The Complete Guide to Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS)

What Is a Safe Work Method Statement?

A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a document that outlines the high-risk construction work to be performed, identifies hazards, assesses risks, and describes the control measures to be implemented. Under WHS regulations, a SWMS must be prepared before high-risk construction work commences.

High-risk construction work includes tasks such as working at heights, working near live electrical, demolition, excavation, and work in confined spaces. The list is defined in WHS regulations and carries significant penalties for non-compliance.

SmartFormTools helps construction companies create site-specific SWMS documents that meet regulatory requirements while being practical enough for workers to actually use on site.

Legal Requirements and Penalties

The Work Health and Safety Act requires PCBUs (Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking) to ensure SWMS are prepared for all high-risk construction work. Workers must be consulted during preparation, and the SWMS must be readily available on site.

Penalties for failing to have adequate SWMS in place can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars, with potential imprisonment for serious breaches causing harm. More importantly, inadequate safety documentation puts workers lives at risk.

• SWMS required for all 19 categories of high-risk construction work
• Workers performing the work must be consulted during preparation
• Document must be kept and made available on site
• Regular review required when circumstances change

Common SWMS Mistakes

The most common mistake is using generic templates without customisation. A SWMS copied from another project does not address the specific hazards of your site—different ground conditions, different equipment, different access routes.

Other mistakes include listing controls that are not actually implemented, failing to update SWMS when conditions change, and not involving workers in the preparation process.

• Generic templates that ignore site-specific conditions
• Controls listed but not actually provided or implemented
• No review process when work methods or conditions change
• Workers excluded from preparation and unaware of contents

Creating Effective SWMS with SmartFormTools

SmartFormTools provides structured SWMS templates that guide users through each required element while prompting for site-specific details. Hazard identification uses comprehensive checklists combined with free-text fields for unique conditions.

The platform enforces logical flow: you cannot specify a control measure without first identifying the hazard it addresses. Risk ratings calculate automatically based on likelihood and consequence inputs.

• Guided templates covering all high-risk work categories
• Site-specific hazard identification prompts
• Automatic risk calculation and control hierarchy guidance
• Worker consultation tracking and sign-off capture

Keeping SWMS Current

A SWMS is not a one-time document. It must be reviewed when work methods change, when new hazards emerge, or when incidents occur. SmartFormTools tracks review dates, notifies responsible parties, and maintains version history.

When a site supervisor identifies a new hazard, they can update the SWMS on mobile, trigger re-acknowledgment from workers, and maintain a complete audit trail of changes.

• Scheduled review reminders based on work duration
• Mobile updates with version control
• Worker re-acknowledgment workflow after changes
• Complete audit trail for regulator inspections