SWMS Templates › Western Australia

SWMS templates for Western Australia

Western Australia was the last state to move to the model laws. The Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) and the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WA) commenced on 31 March 2022, replacing the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984. Documents written before then cite an Act that no longer exists, and WorkSafe WA’s incident line is not the number most sites have on the wall.

The law in Western Australia

What a WA safe work method statement must get right

Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) · Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WA)

High risk construction work

Defined in regulation 291 of the WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA): 18 categories, paragraphs (a) to (r), identical to the model law.

When a SWMS is required

Regulation 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.

Notifiable incidents

WorkSafe WA on 1800 678 198, 24 hours. The 1300 307 877 number is general enquiries only.

Dangerous goods

Handled under the Dangerous Goods Safety Act and its regulations, a separate regime from the WHS (General) Regulations.

What the WA version of every template carries

• Cites the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) and the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WA), not the repealed Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984.
• Names WorkSafe WA with 1800 678 198 for notifiable incidents.
• References the Western Australian codes of practice by name.

WA questions