SWMS Template VIC — Safe Work Method Statement for Victoria

If you are performing high-risk construction work in Victoria, you need a Safe Work Method Statement that complies with VIC 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 VIC-specific requirements that set Victoria apart from every other Australian state.

Victoria is the one state in Australia that has **not adopted the model WHS laws**. It operates under its own long-standing Occupational Health and Safety framework, administered by WorkSafe Victoria. This means the terminology, section numbers, and some thresholds differ from NSW, QLD, WA, and SA. A SWMS prepared for work in Melbourne, Geelong, or regional Victoria must reference Victorian OHS legislation — not the WHS Act. Whether you are building a tower on Southbank, retrofitting a heritage warehouse in Collingwood, or working on a level crossing removal project, the VIC-specific rules below apply.

In Victoria, the legal obligation to prepare a SWMS for high-risk construction work comes from the **Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic)** and the **Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic)**. The employer (or self-employed person) performing the HRCW must ensure a SWMS is prepared before the work commences, in consultation with the employees and health and safety representatives who will carry it out or be affected by it.

The SWMS obligation is set out in **Part 5.1 — Construction** of the OHS Regulations 2017 (Vic), specifically **regulation 324 and 325**. These clauses require the SWMS to identify the high-risk construction work, state the health and safety hazards and risks, describe the measures to control the risks, and describe how the measures will be implemented, monitored, and reviewed. Regulation 326 requires the employer to ensure the work is carried out in accordance with the SWMS, and to stop the work immediately if the SWMS is not being complied with.

Victoria defines **19 categories** of high-risk construction work in regulation 322 — one more than the model WHS regulations, because Victoria separately lists some tilt-up and precast activities. Categories include work where there is a risk of a fall of **more than 2 metres** (the Victorian threshold matches the model law — it is 2 metres, not 3), work on or near energised electrical installations or services, asbestos disturbance, demolition of load-bearing structures, work in or near a confined space, excavation deeper than 1.5 metres, work adjacent to a road used by traffic other than pedestrians, work in areas with artificial extremes of temperature, work involving powered mobile plant, and tilt-up and precast concrete elements. For the full list, see [When is a SWMS Required?](/when-is-swms-required).

A SWMS must be kept readily available for inspection by a WorkSafe Victoria inspector during the HRCW. If a notifiable incident occurs, the SWMS must be retained for at least two years under regulation 328. The principal contractor on a construction project (for projects valued at $350,000 or more — note this threshold is higher than the $250,000 threshold used in the model WHS law) has specific SWMS coordination duties across all subcontractors on site.

The workplace health and safety regulator in Victoria is **WorkSafe Victoria**, a statutory authority that also administers the Victorian workers compensation scheme. WorkSafe enforces the OHS Act and Regulations, conducts workplace inspections, investigates serious incidents, prosecutes breaches, and publishes industry guidance.

**Website:** worksafe.vic.gov.au **Phone:** 1800 136 089 (advisory and notification line, 24 hours) **Incident notification:** 13 23 60 (24 hours)

WorkSafe Victoria publishes compliance codes, guidance notes, and industry-specific alerts on SWMS requirements and high-risk construction work. Their inspectors have the power under the OHS Act to issue improvement notices (section 111), prohibition notices (section 112) that stop work immediately until the hazard is controlled, and infringement notices. WorkSafe Victoria inspectors also have broader entry powers than their interstate counterparts, including the ability to attend sites without notice at any reasonable time.

**Current WorkSafe Victoria enforcement priorities (2024–2026):**

- **Falls from height.** Victoria's WorkSafe has an ongoing "It's Never You, Until It Is" falls prevention campaign. Roofing, scaffolding, and residential construction remain the leading focus. - **Industrial manslaughter prosecutions.** Since Victoria introduced workplace manslaughter offences in July 2020, WorkSafe has pursued several high-profile prosecutions. Construction-related deaths are a primary investigation priority. - **Silica and dust.** WorkSafe Victoria banned engineered stone fabrication in alignment with the national decision — the ban took effect 1 July 2024. Silica awareness training is mandatory for workers undertaking silica-generating tasks. - **Crane and tower crane safety.** Melbourne's tower construction boom led to dedicated crane inspection blitzes and prosecutions for lift-plan non-compliance. - **Mental health and psychosocial hazards.** New psychosocial regulations require employers to identify and control psychosocial hazards — construction employers are increasingly required to document psychosocial controls alongside physical ones.

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

Victoria has NOT adopted the model WHS laws. It retained its own Occupational Health and Safety framework under the OHS Act 2004 (Vic) and OHS Regulations 2017 (Vic). For contractors who work across multiple states, the Victorian differences are significant and must be reflected in any SWMS used in Victoria.

**Different terminology.** Victoria uses **"OHS"** (Occupational Health and Safety) rather than **"WHS"** (Work Health and Safety). Victoria uses **"employer"** and **"employee"** rather than the model law's **"PCBU"** (person conducting a business or undertaking) and **"worker."** Victoria retains **"Health and Safety Representative (HSR)"** with specific election and consultation rights under Part 7 of the OHS Act — these rights are broader in some respects than the HSR rights under the model WHS law. A SWMS prepared for Victoria should use Victorian terminology to avoid confusion during inspection.

**Different regulation numbers.** The SWMS obligation in Victoria is under regulation 324 of the OHS Regulations 2017 (Vic). In model-WHS states the equivalent is regulation 299. Any SWMS used in Victoria should cite the Victorian regulation, not the model clause.

**Falls threshold — 2 metres.** Victoria's fall-risk trigger for HRCW is a fall of more than 2 metres, the same threshold as the model WHS law. (Some older commentary refers to a 3-metre domestic construction threshold — this is a separate compliance code threshold, not the HRCW trigger. For the purpose of determining whether a SWMS is required, the threshold is 2 metres.)

**Engineered stone ban and silica rules.** Victoria implemented the national prohibition on the manufacture, supply, installation, and processing of engineered stone benchtops, panels, and slabs from 1 July 2024. Victoria had already introduced some of Australia's strictest silica controls, including mandatory dust suppression, air monitoring, and health surveillance for workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica on construction sites.

**Industrial Manslaughter (Workplace Manslaughter) offence.** Since 1 July 2020, Victoria has criminalised workplace manslaughter under Part 5A of the OHS Act 2004 (Vic). An employer (body corporate or self-employed individual) that negligently causes the death of a worker faces maximum penalties of approximately **$19.8 million for a body corporate** and **25 years imprisonment for an individual**. Officers of a body corporate can be held personally liable. This makes the accuracy and implementation of SWMS in Victoria a direct criminal liability issue — not merely a regulatory compliance matter.

**Penalties (OHS Act 2004 Vic, current penalty units).** Maximum penalties for Category 1 equivalent breaches run into several million dollars for a body corporate. Indicative ranges: failure to provide a safe workplace (section 21) up to approximately $3.8 million body corporate / $765,000 individual; failure to comply with a prohibition notice up to approximately $765,000; workplace manslaughter up to $19.8 million body corporate / 25 years individual.

**Melbourne construction market.** Melbourne continues to run one of the largest vertical construction programs in the southern hemisphere — residential towers in Southbank, Docklands, and the CBD; the Metro Tunnel Project; the North East Link; the Suburban Rail Loop; and the ongoing Level Crossing Removal Project. WorkSafe Victoria has dedicated teams for major infrastructure and high-rise construction. Expect inspectors on site, unannounced.

When preparing a SWMS for VIC construction work, ensure the document references the correct legislation (OHS Act 2004 (Vic), OHS Regulations 2017 (Vic)), names WorkSafe Victoria as the notifying authority for notifiable incidents, and includes the correct emergency contact numbers for the state. For multi-state comparisons, see [SWMS Template NSW](/swms-template-nsw), [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 adapted for the Victorian OHS framework. Each template contains trade-specific hazards, risk ratings, and control measures — ready for you to add your project details and site-specific information. When you select Victoria during download, the template is populated with references to the OHS Act 2004 (Vic), OHS Regulations 2017 (Vic), and WorkSafe Victoria contact details.

**Most popular templates for VIC construction:**

[Electrical SWMS](/templates/electrical-swms) — installation, maintenance, fault-finding, energised work, and compliance with AS/NZS 3000 and the Victorian Electricity Safety Act 1998. [Carpentry SWMS](/templates/carpentry-swms) — framing, formwork, cladding, roof work. [Plumbing SWMS](/templates/plumbing-swms) — drainage, gas fitting, roof plumbing. [Construction SWMS (General)](/templates/construction-swms) — multi-trade, covers all 19 Victorian HRCW categories. [Working at Heights — General](/templates/working-at-heights-general) — all WAH activities, aligned to the Victorian Prevention of Falls in General Construction Compliance Code. [Welding SWMS](/templates/welding-swms) — MIG, TIG, stick, oxy-fuel, hot work permits, fume control. [Concreting SWMS](/templates/concreting-swms) — pouring, pumping, formwork, tilt-up, silica controls. [Excavation SWMS](/templates/excavation-swms) — trenching, earthworks, underground services, Dial Before You Dig.

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

Download our free blank SWMS template in Word format. The template is structured to comply with the OHS Act 2004 (Vic) and OHS Regulations 2017 (Vic) and includes all sections required by regulation 324 — project details, HRCW categories, hazard register, risk matrix, control measures aligned to the hierarchy of control, PPE requirements, emergency procedures including WorkSafe Victoria 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 Victorian template is ideal for employers and HSRs who want to structure their own content but need the correct legislative framework and section headings for OHS Regulations 2017 compliance.

[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 — adapted for Victorian OHS references.

**Working at Heights Pack** — All 5 WAH SWMS templates (General, Roofing, Scaffolding, EWP, Harness & Fall Arrest). Covers every common working-at-heights scenario on VIC construction sites, aligned to the Prevention of Falls in General Construction Compliance Code. [$99 for all 5 →](/purchase/bundle)

**Civil & Infrastructure Pack** — Excavation, trenching, directional drilling, and confined space SWMS — ideal for contractors working on the Metro Tunnel, Suburban Rail Loop, or Level Crossing Removal packages.

**Tower Construction Pack** — Crane, tilt-up, precast, scaffold, and concrete pump SWMS for Melbourne CBD and Southbank residential towers.

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

Regardless of which template you use, your SWMS must be customised for Victorian compliance. Here is a checklist every WorkSafe Victoria inspector will apply.

**Reference the correct legislation.** Your SWMS should reference the OHS Act 2004 (Vic) and OHS Regulations 2017 (Vic) — not the WHS Act. Cite regulation 324 as the source of the SWMS obligation. An inspector who sees "WHS Act 2011" on a Victorian SWMS will immediately question whether the document has been prepared specifically for the Victorian site.

**Name the correct regulator.** For notifiable incidents in VIC, the notifying authority is WorkSafe Victoria on 13 23 60 (24 hours). Include this in the emergency procedures section alongside 000 for police, fire, and ambulance. The general advisory number is 1800 136 089.

**Include Victorian compliance codes.** Victoria issues "compliance codes" rather than "codes of practice." Relevant Victorian compliance codes include the *Prevention of Falls in General Construction Compliance Code*, the *Excavation Compliance Code*, the *Confined Spaces Compliance Code*, the *Demolition Compliance Code*, and the *Hazardous Manual Handling Compliance Code*. Reference the applicable compliance code in your SWMS — WorkSafe Victoria explicitly checks this.

**Address psychosocial hazards.** Victoria's new psychosocial health regulations require employers to manage psychosocial hazards such as high workloads, role ambiguity, and exposure to traumatic events. A modern SWMS should include at least a brief psychosocial section where relevant.

**Site-specific details for Victorian conditions.** Victoria has specific environmental conditions — cold and wet winters on exposed sites, extreme heat during summer fire-danger periods (SWMS must reference cease-work temperatures and lightning procedures), and the Melbourne wind band that affects high-rise and tower crane operations.

**Consultation with HSRs and employees.** Under Part 4 of the OHS Act 2004 (Vic), employers must consult with employees and any elected HSRs on WHS matters including SWMS preparation. Victorian HSRs have stronger statutory powers than their interstate counterparts — including the power to issue Provisional Improvement Notices (PINs) and to direct cease-work in immediate danger situations. Document HSR involvement in the SWMS consultation log.

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

Yes — Victoria operates under separate OHS legislation (the OHS Act 2004 and OHS Regulations 2017), not the model WHS laws adopted by the other mainland states. Terminology differs (OHS instead of WHS, employer/employee instead of PCBU/worker, compliance codes instead of codes of practice). The underlying practical obligation to prepare a SWMS for high-risk construction work is equivalent, but every Victorian SWMS must reference Victorian legislation and WorkSafe Victoria. States that have adopted the model WHS laws (NSW, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT, NT) have essentially identical base requirements, though each has its own regulator and enforcement priorities.

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

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 terminology before using the document in Victoria. A SWMS that references the WHS Act 2011 when the work is being performed in Victoria is a compliance risk — a WorkSafe Victoria inspector may treat it as evidence that the SWMS was not prepared for the Victorian site and the OHS Act was not engaged.

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

WorkSafe Victoria publishes guidance on SWMS requirements on their website (worksafe.vic.gov.au), including a *Safe Work Method Statements — Information for Employers* guide and the full set of compliance codes. They also offer free advisory services by phone on 1800 136 089. The Incolink industry body and Master Builders Victoria also publish Victorian-specific SWMS templates for members in the commercial and residential construction sectors.

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

If the owner-builder work involves any of the 19 Victorian 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. If the owner-builder engages any tradespeople, those self-employed persons become employers under the OHS Act and must prepare their own SWMS for their HRCW.

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

A SWMS must be kept readily available for the duration of the HRCW. If a notifiable incident occurs, the SWMS must be retained for at least two years from the date of the incident under regulation 328 of the OHS Regulations 2017 (Vic). Best practice is to retain all SWMS for at least five years as part of your OHS records — this covers WorkCover investigation windows and late-reported injury or disease claims (particularly important for silicosis, asbestosis, and other latent-effect exposures).

### Can an individual be prosecuted for industrial manslaughter in Victoria?

Yes. Victoria's workplace manslaughter offence applies to employers and self-employed persons whose negligent conduct causes the death of a worker or member of the public. Body corporates face maximum penalties of approximately $19.8 million; individuals (including officers held personally liable) face up to 25 years imprisonment. Victoria has prosecuted several cases since the offence commenced in July 2020, and construction sites are a primary focus. A documented, implemented, and reviewed SWMS is a direct piece of evidence that the employer took reasonable care.