Working at Heights SWMS

A comprehensive, adaptable SWMS for managing fall risks and height-related hazards.

Meet your legal obligations and keep your worksites safe with a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) for Working at Heights.

Safe Work Method Statements are a legal requirement for all high risk construction work under Australian WHS laws. A SWMS is required whenever there is a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres, or where work is carried out on or near fragile surfaces, including roofs. Whether you are a principal contractor, subcontractor, or preparing documents for a tender, most trade and construction businesses are required to develop SWMS for working at heights.

This Working at Heights SWMS is designed for tasks where workers are exposed to fall risks or falling object hazards. It helps you identify height-related hazards and implement practical controls before work starts.

Who is the Working at Heights SWMS for?

This SWMS is suitable for all Australian businesses involved in construction, roofing, maintenance, electrical, civil, installation and trade businesses where workers perform tasks at height or near unprotected edges.

When is it used?

You must prepare this SWMS before starting any high risk construction work involving a risk of falling more than 2 metres, working on fragile surfaces, or accessing elevated work areas. It should be reviewed whenever site conditions, equipment, work methods or personnel change.

What’s included?

This SWMS covers a wide range of height-related hazards and work activities. You can keep only the sections that apply to your job:

• Planning and preparation
• Training and competency
• Assessing site conditions
• Setting up the work area
• General precautions (falling objects, fall from height)
• Ladders
• Trestles
• Scaffolding
• Edge protection
• EWPs (general control measures, controls for boom lifts, controls for scissor lifts, access and egress at height)
• Fall restraint and work positioning systems
• Fall arrest sytems (including space and prompts for an emergency rescue plan)
• Working near asbestos (e.g. asbestos cement roof sheeting)

All Acacia Safety Consulting SWMS also include:

• Definitions of high risk construction work
• Risk matrix and explanation of risk ratings
• PPE requirements
• General control measures applicable to most work activities
• Space for project or site-specific information
• SWMS sign-off page
• SWMS review page

Meeting your legal requirements

Under Australian WHS legislation, businesses must prepare a Safe Work Method Statement for all high risk construction work to identify hazards and outline how risks will be controlled. This template helps you meet those obligations and provide the documentation often required by principal contractors or clients.

Looking for something else?

This SWMS works well in conjunction with our Mobile Plant SWMS (for detailed controls when mobile plant is in use). For enquiries, customisations, or tailored SWMS solutions, do not hesitate to contact us.