What is a Safe Work Method Statement?

Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) are essential for managing safety in high-risk industries like construction, manufacturing, and mining. If your work involves hazardous tasks, chances are you’ve either completed one or been told you need to.

The issue? When SWMS are poorly written, outdated, or simply filed away as paperwork, they fail to serve their purpose. Too often, they’re seen as a box-ticking exercise rather than a practical tool for keeping people safe.

In this guide, we’ll break down when a SWMS is required, what it should include, and how to ensure it’s genuinely contributing to safer worksites—not just compliance.

Purpose of a safe work method statement

A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a document that outlines how to complete high-risk work safely. It identifies potential hazards, assesses the risks involved, and details the control measures required to prevent accidents. In industries like construction, manufacturing, and mining, an SWMS is a critical tool for ensuring workers are protected on the job.

High-risk work is a major contributor to workplace injuries and fatalities. According to Safe Work Australia, in 2023, the construction industry had the highest number of worker fatalities, accounting for 27 deaths. Falls from heights, vehicle incidents, and contact with moving objects were among the leading causes of these fatalities. Additionally, the construction industry recorded over 13,000 serious injury claims, making it one of the most dangerous sectors to work in.

A well-structured SWMS helps prevent these incidents by ensuring that workers understand the hazards they face and follow safe work procedures before starting a task. Clear documentation, proper risk controls, and worker engagement in safety processes significantly reduce the likelihood of workplace injuries.

When is a SWMS required?

A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is required for all high-risk construction work (HRCW) as defined under Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations in Australia. A SWMS must be prepared before any HRCW begins to ensure the associated risks are effectively identified, controlled, and communicated.

High-risk construction work (HRCW)

According to WHS regulations, a SWMS is mandatory for the following 18 high-risk construction work activities:

• Work at heights where there is a risk of falling more than two metres
• Operating powered mobile plant at a workplace
• Demolition of load-bearing structures or parts of a building
• Structural alterations or repairs requiring temporary supports to prevent collapse
• Excavation work deeper than 1.5 metres, including shafts or tunnels
• Work in or near a confined space
• Work near live electrical installations or services
• Work near pressurised gas distribution mains or piping
• Work near chemical, fuel, or refrigerant lines
• Work in an area with a contaminated or flammable atmosphere
• Work involving tilt-up or precast concrete elements
• Work near traffic, railways, or shipping lanes used by vehicles other than pedestrians
• Work in areas with the movement of powered mobile plant (e.g., forklifts, cranes)
• Work in extreme temperatures, including artificially hot or cold environments
• Work near water or other liquids where there is a drowning risk
• Use of explosives
• Work on a telecommunications tower
• Diving work

Are SWMS used outside of construction?

While SWMS are legally required for HRCW, many industries use them to improve safety and manage hazards, including:

• Manufacturing – Machinery operation, hazardous substances
• Warehousing & logistics – Forklift operation, manual handling
• Mining – Working underground, heavy equipment use
• Utilities & energy – electrical work, high-voltage maintenance.

Many businesses are moving towards digital SWMS solutions to make the process more efficient. With real-time updates, easy access, and automated compliance tracking, digital tools help ensure that safety procedures aren’t just written down—but actually followed.

Who is responsible for creating a SWMS?

The Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) is legally responsible for ensuring a SWMS is in place. This typically includes:

• Employers (companies or sole traders managing the work)
• Principal contractors overseeing construction projects
• Subcontractors carrying out specific high-risk tasks

The PCBU must make sure the SWMS is prepared, monitored, and followed before and during the work. This also means keeping SWMS documents accurate, accessible, and properly controlled. Without proper document management, businesses risk using outdated procedures, losing critical safety records, or failing to meet compliance standards. To learn how to manage essential safety documents effectively, read our guide on What is Document Control and When is it Needed?.

Who writes the SWMS?

While the Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) is legally responsible for ensuring a SWMS is in place, it’s often most effective for the following people to draft it:

• The workers performing the task
  
• A site supervisor or safety officer
  
• A subcontractor responsible for the high-risk work
  

These individuals are best placed to develop the SWMS because they have direct knowledge of the task and the associated risks. Their input helps ensure the document accurately reflects real site conditions, includes practical control measures, and is easy to understand and apply.

When workers are actively involved in developing the SWMS, they’re more likely to engage with it meaningfully—improving both understanding and compliance, rather than treating it as just another box to tick.

The 7 key components of a SWMS

A SWMS must include seven essential elements to be effective and compliant with WHS laws. These are:

1. The work being performed – A clear description of the high-risk construction work.
2. Hazards and risks – A list of potential dangers associated with the task.
3. Control measures – Steps to eliminate or minimise each risk, following the Hierarchy of Controls.
4. Implementation details – How control measures will be applied and who is responsible.
5. Monitoring and review process – How the SWMS will be checked and updated if conditions change.
6. Consultation records – Evidence that workers and safety reps were involved in developing the SWMS.
7. Approval and sign-off – Confirmation that the SWMS has been reviewed and authorised before work begins.

A generic SWMS template isn’t enough. It must be tailored to the specific worksite, task, and risks involved. One of the most critical steps in creating a strong SWMS is conducting a thorough risk assessment to accurately identify potential hazards and determine appropriate control measures.

If you're unsure how to evaluate risk effectively, our guide on What is a Risk Assessment Matrix? explains how to systematically assess risks and improve workplace safety.

How to fill out a SWMS form (step-by-step guide)

Step #1: Describe the work

Clearly outline the task being performed. Be specific and include details such as the location, equipment used, and key steps involved.

Step #2: Identify hazards and risks

List anything that could go wrong. This includes things like falls, electrical hazards, heavy machinery risks, or exposure to hazardous substances.

Step #3: Determine control measures

For each hazard, apply the Hierarchy of Controls to find the best way to eliminate or reduce the risk. Where elimination isn’t possible, use safer alternatives, engineering controls, administrative measures, and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Step #4: Assign responsibilities

Specify who is responsible for implementing each control measure. This could be the site supervisor, a safety officer, or individual workers.

Step #5: Record consultation

List the workers, supervisors, or safety reps involved in developing the SWMS. This ensures everyone understands the risks and control measures before work begins.

Step #6: Outline monitoring and review processes

Explain how the SWMS will be checked and updated. This could be after an incident, if work conditions change, or during routine safety audits.

Step #7: Get approval and sign-off

Before work starts, the SWMS must be signed by the responsible parties. This confirms it has been reviewed and is ready to be implemented.

How often should a SWMS be reviewed?

A SWMS should be reviewed and updated:

• If the work method changes – Any modifications to how the task is performed may introduce new hazards.
• When new hazards are identified – If a risk wasn’t originally considered, it must be documented and controlled.
• After an incident or near miss – If something goes wrong, the SWMS should be updated to prevent future occurrences.
• When new equipment or materials are introduced – Different tools or substances may come with their own risks.
• If workers raise safety concerns – Consultation with workers may highlight areas that need improvement.
• During scheduled safety audits or inspections – Regular safety checks should include SWMS reviews.

Common challenges in SWMS compliance and how to overcome them

Even with a solid SWMS in place, staying compliant isn’t always easy. Many businesses struggle with outdated documents, lack of worker engagement, and poor accessibility. Here are some of the most common challenges and how to solve them.

1. Keeping SWMS up to date

• The problem: SWMS documents are often created once and forgotten. Over time, work conditions change, but the SWMS stays the same. This puts workers at risk and can lead to compliance issues.
• The solution: Regularly schedule SWMS reviews and update them whenever tasks, equipment, or risks change. Digital tools like myosh automate this process by sending reminders and tracking revisions.

2. Ensuring workers actually use the SWMS

• The problem: Workers may see SWMS as just another box-ticking exercise and fail to engage with the document. If they don’t read or understand it, the SWMS won’t improve safety.
• The solution: Keep SWMS clear, simple, and easy to follow. Consult workers when creating SWMS so they reflect real-world conditions. Using a digital SWMS system like myosh ensures workers can access SWMS on mobile devices, making them more practical to use on-site.

3. Managing multiple SWMS across different projects

• The problem: Large businesses, especially in construction, manufacturing, and mining, deal with multiple high-risk tasks at once. Keeping track of hundreds of SWMS documents across sites is a challenge.
• The solution: A centralised SWMS management system helps businesses store, organise, and update all SWMS in one place. myosh provides a cloud-based solution, so every SWMS is instantly accessible, with full version control and digital approvals.

4. Getting proper sign-off and compliance tracking

• The problem: Paper-based SWMS require physical sign-offs, which can be time-consuming, prone to errors, or even lost. Tracking compliance across teams becomes difficult.
• The solution: Digital SWMS with electronic approvals eliminate this issue. myosh allows supervisors and workers to sign off on SWMS digitally, providing a complete audit trail for compliance records.

5. Ensuring SWMS are accessible to everyone

• The problem: If SWMS documents are stored in filing cabinets or only available in English, workers may struggle to access or understand them.
• The solution: A mobile-friendly SWMS system ensures workers can view SWMS on any device, in multiple languages. myosh offers multi-lingual support, so safety procedures are accessible to all workers, regardless of language barriers.

Why digital SWMS are the future

Industries like construction, mining, and manufacturing are already adopting digital health and safety management software to keep up with compliance requirements and improve workplace safety. As technology advances, we can expect:

• Integration with IoT and wearables – Real-time hazard detection and automatic SWMS updates based on site conditions.
• AI-powered risk assessments – Smarter safety recommendations based on historical data and trends.
• Fully automated compliance tracking – No manual follow-ups. Systems will automatically flag missing approvals or overdue reviews.

By moving to a digital SWMS system, businesses can reduce admin workload, improve compliance, and make workplace safety more efficient. Platforms like myosh provide the tools to simplify SWMS creation, management, and tracking, making it easier to stay ahead of safety regulations and protect workers.

A smarter way to manage SWMS

Managing SWMS doesn’t have to be complicated. The key to staying compliant, improving safety, and reducing admin headaches is having the right system in place.

Too often, businesses rely on outdated paper-based SWMS that are hard to update, difficult to track, and rarely referenced by workers on-site. This not only increases the risk of non-compliance but also makes it harder to ensure safety procedures are being followed properly.

With the myosh SWMS module, businesses can simplify the entire process. The digital platform makes it easy for you to create, update, and manage SWMS in real time, ensuring that safety documents are always accessible, up to date, and fully compliant with WHS laws.

Book a demo or start a free trial today to see how myosh can transform the way you manage SWMS and workplace safety.