Do I need a SWMS?
You need a safe work method statement (SWMS) before any high-risk construction work starts. The WHS Regulations list 18 kinds of it. Tick what your job involves to check.
Check your job
Tick everything the work involves. The answer shows as you go.
Model WHS Regulations, which every state and territory but Victoria has adopted.
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General information, not legal adviceLaw checked weekly · last reviewed 12 Nov 2026WHS Regulations r291Report a problem
The 18 kinds of high-risk construction work
Regulation 291 of the model Work Health and Safety Regulations defines high-risk construction work. Construction work is high-risk if it falls under any of these. Read the WHS Regulations
Risk of a fall of more than 2 metres
Regulation 291(a): construction work that involves a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres.
Roof work, scaffolding, edges of slabs, ladders and EWPs above 2 m.
Working at Height SWMS · Roofing SWMS · Scaffolding SWMS · Falls from height · Scaffold and ladder failure
Work on a telecommunication tower
Regulation 291(b): construction work that is carried out on a telecommunication tower.
Installing or maintaining antennas and equipment on a tower.
Working at Height SWMS · Falls from height · Electromagnetic energy
Demolishing structural elements
Regulation 291(c): construction work that involves demolition of an element of a structure that is load-bearing or otherwise related to the physical integrity of the structure.
Removing load-bearing walls, columns, beams or slabs, or anything else that keeps the structure sound.
Disturbing asbestos
Regulation 291(d): construction work that involves, or is likely to involve, the disturbance of asbestos.
Drilling, cutting or removing material that contains asbestos.
Structural alterations needing temporary support
Regulation 291(e): construction work that involves structural alterations or repairs that require temporary support to prevent collapse.
Propping a structure while a wall, beam or footing is altered.
Carpentry SWMS · Steel Construction SWMS · Concreting SWMS · Structural collapse
In or near a confined space
Regulation 291(f): construction work that is carried out in or near a confined space.
Work in or near tanks, pits, sewers or silos, where the air could be unsafe or material could engulf you.
Plumbing SWMS · Civil Works SWMS · Confined space entry · Contaminated or flammable atmosphere
In or near a shaft or trench deeper than 1.5 metres, or a tunnel
Regulation 291(g): construction work that is carried out in or near a shaft or trench with an excavated depth greater than 1.5 metres, or a tunnel.
Trenches for services, footings or pits over 1.5 m, and tunnels.
Civil Works SWMS · Earthmoving & Mobile Plant SWMS · Plumbing SWMS · Engulfment · Unstable ground · Underground and concealed services
Use of explosives
Regulation 291(h): construction work that involves the use of explosives.
Blasting rock or demolishing with explosives.
Civil Works SWMS · Demolition SWMS · Fire and explosion · Projectiles
On or near pressurised gas mains or piping
Regulation 291(i): construction work that is carried out on or near pressurised gas distribution mains or piping.
Excavating or connecting near gas mains and pipework.
Plumbing SWMS · Civil Works SWMS · Fire and explosion · Underground and concealed services
On or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines
Regulation 291(j): construction work that is carried out on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines.
Plant rooms, fuel lines and refrigeration or air conditioning lines.
Electrical - HVAC - Solar SWMS · Plumbing SWMS · Hazardous chemicals · Pressurised fluids
On or near energised electrical installations or services
Regulation 291(k): construction work that is carried out on or near energised electrical installations or services.
Work near live switchboards, cables or overhead power lines.
Electrical - HVAC - Solar SWMS · Electricity · Overhead power lines
Contaminated or flammable atmosphere
Regulation 291(l): construction work that is carried out in an area that may have a contaminated or flammable atmosphere.
Areas with fumes, solvents, fuel vapour or contaminated soil.
Painting SWMS · Flooring SWMS · Contaminated or flammable atmosphere · Fire and explosion
Tilt-up or precast concrete
Regulation 291(m): construction work that involves tilt-up or precast concrete.
Lifting, propping and fixing tilt-up or precast panels.
Concreting SWMS · Crane & Lifting Equipment SWMS · Crane and load collision · Load failure · Structural collapse
On or next to a road, railway or other traffic corridor in use
Regulation 291(n): construction work that is carried out on, in or adjacent to a road, railway, shipping lane or other traffic corridor that is in use by traffic other than pedestrians.
Roadworks, footpath work beside traffic, rail corridors.
Civil Works SWMS · Transport & Warehousing SWMS · Working near traffic · Rail corridor hazards
Where powered mobile plant is moving
Regulation 291(o): construction work that is carried out in an area at a workplace in which there is any movement of powered mobile plant.
Sites with excavators, forklifts, rollers or trucks moving.
Earthmoving & Mobile Plant SWMS · Civil Works SWMS · Mobile plant and vehicles · Plant roll-away or roll-over
Artificial extremes of temperature
Regulation 291(p): construction work that is carried out in an area in which there are artificial extremes of temperature.
Cold rooms, freezers, furnaces and other artificially hot or cold areas.
Electrical - HVAC - Solar SWMS · Shop Fitting SWMS · Heat stress · Cold stress
In or near water or liquid with a risk of drowning
Regulation 291(q): construction work that is carried out in or near water or other liquid that involves a risk of drowning.
Pools, waterways, wharves, flooded excavations and tanks.
Swimming Pool SWMS · Civil Works SWMS · Drowning and immersion
Diving work
Regulation 291(r): construction work that involves diving work.
Construction diving, such as underwater inspection or repairs.
Civil Works SWMS · Underwater diving · Drowning and immersion
What the law requires
- Prepare a SWMS before the high-risk construction work starts (regulation 299).
- It must identify the high-risk work, the hazards and risks, the control measures, and how they will be put in place, monitored and reviewed, in a way the workers who use it can understand (regulation 299).
- Make sure the work is done the way the SWMS says, and stop it if it isn't, as soon as it's safe to (regulation 300).
- On a construction project, give the principal contractor a copy before the work starts (regulation 301). The principal contractor must take reasonable steps to get one (regulation 312).
- Review the SWMS, and revise it as needed, whenever its control measures change (regulation 302).
- Keep a copy until the work is finished, and for at least 2 years after any notifiable incident connected with it (regulation 303).
Victoria has its own Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017, with a list of 19 kinds of high-risk construction work that differs from the model's in places, and its own SWMS duties. Victoria's OHS Regulations
The Northern Territory, the ACT and some states differ in the details, such as the falls height for houses. Compare WHS laws by state
SWMS requirements in your state: NSW · VIC · QLD · SA · WA · TAS · NT · ACT
More free tools: Free SWMS template and generator · SWMS in your crew's languages · 5×5 risk matrix calculator
Common questions
- When is a SWMS required?
- A SWMS is required before any high-risk construction work starts, whatever the size of the job. High-risk construction work is the 18 kinds of construction work listed in regulation 291 of the WHS Regulations.
- What if my work isn't on the list?
- A SWMS isn't required by law, but you still have to manage the risks of the work. Many businesses write a SWMS, safe operating procedure or risk assessment anyway, and principal contractors often ask for one before you start.
- Does this apply in Victoria?
- Victoria has its own OHS Regulations 2017. Its list has 19 kinds of high-risk construction work, some broader than the model's (any demolition counts) and some narrower, and a SWMS is required where the work poses a risk to someone's health or safety.
- Do I need a SWMS for a small job?
- Yes, if the job involves any high-risk construction work. The requirement depends on the work being done, not on the size or value of the job.
- Who prepares the SWMS?
- The business carrying out the high-risk construction work prepares it, in consultation with the workers who will do the work. On a construction project, the principal contractor must take reasonable steps to get the SWMS before the work starts.