Facade Inspection SWMS
Safe Work Method Statement covering the key hazards and control measures for facade inspection.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Facade inspection involves the systematic examination of building exteriors — including curtain walls, glazed panels, cladding systems, sealants, anchor points, and structural fixings — to identify defects, deterioration, or failures that could compromise the building envelope or create a public safety risk. This work is typically carried out by glaziers, facade engineers, and rope access technicians using industrial rope access (abseil), elevating work platforms (EWPs), boatswain's chairs, or building maintenance units (BMUs). It is high-consequence work performed at significant heights, often above public thoroughfares, and frequently in occupied commercial buildings where wind loading, surface contamination, and concealed structural defects introduce serious risk.
Under the model Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the WHS Regulation 2025, facade inspection performed at heights of 2 metres or more is classified as High Risk Construction Work (HRCW) under Regulation 291. A Safe Work Method Statement is mandatory before the work commences, must be prepared in consultation with workers under section 47 of the WHS Act, and must be available for inspection by the regulator and reviewed when controls change or an incident occurs.
This SWMS has been developed to align with Safe Work Australia's Code of Practice: Construction Work, the Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces, AS/NZS 4488 (Industrial Rope Access Systems), AS/NZS 1891 (Industrial Fall-Arrest Systems), and AS 2550.10 (Cranes — Mobile Elevating Work Platforms). It enables a PCBU to demonstrate compliance with the primary duty of care under section 19 of the WHS Act and supports officer due diligence obligations under section 27.
Hazards identified
9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Fatal injury from impact; suspension trauma if arrested mid-descent without prompt rescue
Catastrophic fall resulting in fatality; secondary injuries to workers or public below
Head, eye, or crush injuries; potential fatality; significant public liability exposure
Worker swung into facade causing impact injury; EWP instability and tip-over risk
Lacerations to hands, arms, or face; falling glass injuring persons below
Loss of consciousness, cardiac complications, or death if rescue is delayed beyond 15 minutes
Electrocution, arc flash burns, or fatality
Musculoskeletal injury, sprains, strains, and chronic back injury
Pedestrian struck by falling object or worker; serious injury or fatality and prosecution under WHS Act s.19
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Engage only IRATA or ARAA certified rope access technicians (minimum Level 1 working under Level 3 supervision) for abseil inspection works in accordance with AS/NZS 4488
- 2Independently certify all anchor points to AS/NZS 5532 prior to use, with annual recertification and visual inspection logged before each shift
- 3Implement a dual-rope system (working line and independent backup line) for all rope access work, with each line rated to a minimum 15 kN
- 4Establish exclusion zones at ground level using hard barriers, signage, and trained spotters; calculate drop zone using the 1:10 rule plus wind allowance
- 5Cease all external facade work when wind speed at the work face exceeds 36 km/h (or manufacturer's limit for EWP, whichever is lower); monitor with calibrated anemometer
- 6Tether all tools and equipment using lanyards rated for the tool weight; prohibit any loose items in pockets or unsecured on harness
- 7Implement documented rescue plan with rescue equipment on site and a competent rescuer available to retrieve a suspended worker within 10 minutes
- 8Maintain minimum approach distances from energised electrical assets per AS/NZS 4576 and the relevant state electrical safety regulations; conduct site-specific assessment of facade-mounted services
- 9EWP operators to hold high risk work licence (WP class for boom-type ≥11m) and conduct pre-start inspection per AS 2550.10
- 10Issue cut-resistant gloves (EN 388 Level 5), safety eyewear to AS/NZS 1337.1, and helmets with chinstraps to AS/NZS 1801
- 11Conduct daily pre-start briefing covering site-specific hazards, weather forecast, rescue arrangements, and emergency contacts; document attendance
- 12Notify building occupants and adjoining property owners in writing prior to inspection; coordinate with building manager to restrict balcony and window access during works
Applicable Codes of Practice
Primary code governing fall prevention hierarchy, anchor point requirements, and rescue planning for any work where a fall of 2m or more is possible
Defines HRCW, SWMS content requirements, and consultation obligations applicable to facade inspection on construction sites
Sets minimum standard for rope access equipment, technique, and competency for facade abseil inspection
Specifies requirements for harnesses, lanyards, energy absorbers, and fall-arrest equipment used during facade work
Governs design, testing, and certification of permanent and temporary anchor points used for rope access and fall arrest
Operational and inspection requirements where EWPs are used as the primary or backup access method for facade inspection
Establishes the risk management process and hierarchy of controls underpinning the SWMS
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Facade inspection is performed externally on multi-storey buildings via abseil, EWP, or BMU at heights typically ranging from 5m to over 200m. The risk of a fall greater than 2 metres is inherent to the task, triggering HRCW classification under WHS Regulation 291 and mandating a SWMS before work commences.
Because this work is classified as High Risk Construction Work, WHS Regulation 299 requires the SWMS to be prepared before work starts, kept available at the workplace for the duration of the work, and provided to the principal contractor on a construction project. Failure to prepare a compliant SWMS exposes the PCBU to penalties under the WHS Act of up to $30,000 for a body corporate per offence, with significantly higher penalties under Category 1 and 2 offences (sections 31–32) where reckless conduct or risk of death is established. Officers may be personally liable under section 27 for failure to exercise due diligence.
Who this is for
- →Glazing contractors performing facade defect surveys and warranty inspections
- →Rope access companies (IRATA/ARAA) delivering building envelope assessments
- →Facade engineering consultancies conducting condition audits and remedial scoping
- →Building maintenance contractors using BMUs or EWPs for periodic facade checks
- →Strata managers and facilities managers commissioning facade inspections under state facade inspection regimes
- →Principal contractors coordinating subcontractors performing facade work on construction or refurbishment projects
What you receive
- ✓Fully editable Microsoft Word (DOCX) SWMS template pre-populated for facade inspection
- ✓State-specific legislation schedule covering NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT and NT WHS/OHS variations
- ✓Comprehensive hazard register with risk matrix scoring (likelihood × consequence)
- ✓Worker sign-on register and consultation record meeting WHS Act s.47 requirements
- ✓Pre-start checklist covering anchor inspection, weather assessment, and exclusion zone setup
- ✓Rescue plan template aligned with Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls
- ✓Reference list of applicable Australian Standards and Codes of Practice
- ✓Instant download in DOCX and PDF formats with free updates for 12 months
Worked example
A glazing contractor in Sydney is engaged by a strata committee to inspect the curtain wall of a 22-storey residential tower following reports of water ingress on level 14. The inspection requires close-up examination of structural silicone joints, gasket integrity, and aluminium mullion fixings on the southern facade. The site supervisor downloads this SWMS, customises it with the building address, identifies the southern facade as wind-exposed, and confirms that two existing roof anchors will be load-tested by an engineer to AS/NZS 5532 before use. The two-person rope access team (IRATA Level 3 and Level 2) review the SWMS during a documented pre-start briefing, sign on, and confirm the rescue plan including a third ground-based technician on standby with a haul kit. On the morning of inspection, wind is recorded at 28 km/h with gusts forecast to 40 km/h after midday. The team commences at 7:00am, completes the southern facade by 11:00am, and stands down before the wind threshold is exceeded. A pedestrian exclusion zone is maintained along the building's southern footpath using A-frame barriers and a spotter in high-vis. A cracked spandrel panel identified at level 9 is photographed, tools are retrieved without incident, and the SWMS, sign-on register, and pre-start records are filed against the job for the strata committee and available for SafeWork NSW inspection if requested.
Related legislation
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth model)
- Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW)
- Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (VIC)
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (QLD)
- Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA)
- Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 (NSW) — relevant to facade remediation reporting
- Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW) — building defect inspection obligations
Frequently asked questions
Is a SWMS legally required for every facade inspection?
Yes, where the inspection involves a risk of falling more than 2 metres it is classified as High Risk Construction Work under WHS Regulation 291, and Regulation 299 requires a SWMS to be prepared before work starts. Even on non-construction sites (e.g. routine maintenance), a documented safe work procedure addressing fall risk is required to satisfy the PCBU's primary duty under section 19 of the WHS Act.
Can a glazier perform facade inspection without rope access certification?
No. If access is via industrial rope, the operator must hold current IRATA or ARAA certification at the appropriate level under AS/NZS 4488. If access is via EWP with a boom length of 11m or more, the operator must hold a WP class High Risk Work Licence. Inspection from inside the building (e.g. opening windows) does not require these tickets but still requires fall protection if openings are above 2m.
How often should this SWMS be reviewed?
The SWMS must be reviewed and revised whenever controls are no longer effective, before a change at the workplace that may give rise to a new or different risk, after a notifiable incident, or when requested by a health and safety representative under WHS Regulation 38. Best practice is to review annually as a minimum and re-issue for each new project site.
What rescue arrangements are required for rope access facade work?
A documented rescue plan is mandatory under the Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls. The plan must enable retrieval of a suspended worker within approximately 10 minutes to mitigate suspension trauma. Relying on emergency services alone is not acceptable — a competent rescuer with appropriate equipment must be on site for the duration of the work.
Does this SWMS cover work in all Australian states and territories?
Yes. The template includes a state-specific legislation schedule that maps the controls to NSW, QLD, SA, TAS, ACT, NT and WA (harmonised WHS jurisdictions) as well as Victoria, which operates under the OHS Act 2004 and OHS Regulations 2017. You select the applicable jurisdiction when customising the document.
Can I edit the SWMS to add site-specific hazards?
Absolutely — the document is supplied as an unlocked Microsoft Word file specifically so you can add site-specific hazards, controls, and consultation records. WHS Regulation 299 requires the SWMS to address the actual circumstances of the work, so site customisation is not just permitted but legally required.