SWMS Template NSW — Safe Work Method Statement for New South Wales

If you are performing high-risk construction work in New South Wales, you need a Safe Work Method Statement that complies with NSW workplace health and safety legislation. This page provides everything you need — a free blank SWMS template, pre-filled templates for every major trade, and guidance on NSW-specific requirements that set New South Wales apart from other states.

New South Wales has the largest construction workforce in Australia and one of the most active WHS regulators. SafeWork NSW inspectors visit thousands of sites each year, and SWMS non-compliance is one of the most common issues cited in improvement and prohibition notices. Whether you are a sole trader pouring a suburban slab in the Hills District, a scaffolder working on a Parramatta tower, or a principal contractor managing a Barangaroo project, the legal obligation is the same — a compliant SWMS, prepared before the work starts, reviewed when conditions change, and kept on site for inspection.

In New South Wales, the legal obligation to prepare a SWMS for high-risk construction work comes from the **Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW)** and the **Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 (NSW)** (remade and extended in 2025 following statutory review). The PCBU performing the HRCW must ensure a SWMS is prepared before the work commences, in consultation with the workers who will carry it out.

The SWMS obligation is set out in **Regulation 299** of the WHS Regulation 2017 (NSW). Regulation 299 requires that the SWMS must identify the high-risk construction work, specify the hazards and associated risks, describe the control measures, and explain how the controls will be implemented, monitored, and reviewed. Regulations 300 and 301 require compliance with the SWMS during the work, a stop-work if the SWMS is not being followed, and a documented review whenever the control measures are no longer effective.

The 18 categories of high-risk construction work that trigger a SWMS requirement are defined in **Regulation 291** and include work at height where a person could fall more than 2 metres, demolition of a load-bearing structure, work involving asbestos, confined space entry, excavation to a depth greater than 1.5 metres, work on or near energised electrical installations or services, work in areas with artificial extremes of temperature, work on telecommunications towers, tilt-up and precast concrete, diving work, and work adjacent to a road or railway used by traffic other than pedestrians. For the full list, see [When is a SWMS Required?](/when-is-swms-required).

A SWMS must be kept on site and available for inspection during the HRCW. If a notifiable incident occurs, the SWMS must be retained for at least two years from the date of the incident. The principal contractor on a construction project (projects valued at $250,000 or more) must ensure a compliant SWMS is in place for all HRCW before allowing it to commence, and must collect and maintain copies for every subcontractor on the project.

The workplace health and safety regulator in New South Wales is **SafeWork NSW**, a division of the Department of Customer Service. SafeWork NSW enforces the WHS Act and Regulation, conducts workplace inspections, investigates incidents, prosecutes serious breaches, and publishes guidance materials for industry.

**Website:** safework.nsw.gov.au **Phone:** 13 10 50 (advisory and notification line) **Incident notification:** 13 10 50 (24 hours)

SafeWork NSW publishes codes of practice, guidance notes, fact sheets, and industry alerts on SWMS requirements and high-risk construction work. Their inspectors have the power to issue improvement notices (section 191 WHS Act), prohibition notices that stop work immediately (section 195), and infringement notices (on-the-spot fines up to $3,600 for a body corporate) for non-compliance with SWMS requirements under Regulations 299–303.

**Current NSW enforcement priorities (2024–2026):**

- **Falls from height.** Falls remain the leading cause of construction fatalities in NSW. SafeWork NSW has a standing compliance campaign targeting residential roofing, scaffolding, and elevated work platform operations. Inspectors regularly issue prohibition notices for missing edge protection, incorrect harness anchorage, and scaffold non-compliance. - **Respirable crystalline silica.** From 1 September 2024, mandatory silica awareness training is required for all workers performing high-risk crystalline silica work. NSW also participated in the nationwide engineered stone fabrication ban that commenced 1 July 2024 — the manufacture, supply, installation, and processing of engineered stone benchtops, panels, and slabs is now prohibited. - **Electrical safety.** Contact with overhead power lines, unsafe testing, and working live on energised equipment without a permit are ongoing enforcement focus areas. - **Young worker safety.** SafeWork NSW has dedicated inspectors targeting apprentices, labour hire, and workers under 25.

If you are unsure whether your work requires a SWMS, or if you need guidance on a specific NSW requirement, contact SafeWork NSW directly. Their advisory service is free and confidential.

New South Wales has adopted the model WHS laws, so the core framework mirrors Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT, and the Northern Territory. However, there are several NSW-specific differences that contractors must account for when preparing a SWMS for work in this state.

**Principal contractor threshold.** Under Regulation 293 of the WHS Regulation 2017 (NSW), a construction project is any project where the value of the construction work is $250,000 or more. For such projects, the person commissioning the work must appoint a principal contractor in writing. The principal contractor has specific SWMS duties — they must be satisfied that a SWMS has been prepared for every HRCW activity before it starts, and must manage risks to health and safety across the whole site.

**Silica training mandate (September 2024).** NSW implemented the nationally agreed minimum standard for silica awareness training. Workers undertaking high-risk crystalline silica work must complete an approved training course before commencing the work. This training must be referenced in the SWMS for activities such as dry cutting, grinding, drilling, or polishing silica-containing materials (concrete, brick, natural stone, tiles, mortar, and fibre-cement sheeting).

**Engineered stone ban (July 2024).** The manufacture, supply, installation, and processing of engineered stone benchtops, panels, and slabs was prohibited from 1 July 2024. A SWMS cannot be used to authorise prohibited work. For legacy removal, repair, or disposal of existing engineered stone, SafeWork NSW has a restricted framework requiring notification and enhanced controls.

**Sydney construction boom.** Major projects including Sydney Metro West, Western Sydney Airport and Aerotropolis, WestConnex final stages, the Bradfield City Centre, and the North West Growth Area have created sustained pressure on WHS compliance. SafeWork NSW has increased inspector headcount and deployed targeted blitzes on high-rise residential, civil infrastructure, and prefabricated construction.

**Penalties (WHS Act 2011 NSW, updated 2024 indexation).** Category 1 offences (reckless conduct causing exposure to risk of death or serious injury) attract maximum penalties of approximately $4.5 million for a body corporate, $900,000 or 5 years imprisonment for an officer, and $450,000 or 5 years for a worker. Category 2 offences (failure to comply with a duty exposing a person to risk of death or serious injury) carry fines up to $2.25 million for a body corporate. Category 3 offences (failure to comply with a duty) carry fines up to $750,000 for a body corporate. NSW has not enacted a separate industrial manslaughter offence — the most serious WHS prosecutions proceed under Category 1.

When preparing a SWMS for NSW construction work, ensure the document references the correct legislation (WHS Act 2011 (NSW), WHS Regulation 2017 (NSW)), names SafeWork NSW as the notifying authority for notifiable incidents, and includes the correct emergency contact numbers for the state. For multi-state comparisons, see [SWMS Template VIC](/swms-template-vic), [SWMS Template QLD](/swms-template-qld), [SWMS Template WA](/swms-template-wa), and [SWMS Template SA](/swms-template-sa).

Our pre-filled SWMS templates are authored by a Certified Industrial Hygienist and designed to comply with the national WHS framework adopted by New South Wales. Each template contains trade-specific hazards, risk ratings, and control measures — ready for you to add your project details and site-specific information.

**Most popular templates for NSW construction:**

[Electrical SWMS](/templates/electrical-swms) — installation, maintenance, fault-finding, energised work, and compliance with AS/NZS 3000 and the NSW Electricity Supply (Safety and Network Management) Regulation 2014. [Carpentry SWMS](/templates/carpentry-swms) — framing, formwork, cladding, roof work. [Plumbing SWMS](/templates/plumbing-swms) — drainage, gas fitting, roof plumbing, and confined space entry into pits and tanks. [Construction SWMS (General)](/templates/construction-swms) — multi-trade, covers all 18 HRCW categories and includes a principal contractor review section. [Working at Heights — General](/templates/working-at-heights-general) — all WAH activities from 2 metres upwards, aligned to the NSW Code of Practice for Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces. [Welding SWMS](/templates/welding-swms) — MIG, TIG, stick, oxy-fuel, hot work permits, and fume control. [Concreting SWMS](/templates/concreting-swms) — pouring, pumping, formwork, tilt-up, and silica exposure controls. [Excavation SWMS](/templates/excavation-swms) — trenching, earthworks, underground services, and Dial Before You Dig checks.

Each template aligns with Regulation 299 of the WHS Regulation 2017 (NSW) and cites the relevant NSW codes of practice in the references section. When a SafeWork NSW inspector asks to see your SWMS, the document should be immediately recognisable as compliant.

[Browse all 40+ templates →](/templates)

Download our free blank SWMS template in Word format. The template is structured to comply with WHS Act 2011 (NSW) and WHS Regulation 2017 (NSW) and includes all sections required by the regulation — project details, HRCW categories, hazard register, risk matrix, control measures aligned to the hierarchy of control, PPE requirements, emergency procedures including SafeWork NSW contact details, worker sign-on register, and review log.

The free template is blank — you identify the hazards and write the controls yourself. If you want a template with trade-specific hazards and controls already documented, see our pre-filled templates above. The blank template is ideal for experienced WHS coordinators who need a compliant NSW structure but will populate the risk content themselves.

[Download free blank SWMS template →](/swms-template)

For contractors who work across multiple HRCW categories, our trade packs offer the best value. Each pack contains all the SWMS templates relevant to your trade in a single bundle.

**Working at Heights Pack** — All 5 WAH SWMS templates (General, Roofing, Scaffolding, EWP, Harness & Fall Arrest). Covers every common working-at-heights scenario on NSW construction sites, including the 2-metre fall threshold under Regulation 78 and 79 of the WHS Regulation 2017 (NSW). [$99 for all 5 →](/purchase/bundle)

**Civil & Excavation Pack** — Excavation, trenching, directional drilling, and confined space SWMS — ideal for civil contractors working on Sydney Metro, WestConnex, or suburban infrastructure.

**Fit-Out & Refurbishment Pack** — Demolition, asbestos awareness, electrical isolation, and dust-control SWMS for contractors working on Sydney CBD and North Sydney commercial refits.

Individual templates are available for $29 each. [Browse all templates →](/templates)

Regardless of which template you use, your SWMS must be customised for NSW compliance. Here is a checklist every SafeWork NSW inspector will run through.

**Reference the correct legislation.** Your SWMS should reference the WHS Act 2011 (NSW) and WHS Regulation 2017 (NSW), not generic "WHS laws." Cite Regulation 299 as the source of the SWMS obligation. This demonstrates to a regulator that you know which laws apply in your state.

**Name the correct regulator.** For notifiable incidents in NSW, the notifying authority is SafeWork NSW on 13 10 50 (24 hours). Include this in the emergency procedures section alongside 000 for police, fire, and ambulance.

**Include NSW-specific codes of practice.** NSW has adopted most model codes of practice and published its own for some topics. Relevant codes include the *Construction Work Code of Practice*, *Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces*, *Excavation Work*, *Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work*, and *How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks*. Reference the applicable code in your SWMS.

**Site-specific details for NSW conditions.** New South Wales has specific environmental conditions that affect construction work — heat stress during Sydney summers (40°C+ days), storm and flash flood season, extreme UV exposure, and coastal high wind on exposed sites. Your SWMS must address these where relevant, with practical controls like rest breaks, cease-work temperatures, and lightning procedures.

**Consultation is non-negotiable.** Under section 47 of the WHS Act 2011 (NSW), the SWMS must be developed in consultation with the workers who will carry out the HRCW. Document this consultation — a regulator will check. Include the date, attendees, and any changes made as a result of worker input. A SWMS drafted in an office without worker involvement is a common prosecution trigger.

**Review and reissue.** Regulation 302 requires the SWMS to be reviewed and revised when a control measure is revised, when the work changes, when a new hazard is identified, or after an incident. Record each review in the SWMS log so the evolution of the document is auditable.

### Are SWMS requirements different in NSW compared to other states?

The core SWMS requirements are the same across all jurisdictions that have adopted the model WHS laws (NSW, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT, NT, and Commonwealth). The obligation comes from Regulation 299 (or the equivalent clause in each state's WHS regulation) and the 18 HRCW categories are identical. However, SafeWork NSW has its own enforcement priorities, publishes NSW-specific guidance, and maintains separate notification and complaint channels. The principal contractor threshold in NSW is $250,000, which matches the model law. Victoria is the main outlier — it operates under the OHS Act 2004 and OHS Regulations 2017 rather than the WHS framework — so a SWMS prepared for Melbourne work uses different legislative references. See [SWMS Template VIC](/swms-template-vic) for that comparison.

### Can I use a SWMS from another state in NSW?

The content of a SWMS (hazards, controls, risk ratings) is portable between states because the underlying risks are the same. However, you must update the legislative references, regulator details, emergency contacts, and any state-specific requirements before using the document in NSW. A SWMS that references Victorian OHS legislation or WA regulations when the work is being performed in NSW is a compliance risk — an inspector may treat it as evidence that the SWMS was not prepared specifically for the NSW site.

### Where can I find NSW-specific SWMS guidance?

SafeWork NSW publishes guidance on SWMS requirements on their website (safework.nsw.gov.au), including a downloadable SWMS template and a SWMS information sheet. They also offer free advisory services by phone on 13 10 50. For complex projects, SafeWork NSW runs a dedicated construction team that can provide project-level advice. Industry associations such as Master Builders NSW and the Housing Industry Association also publish NSW-specific SWMS templates for their members.

### Is a SWMS required for owner-builder work in NSW?

If the owner-builder work involves any of the 18 HRCW categories, a SWMS is required. The obligation applies to the activity, not the type of builder. An owner-builder working at heights above 2 metres on their own roof needs a SWMS just as a licensed contractor would. The only exception is work performed by a homeowner on their own residence that does not involve engaging any workers or contractors — however, the moment a tradesperson steps onto the site, the PCBU obligations kick in and a SWMS is required for any HRCW they perform.

### How long must I keep a SWMS in NSW?

A SWMS must be kept for the duration of the HRCW and remain accessible on site for SafeWork NSW inspection. If a notifiable incident occurs, the SWMS must be retained for at least two years from the date of the incident under Regulation 303. Best practice is to retain all SWMS for at least five years as part of your safety records — this covers the general limitation period for civil claims and provides evidence in the event of a late-reported injury or disease (for example, silicosis claims that may arise many years after exposure).

### What happens if SafeWork NSW finds our SWMS is non-compliant?

An inspector can issue an improvement notice requiring you to fix the SWMS within a specified period, a prohibition notice that stops the HRCW immediately until the SWMS is compliant, or an infringement notice (on-the-spot fine). For serious or repeat breaches, SafeWork NSW can prosecute under the WHS Act, with penalties up to $750,000 (Category 3) or $4.5 million (Category 1) for a body corporate.