SWMS Templates | Safe Work Method Statements for Australian Worksites

Browse our comprehensive range of pre-written Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) templates — compliant, fully editable in Microsoft Word, and ready to put to work today. With over 200 SWMS templates covering more than 25 trades and industries, you'll find exactly what your business needs, whether you're a sole trader needing one document or a growing business building out a complete safety system.

What Is a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)?

A Safe Work Method Statement — commonly called a SWMS — is a document that sets out how high-risk construction work will be carried out safely. It identifies the hazards associated with the task, assesses the risks those hazards present, and specifies the control measures that will be put in place to protect workers before work begins.

Under the Model Work Health and Safety Regulations (Schedule 3), a SWMS is a legal requirement for anyone carrying out High Risk Construction Work (HRCW) in Australia. Getting on site starts with having your paperwork in place — no matter the size of your business or the job. Whether you're a sole trader, a subcontractor, or running multiple crews, a compliant SWMS needs to be prepared and in place before high-risk work starts.

A SWMS isn't just a compliance box to tick for audits or inductions. Done properly, it's a practical, task-specific guide that helps your workers understand the risks they're facing and the controls expected of them — regardless of their experience level or trade background. And when something goes wrong on site, or you're called to account during an audit or incident investigation, your SWMS is the documented proof that every risk was considered and every worker was given clear instructions.

What Must a SWMS Include?

Under the WHS Regulations, every compliant SWMS must identify the high-risk construction work being performed, state the hazards and risks arising from that work, describe the control measures that will be used, and explain how those controls will be implemented, monitored, and reviewed.

In practice, that means going well beyond generic safety advice. A quality SWMS addresses the specific hazards facing your crew and the task at hand — whether that's falls from height, electrical risks, moving plant, excavation, demolition, or working with hazardous materials. For each hazard, the controls need to be specific: if you're working at heights, the SWMS must detail the anchorage systems, the type of harness required, and the checks needed before every use. If you're isolating electrical systems, the lockout-tagout procedures need to be spelled out clearly.

Good documentation also covers health impacts alongside immediate physical dangers — dust, chemical exposure, repetitive strain, and similar risks need to be identified and controlled from planning through to completion. This level of detail is what makes a SWMS genuinely audit-ready, and what gives your clients, site supervisors, and principal contractors confidence that your business has its safety obligations covered.

Our SWMS templates are structured to meet all of these requirements out of the box. You're not starting from a blank page — the hazards, risks, and control measures typical for each task are already documented. You review, adjust for your specific site conditions, and you're done.

Individual SWMS or an Industry Pack — Which Is Right for You?

Individual SWMS templates are ideal if you need one or a handful of documents for specific tasks or pieces of equipment. Each template is pre-written for a particular activity — working at heights, operating an excavator, electrical switchboard installation, demolition, and many more. You purchase only what you need, customise it for your site, and you're compliant.

SWMS Industry Packs are the better option if you work across a range of tasks within a specific trade. We've assembled the SWMS most businesses in each trade are likely to need — so instead of buying documents one at a time, you get the full set at a significantly discounted price. Packs are available for over 25 trades including construction, electrical, plumbing, landscaping, carpentry, earthmoving, roofing, and more.

WHS Management System & SWMS Packs combine the full ISO 45001 WHS Management System with a trade-specific SWMS pack — the most complete and cost-effective option for businesses that need everything in one place.

Tailored SWMS Packs are a great option if you need some of the SWMS in our SWMS Industry Packs (or WHS Management System & SWMS Packs), but not all of them. We can provide a quote to supply only the SWMS you need and offer a SWMS Pack discount based on the number of SWMS quoted. Every SWMS Industry Pack webpage has a list of SWMS you can download and use as a selection list. Call or email us to advise what you need and we'll provide an obligation free quote. 

Not sure which option makes the most sense for your situation? Call 1800 304 336 and we'll help you work it out quickly — no pressure, no upsell.

→ Browse SWMS Industry Packs → Browse WHS Management System & SWMS Packs

Browse SWMS by Trade or Industry

Air Conditioning | Audio Visual | Bathrooms | Bricklaying | Carpentry | Cleaning | Concreting | Construction | Earthmoving | Electrical | Excavation | Garden Maintenance | Handyman | Internal Fit-Out | Joinery / Cabinet Making | Kitchens | Landscaping | Painting | Plastering | Plumbing | Principal Contractor | Roadwork | Roofing | Tiling | Welding

Why Choose Occupational Safety Solutions?

15+ years and 15,000+ customers → We've been helping small and medium construction and trade businesses get their SWMS sorted since 2010. Our templates reflect real-world experience across the trades we serve — not generic documents assembled at a desk.

Pre-written and ready to use → Every SWMS template comes pre-filled with the hazards, risks, and control measures typical for that task and trade. You're not starting from a blank page — the hard work is already done. In most cases it's far quicker to delete what doesn't apply to your specific site than to research and write it yourself.

Legally compliant → Our SWMS templates are prepared in accordance with the Model WHS Regulations (Schedule 3), Safe Work Australia Codes of Practice and relevant Australian Standards. They're structured to meet all the requirements of a compliant SWMS — so you can use them with confidence on site, in tenders, and in audits.

Fully editable in Microsoft Word → Everything is supplied in .docx format. Add your company and site details, adjust the control measures to reflect your specific conditions if required, and you're done. No software subscriptions, no locked PDFs.

Pay once, use on every job → No ongoing fees, no per-project charges. Purchase a template once and use it across unlimited sites, projects, and tenders. When we update documents, existing customers receive discounts on revised versions.

Free phone and email support → When you purchase from us you get access to the same people who built the documents — not a call centre, not a chatbot. If you're unsure how to customise a SWMS for your specific site conditions, or a principal contractor is asking questions you can't answer, call 1800 304 336 and we'll help you work through it.

Honest advice → If you need one SWMS, we'll sell you one SWMS. If an industry pack makes more sense for your situation, we'll tell you that too. We're not here to push you toward the most expensive option — we're here to help you end up with the right documents for your actual needs.

What Our Customers Say

Need Help Finding the Right SWMS?

With over 200 SWMS templates across 25+ trades, it's easy to feel overwhelmed about where to start. The fastest way to find out exactly what you need — and avoid buying documents you don't — is to give us a call. We talk to businesses like yours every day and can quickly identify what's required for your work type, your clients, and your compliance obligations. 

Call 1800 304 336 — Monday to Friday 8:30am–5:00pm. Or email us and we'll get back to you promptly.