High-risk construction work
Working at height SWMS
Working at height is high-risk construction work (HRCW) under Australian WHS regulation. A Safe Work Method Statement must be prepared before the work starts — by, or in consultation with, a competent person.
Generate your working at height SWMS freeWhy working at height needs a SWMS
It is classified as high-risk construction work because the work:
- Involves a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres.
Hazards a working at height SWMS must address
- Falls from height
- Falling objects
- Equipment failure
- Adverse weather
What the SWMS must contain
Under the WHS Regulation, a SWMS must:
- identify the work that is high-risk construction work.
- specify the hazards and the risks to health and safety.
- describe the control measures, applying the hierarchy of controls.
- describe how the control measures are implemented, monitored and reviewed.
- be developed in consultation with the workers carrying out the work.
Regulatory references
SWMSBuilder grounds working at height controls in, and cites, sources including:
- — WHS Regulation Pt 4.4
- — Model CoP: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
- — AS/NZS 1891.1 (fall arrest)
The law in your state or territory
SWMSBuilder stamps the correct instrument for your jurisdiction onto every document.
| Jurisdiction | Principal regulation | Regulator |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW) | SafeWork NSW |
| Victoria | Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic)Separate OHS regime — Victorian compliance codes apply. | WorkSafe Victoria |
| Queensland | Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld) | Workplace Health and Safety Queensland |
| Western Australia | Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WA)Model WHS adopted with WA variations. | WorkSafe WA |
| South Australia | Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 (SA) | SafeWork SA |
| Tasmania | Work Health and Safety Regulations 2022 (Tas) | WorkSafe Tasmania |
| Australian Capital Territory | Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (ACT) | WorkSafe ACT |
| Northern Territory | Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Regulations 2011 (NT) | NT WorkSafe |
Regulatory references current as at 2026-06-28. Confirm currency for your jurisdiction before use; the PCBU and competent person remain responsible for compliance.
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