SWMS Templates › New South Wales

SWMS templates for New South Wales

New South Wales replaced its 2017 regulation with the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW), which commenced on 22 August 2025 and renumbered clauses as sections. A NSW document that still cites the 2017 regulation, or the old clause numbers, is out of date. From 1 July 2026 the state’s codes of practice bind under section 26A, so a SWMS that departs from the code needs to show an equally effective alternative.

The law in New South Wales

What a NSW safe work method statement must get right

Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) · Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW)

High risk construction work

Defined in section 291 of the WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW): 18 categories, paragraphs (a) to (r).

When a SWMS is required

Section 299: before high risk construction work starts, and kept readily accessible for the duration of the work.

Fall and trench thresholds

A fall of more than 2 metres, and a shaft or trench deeper than 1.5 metres, are among the 18 high risk construction work triggers.

Codes of practice

34 approved codes, legally binding from 1 July 2026 under section 26A of the Act. Follow the code, or do something at least as effective.

Notifiable incidents

SafeWork NSW on 13 10 50, immediately after becoming aware.

What the NSW version of every template carries

• Cites the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) and the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW), with section numbers rather than the pre-2025 clause numbers.
• Names SafeWork NSW and its 13 10 50 line for notifiable incidents.
• References the NSW codes of practice by their current names, as they bind from 1 July 2026.

NSW questions