SWMS Template WA — Safe Work Method Statement for Western Australia

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

Western Australia is the newest state to adopt the harmonised model WHS laws. For many years WA operated under the old Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 — that framework was replaced on 31 March 2022 when the WHS Act 2020 (WA) and WHS Regulations 2022 (WA) commenced. This makes WA's WHS framework the youngest in Australia. The change introduced formal SWMS obligations aligned with the model law, industrial manslaughter offences, and a significantly tougher penalty regime. If you are building in Perth, fabricating in Henderson, fitting out a Karratha camp, or working a Pilbara mine-adjacent civils package, the WA-specific rules below apply.

In Western Australia, the legal obligation to prepare a SWMS for high-risk construction work comes from the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) and the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WA), which commenced on 31 March 2022 and replaced the former Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and OSH Regulations 1996. 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 (General) Regulations 2022 (WA). Regulation 299 requires the SWMS to 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 to 303 cover compliance with the SWMS, stop-work when the SWMS is not being followed, review and revision triggers, and retention after a notifiable incident.

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 corridor used by traffic other than pedestrians. For the full list, see When is a 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.

Mining has a separate regime. Mining in Western Australia is regulated under the WHS (Mines) Regulations 2022 (WA), administered by the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) / WorkSafe WA's mines safety division. SWMS requirements apply to construction work on a mine site, but mining operations themselves use the broader WHSMP (Work Health and Safety Management Plan) framework under the Mines Regulations. Clarify jurisdiction before preparing a SWMS for any Pilbara, Goldfields, or Mid West site.

The workplace health and safety regulator in Western Australia is WorkSafe WA, a division of the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS). WorkSafe WA enforces the WHS Act 2020 and the WHS (General) Regulations 2022, conducts workplace inspections, investigates incidents, prosecutes serious breaches, and publishes industry guidance. The separate WorkSafe Mines inspectorate within DEMIRS administers the WHS (Mines) Regulations.

Website: worksafe.wa.gov.au (or dmirs.wa.gov.au for the broader department) Phone: 1300 307 877 (WorkSafe WA advisory) Incident notification: 1800 678 198 (24 hours)

WorkSafe WA publishes codes of practice, guidance notes, and position papers on SWMS requirements and high-risk construction work. Their inspectors have the power under sections 191 and 195 of the WHS Act 2020 (WA) to issue improvement notices, prohibition notices that stop work immediately, and infringement notices. WA inspectors were granted significantly expanded entry and information-gathering powers under the new Act compared with the previous OSH framework.

Current WorkSafe WA enforcement priorities (2024–2026):

• Falls from height. Residential roofing, scaffolding, and suburban construction remain the leading focus. WorkSafe WA runs periodic falls blitzes across the Perth metropolitan area.
• Respirable crystalline silica. WA implemented the nationwide engineered stone fabrication ban from 1 July 2024 and enforces mandatory silica training and health surveillance for workers exposed to RCS.
• Industrial manslaughter. The new WHS Act 2020 (WA) introduced Australia's most severe industrial manslaughter offence — see the WA-Specific Requirements section below. Construction is a focus area.
• Mine-adjacent civils and FIFO. Construction of mine infrastructure, roads, camps, and process plants in the Pilbara and Goldfields brings WorkSafe WA inspectors into contact with some of the most remote workplaces in the country. Inspectors have expanded travel budgets to reach regional sites.
• Psychosocial hazards. New psychosocial regulations under the WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA) require PCBUs to manage psychosocial hazards — a focus on FIFO rosters, fatigue, and bullying is expected.

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

Western Australia adopted the model WHS laws in 2022 — the last state to do so. This makes the WA framework the newest in Australia, and in some respects the toughest. Contractors transitioning from the old OSH Act 1984 framework to the new WHS regime should pay close attention to the following WA-specific features.

Newest legislation in Australia. The WHS Act 2020 (WA) and WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA) commenced on 31 March 2022, replacing the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and OSH Regulations 1996. Any SWMS that still references the old OSH Act or OSH Regulations is out of date and must be updated. Similarly, references to "WorkSafe WA under the OSH Act" should be replaced with references to the WHS Act 2020 regime.

Industrial manslaughter — two-tier offence. The WHS Act 2020 (WA) introduced two tiers of industrial manslaughter:

• Industrial manslaughter — Simple offence (section 30A). Maximum penalty approximately $5 million for a body corporate and $1 million or 10 years imprisonment for an individual.
• Industrial manslaughter — Crime (section 30B). For a PCBU or senior officer whose conduct causes a worker's death and who knew that the conduct was likely to cause death. Maximum penalty approximately $10 million for a body corporate and 20 years imprisonment for an individual.

This two-tier model is broader than the industrial manslaughter regimes in Queensland, Victoria, ACT, NT, or South Australia. WA's crime-level offence in particular can attach to senior officers personally, and carries a higher individual prison term than Queensland.

Penalties generally. Category 1 offences under the WHS Act 2020 (WA) (reckless conduct causing risk of death or serious injury) carry maximum penalties of approximately $3.5 million for a body corporate and $680,000 or 5 years imprisonment for an individual. Category 2 offences carry up to $1.8 million body corporate. Category 3 offences carry up to $570,000 body corporate. WA penalty values have been indexed since commencement.

Pilbara mining and FIFO context. Western Australia is the heart of Australian mining — iron ore in the Pilbara, gold in the Goldfields, nickel and lithium across multiple regions. Construction of mine camps, rail spurs, port facilities, processing plants, and haul road upgrades represents a massive civil construction pipeline. WHS and mining regulations intersect on these sites — a SWMS for construction work within a mine lease may need to align with the site's broader WHSMP and PHMPs under the WHS (Mines) Regulations 2022. Clarify jurisdiction and the lead document before mobilising.

Engineered stone ban. WA implemented the national ban on manufacture, supply, installation, and processing of engineered stone benchtops, panels, and slabs from 1 July 2024. Legacy removal work is controlled under enhanced notification and exposure-control obligations.

Perth construction market. Perth is running a sustained construction program — Metronet rail extensions, Westport (Fremantle port relocation planning), hospital and school builds, high-rise residential in the CBD and foreshore, and the Fiona Stanley/Murdoch health precinct expansions. WorkSafe WA has dedicated inspectors for major infrastructure and high-rise construction.

When preparing a SWMS for WA construction work, ensure the document references the correct legislation (WHS Act 2020 (WA) and WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA) — not the old OSH Act 1984), names WorkSafe WA 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 VIC, SWMS Template QLD, and SWMS Template SA.

Our pre-filled SWMS templates are reviewed by a Certified Industrial Hygienist and updated for the new WHS Act 2020 (WA) and WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA). Each template contains trade-specific hazards, risk ratings, and control measures — ready for you to add your project details and site-specific information. WA templates explicitly cite regulation 299 of the WHS (General) Regulations 2022 and WorkSafe WA contact details.

Most popular templates for WA construction:

Electrical SWMS — installation, maintenance, fault-finding, energised work, AS/NZS 3000, and WA electrical licensing requirements. Carpentry SWMS — framing, formwork, cladding, roof work. Plumbing SWMS — drainage, gas fitting, roof plumbing, confined space entry. Construction SWMS (General) — multi-trade, covers all 18 HRCW categories. Working at Heights — General — all WAH activities, aligned to the WA Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice. Welding SWMS — MIG, TIG, stick, oxy-fuel, hot work permits, fume control. Concreting SWMS — pouring, pumping, formwork, tilt-up, silica controls. Excavation SWMS — trenching, earthworks, underground services, Dial Before You Dig.

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Every SWMS is a one-off purchase — there is no subscription and no per-worker licensing. Each product ships with all eight state variants, so the WA version already carries the WHS Act 2020 (WA) and WHS Regulations 2022 (WA) references, names WorkSafe WA as the notifying authority for notifiable incidents, and cites the applicable WA codes of practice.

Price follows the complexity of the work rather than the trade:

• $99 — Standard. Non-HRCW activities with a single low-to-medium hazard. Typical of internal fit-out, signage, basic plumbing, and cleaning work.
• $149 — HRCW. A single high-risk construction work category under the WHS Regulations 2022 (WA) — most construction trades with one trigger, such as work where a person could fall more than 2 metres.
• $199 — Comprehensive. Multiple HRCW categories, or a single high-consequence category. Multi-trade activities and mid-complexity demolition sit here.
• $249 — Specialist. Licensed and regulated work — Class A and Class B asbestos removal, combined confined-space and atmospheric hazards, tilt-up and precast, and diving work.

Most contractors need more than one document. Civils, camp construction, and plant maintenance contractors mobilising to Pilbara and Goldfields sites typically need excavation, confined space, hot work, working-at-heights, and heat stress SWMS. Contractors on Perth CBD and foreshore tower projects typically need tower crane, tilt-up, precast, scaffold, and concrete pump SWMS. Working-at-heights contractors generally take the general WAH document plus the specific activity — roofing, scaffolding, EWP, or harness and fall arrest.

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

Reference the correct legislation. Your SWMS should reference the WHS Act 2020 (WA) and WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA) — not the old OSH Act 1984 or OSH Regulations 1996. Cite regulation 299 as the source of the SWMS obligation. An inspector who sees OSH Act references on a WA SWMS prepared after 31 March 2022 will immediately question whether the document was ever updated for the new regime.

Name the correct regulator. For notifiable incidents in WA, the notifying authority is WorkSafe WA on 1800 678 198 (24 hours). The general advisory number is 1300 307 877. Include both in the emergency procedures section alongside 000 for police, fire, and ambulance. For mining-regulated sites, notification may need to go to the Mines Safety inspectorate instead — confirm with the site WHSMP.

Include WA-specific codes of practice. WA has adopted the model codes of practice with some jurisdiction-specific amendments. Relevant codes include Construction Work, Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces, Excavation Work, Demolition Work, and How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks. Reference the applicable code in your SWMS.

Site-specific details for WA conditions. Western Australia has extreme environmental conditions — severe heat (Pilbara sites regularly exceed 45°C), cyclone season in the north-west (November–April), extreme UV, high wind exposure, remote location emergency response limitations, and FIFO fatigue factors. Your SWMS must address these where relevant. Heat stress controls, cyclone preparedness, cease-work temperatures, hydration protocols, and fatigue management should be explicit.

Worker consultation is non-negotiable. Under section 47 of the WHS Act 2020 (WA), the SWMS must be developed in consultation with the workers who will carry out the HRCW. Document this consultation — an inspector will check. The new WHS Act introduced stronger consultation obligations than the former OSH Act, so contractors accustomed to the old regime should review their consultation practices.

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.

Are SWMS requirements different in WA compared to other states?

The core SWMS requirements are now aligned with the other model-WHS states because WA adopted the model laws in 2022. The obligation comes from regulation 299 of the WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA), and the 18 HRCW categories match NSW, QLD, SA, TAS, ACT, NT, and Commonwealth. The differences are in the regulator (WorkSafe WA within DEMIRS), the newness of the framework, and the toughness of the industrial manslaughter penalties. Victoria remains the only state outside the WHS harmonisation — it operates under the OHS Act 2004 — see SWMS Template VIC.

Can I use a SWMS from another state in WA?

The content of a SWMS (hazards, controls, risk ratings) is portable between states. However, you must update the legislative references to the WHS Act 2020 (WA) and WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA), change the regulator to WorkSafe WA, update emergency contacts, and ensure the document does not still reference the old OSH Act 1984. An interstate SWMS that arrives on a Perth or Pilbara site unchanged is a compliance risk.

What happened to the old OSH Act in WA?

The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and OSH Regulations 1996 were repealed when the WHS Act 2020 (WA) and WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA) commenced on 31 March 2022. The new framework adopted the nationally harmonised model WHS laws with some WA-specific amendments, most notably the two-tier industrial manslaughter offence. Any SWMS, policy, or procedure that still references the OSH Act is out of date and must be updated.

Where can I find WA-specific SWMS guidance?

WorkSafe WA publishes guidance on SWMS requirements on their website (worksafe.wa.gov.au), including a downloadable SWMS template, transition guidance from the OSH Act to the WHS Act, and industry-specific alerts. They also offer free advisory services by phone on 1300 307 877. The Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) publishes additional guidance for mining and resources construction work. Master Builders WA and the Housing Industry Association also publish WA-specific SWMS templates for members.

Is a SWMS required for owner-builder work in WA?

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. WA owner-builder permits are issued by the Building Commission within DEMIRS for certain residential work, and compliance with WHS obligations is a condition of the permit.

How long must I keep a SWMS in WA?

A SWMS must be kept 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 303. Best practice is to retain all SWMS for at least five years — longer for work involving latent-effect exposures such as silica, asbestos, or chemical contaminants, where workers' compensation and occupational disease claims may emerge many years after exposure.

Can an individual be prosecuted for industrial manslaughter in Western Australia?

Yes, and WA has the most severe industrial manslaughter framework in Australia. Under section 30A (simple offence), individuals face up to $1 million or 10 years imprisonment, and body corporates face up to $5 million. Under section 30B (crime), where the PCBU or senior officer knew the conduct was likely to cause death, individuals face up to 20 years imprisonment and body corporates face up to $10 million. Construction and mining sites are priority investigation targets. A properly prepared, implemented, and reviewed SWMS is direct evidence of the reasonable care element of the defence.