A safe work method statement (SWMS) is a formal document that lists all the tasks involved in completing a job and describes how the hazards will be controlled.

On building sites they are mandatory for 'high risk construction work'.

However, on some sites all contractors are asked to complete a SWMS before they start work - including flooring installers.

In some Australian states, a job safety analysis (JSA) is often used to document the hazards and control measures involved in carrying out a job.

This is similar in layout to the SWMS and is sometimes used interchangeably.

Nonetheless, even in the states where JSAs are common, it is now a legal requirement to develop a SWMS for high risk work.

Because SWMSs are legal documents that can end up being tendered in court proceedings, they need to be signed off by everyone directly involved.

This helps the contractor to prove that each worker had understood what their responsibilities were before they started a job and had agreed to follow all of its safety provisions.

The law also says that everyone who uses the SWMS needs to be 'consulted' while the document is being developed.

This gives workers the chance to express their views on the risks involved in doing particular tasks and the controls put in place to reduce the risks.

We'll talk more about the consultation process in the next section of this unit.

Click on the link below to see a sample SWMS. This is based on a template developed by Safe Work Australia and published in the Construction Work Code of Practice.

Sample SWMS

You can download the full code of practice from the Supporting Resources section of this unit.

There are various other templates for SWMSs on the web, produced by organisations such as WorkCover, industry associations and private companies. To find them, just type 'Safe Work Method Statement' into your search engine and follow the links.