentation for construction, maintenance and other high risk work activities.

    Workplace Health And Safety (WHS) Systems

    Development of workplace safety documentation aligned with Australian WHS legislation and recognised industry standards.

    SWMS Training And Job Hazard Analysis Training

    Review of existing SWMS and training for workers and supervisors on how to implement them effectively.

    Job Safety Analysis (JSA) Development

    Development of supporting JSAs and job hazard assessments for non-routine and task-specific activities.

    Mobile SWMS And JSA Systems

    Implementation of digital systems that allow SWMS and JSAs to be completed, accessed and signed on mobile devices.

    SWMS Melbourne, Sydney And Multi Site Businesses

    Implementation of SWMS systems for businesses and organisations Australia-wide operating across multiple sites.

    How SWMS & JSAs Improve Workplace Safety

    Effective Safe Work Method Statements and supporting Job Safety Analyses help businesses identify hazards before work begins, implement appropriate controls and maintain consistent safety practices across every site.

    Hazards Identified Before Work Starts

    SWMS and JSAs ensure hazards are identified before work begins, not after an incident occurs.

    Risk Controls Implemented

    Control measures are identified and implemented before the task is performed.

    Workers Understand The Task And Risks

    Workers and supervisors review the SWMS and supporting JSA before work begins, ensuring everyone understands the hazards and required controls.

    Reduced Incidents And Near Misses

    Effective planning and documented risk controls help reduce workplace incidents during high risk and non-routine work.

    Compliance With Construction Safety Laws

    SWMS support compliance with legal obligations for high risk construction work, while JSAs strengthen overall workplace risk management.

    Documented Evidence Of Risk Management

    SWMS and JSAs provide documented evidence that risks were identified and controlled.

    Improved Supervision And Planning

    Well-developed safety documentation improves communication, supervision and job planning before work starts.

    Consistent Safety Process Across Sites

    Standardised SWMS templates and JSA procedures help businesses maintain consistent safety standards across multiple projects and locations.

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    Statistics About Industry

    Ensuring safety in the workplace is crucial to reducing liabilities and protecting employees, especially in high-risk industries. Robust safety practices, including JSAs and SWMS, play a vital role in preventing accidents and injuries.

    38%

    In 2022, machinery operators and drivers accounted for the highest proportion of worker fatalities in Australia, with a fatality rate of 8.4 per 100,000 workers.

    71%

    The majority of worker fatalities in 2022 occurred in the transport, agriculture, and construction industries. JSAs and SWMS prevent this number from being higher.

    24%

    In 2021-22 manual tasks involving lifting, pushing, pulling, or bending, account for 24% of injuries. Implementing safety measures through JSAs can reduce these types of incidents.

    Our Process

    1

    Identify Tasks Requiring A SWMS

    We identify which tasks require a SWMS, JSA or job hazard assessment.

    2

    Develop SWMS Documentation

    We prepare compliant SWMS, JSA templates and supporting risk management documentation tailored to your work activities.

    3

    Training And Implementation

    We train workers and supervisors on how to correctly use SWMS and JSAs and implement practical safety systems across your workplace.

    Case Study

    A construction company engaged Your Safety Partners after identifying gaps in their Safe Work Method Statements for high risk construction activities. Existing documentation was inconsistent, and workers were not following a standardised process for identifying and controlling workplace hazards before work commenced.

    Your Safety Partners developed compliant Safe Work Method Statements, introduced supporting Job Safety Analyses for task-specific risks and provided practical training for supervisors and workers. The new system improved planning, strengthened WHS compliance and reduced safety incidents across multiple project sites.

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    Client Reviews

    These reviews are taken directly from our Google profile and reflect the experience of businesses that have trusted us with their workplace safety systems.

    FAQs

    A JSA is required when no Safe Operating Procedure (SOP) or Work Instruction (WI) exists for a job, particularly for non-routine or unfamiliar tasks.

    For example, suppose workers are faced with a new or unusual task that hasn’t been risk-assessed. In that case, a JSA breaks down the job, identifies risks, and outlines controls to mitigate those risks, ensuring that workers understand how to perform the task safely.

    While both JSA and SWMS are used to manage workplace safety, a JSA is generally used for non-routine tasks without existing SOPs, focusing on breaking down jobs into tasks and identifying hazards.

    A SWMS, however, is mandatory for high-risk construction work (HRCW) and must be completed before such work starts. SWMS outlines how to safely perform specific high-risk activities like working at heights or near hazardous materials, ensuring compliance with Australian regulations.

    Yes, a new SWMS is required for each high-risk construction job to address the specific risks associated with each job location and task. If similar tasks are performed across multiple jobs, the SWMS can be adapted as long as it accurately covers all relevant hazards and controls.

    For instance, tradespeople working on multiple roofs in a day need a SWMS for each roof but can adapt an existing SWMS if it fully captures all potential hazards.

    Your Safety Partners can develop tailored policies and procedures that outline the correct JSA and SWMS processes, provide templates for various high-risk activities, and offer training to ensure these documents are used correctly.

    We also offer software solutions that streamline the management of JSAs and SWMS, making it easier for your team to stay compliant and safe.

    Book A Consultation

    Book your free one hour on site safety consultation and speak with a safety consultant about SWMS, JSAs and job hazard analysis requirements.

    What Happens Next

    • We discuss your work activities and tasks
    • We identify where SWMS and supporting JSAs are required
    • We develop templates and procedures
    • We train your team and help implement the system

    Address:
    Lvl 27, 101 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000
    Suite 1046, Ground Level, 100 George St, Parramatta, NSW, 2150

    Business Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

    Phone: 1300 033 466

    Email: john@yoursafetypartners.com.au


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