A safe work method statement (SWMS) must be prepared by the persons conducting businesses or undertakings (PCBUs) for any identified high risk construction work (HRCW) in relation to all construction work, irrespective of the cost of that work.

A PCBU must eliminate or, where it is not reasonably practicable, control the risks associated with ‘construction work’ in line with the ‘hierarchy of controls’. A PCBU must monitor and, where required, review these risk control measures, especially when workplace specific circumstances change. The SWMS documents the risk control measures that will be implemented for any identified HRCW, and is required to be prepared before HRCW starts.

This example SWMS is for general demolition work and has been developed to assist PCBUs to meet their responsibilities, as required by part 6.3, division 2, High risk construction work – safe work method statements required for in the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (WHS Regulation).

PCBUs can use this as a general example, but would need to adapt this to be workplace specific.