Site Safety Management Plan Template

A principal contractor's WHS management plan is only mandatory on a construction project worth $250,000 or more (WHS Regulation 2025 (NSW) s292 and s309). Most renovations, extensions, fit-outs and small civil jobs fall below that, yet the duties that matter still apply to them: managing construction risks, a SWMS for every high risk construction work activity, induction, a secure site and an emergency plan. This template is the written plan for those jobs, ready to complete. It opens with a table that maps each legal requirement to the section that meets it, then covers the project, named responsibilities, induction and licences, consultation, the risk rating method, high risk construction work and SWMS, controls for twelve common hazards, site rules and public protection, the emergency plan, incident reporting, subcontractor management and inspections. A hazard register pre-filled with fifteen hazards and seven site forms are included. It is a site safety plan for a builder or contractor in control of a small job. It is not a SWMS, and it does not replace the SWMS required for high risk construction work.

Hazards identified

10 hazards covered, sorted by priority.

Control measures

Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.

1. 1Legal requirements table mapping each duty in the Act and Regulation to the section of the plan that meets it
2. 2Project description and a responsibilities table with named people: business owner, site supervisor, subcontractors, workers, first aider and client
3. 3Induction, training and licence requirements, including the general construction induction card and high risk work licences
4. 4Consultation and communication arrangements: daily pre-start, weekly toolbox talk and coordination between trades
5. 5Risk management procedure with the hierarchy of control and a risk rating matrix with required actions
6. 6High risk construction work checklist of all 18 categories and the rules for preparing, reviewing, following and keeping SWMS
7. 7Controls for twelve common hazards: falls, electricity, excavation and services, mobile plant, silica dust, manual handling, noise, chemicals, asbestos, hot work, weather and housekeeping
8. 8Site rules, security, signage, PPE, amenities and protection of occupants and the public
9. 9Emergency plan and first aid, with a contacts table and a six-step emergency procedure
10. 10Incident reporting and investigation, including notifiable incidents and preserving the site
11. 11Subcontractor management: insurances, licences and SWMS collected before start, induction and monitoring
12. 12Inspection schedule, review triggers, review log and sign-off
13. 13Hazard and risk register pre-filled with fifteen hazards and controls for small construction jobs
14. 14Seven site forms: SWMS register, subcontractor register, induction checklist and register, toolbox talk record, incident report, emergency contacts poster and weekly site inspection

Applicable Codes of Practice

Worked example

A builder took on a $180,000 rear extension to an occupied 1960s house. Because the job was under $250,000 no WHS management plan was required, and none was written. The excavation subcontractor arrived without services plans, the roofer's SWMS was never asked for, and eaves lining that turned out to contain asbestos was pulled down with the family at home. With a completed plan, the supervisor would have collected the SWMS and insurances before each trade started, obtained the services information before digging, and checked the asbestos question in the project description before any demolition.

Related legislation

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) — s19 primary duty of care; ss38 and 39 notifiable incidents; ss46 to 49 consultation
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW) — s291 high risk construction work; s292 construction project ($250,000 or more); s297 management of risks associated with construction work
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW) — s298 security of workplace; ss299 to 303 safe work method statements
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW) — s304 underground essential services information; s309 WHS management plan; ss316 and 317 general construction induction training
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW) — ss40 to 43 facilities, first aid and emergency plans; ss78 to 80 falls
• Victoria: Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic) — Part 5.1 Construction (the Victorian edition is written against these, with the $350,000 threshold)

Frequently asked questions