[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"site":3,"post:what-is-a-swms":117},{"name":4,"legal_name":5,"tagline":6,"abn":7,"email":8,"phone":7,"address":7,"service_area":9,"founded_year":10,"social":11,"seo":12,"cta":16,"announcement":7,"nav":19},"Getinto Software","Getintoto Software","Job management software and done-for-you services for Australian tradies and small businesses","","hello@getintosoftware.com","Australia-wide",2022,{},{"title":13,"description":14,"image":15},"Getinto Software | Software and services for Australian tradies","Job management software plus websites, video, social media, lead generation and custom software for Australian tradies and small businesses.",null,{"label":17,"url":18},"Book a demo","\u002Fcontact",{"footer_company":20,"footer_product":29,"footer_resources":48,"footer_services":61,"footer_trades":80,"header":99,"legal":110},[21,24,27],{"label":22,"url":23},"About","\u002Fabout",{"label":25,"url":26},"Case studies","\u002Fcase-studies",{"label":28,"url":18},"Contact",[30,33,36,39,42,45],{"label":31,"url":32},"Quoting","\u002Ffeatures\u002Fquoting",{"label":34,"url":35},"Invoicing","\u002Ffeatures\u002Finvoicing",{"label":37,"url":38},"CRM and pipeline","\u002Ffeatures\u002Fcrm-sales-pipeline",{"label":40,"url":41},"Scheduling","\u002Ffeatures\u002Fscheduling-dispatch",{"label":43,"url":44},"Project management","\u002Ffeatures\u002Fproject-management",{"label":46,"url":47},"Xero and MYOB","\u002Ffeatures\u002Fxero-myob-integration",[49,52,55,58],{"label":50,"url":51},"Guides","\u002Fguides",{"label":53,"url":54},"Compare","\u002Fcompare",{"label":56,"url":57},"FAQ","\u002Ffaq",{"label":59,"url":60},"Pricing","\u002Fpricing",[62,65,68,71,74,77],{"label":63,"url":64},"Website development","\u002Fservices\u002Fwebsite-development",{"label":66,"url":67},"Video editing","\u002Fservices\u002Fvideo-editing",{"label":69,"url":70},"Social media management","\u002Fservices\u002Fsocial-media-management",{"label":72,"url":73},"Lead generation","\u002Fservices\u002Flead-generation",{"label":75,"url":76},"Web scraping for leads","\u002Fservices\u002Fweb-scraping-for-leads",{"label":78,"url":79},"Custom software","\u002Fcustom-software",[81,84,87,90,93,96],{"label":82,"url":83},"Plumbers","\u002Findustries\u002Fplumbers",{"label":85,"url":86},"Electricians","\u002Findustries\u002Felectricians",{"label":88,"url":89},"Builders","\u002Findustries\u002Fbuilders",{"label":91,"url":92},"HVAC","\u002Findustries\u002Fhvac",{"label":94,"url":95},"Landscapers","\u002Findustries\u002Flandscapers",{"label":97,"url":98},"All trades","\u002Findustries",[100,103,106,108,109],{"label":101,"url":102},"Services","\u002Fservices",{"label":104,"url":105},"Software","\u002Fsoftware",{"label":107,"url":98},"Industries",{"label":59,"url":60},{"label":50,"url":51},[111,114],{"label":112,"url":113},"Privacy","\u002Fprivacy",{"label":115,"url":116},"Terms","\u002Fterms",{"slug":118,"title":119,"excerpt":120,"cover":121,"cover_alt":119,"category":122,"published_at":123,"updated_at":124,"reading_minutes":125,"body":126,"seo":127,"author":131,"faqs":134,"related":138},"what-is-a-swms","What is a SWMS and when do tradies need one?","A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) sets out high risk construction work, the hazards and how the risks will be controlled. It must be prepared before that work starts, for example work where a person could fall more than two metres, near energised electrical services or in trenches deeper than 1.5 metres.","\u002Fmedia\u002Fstock\u002Fwhat-is-a-swms.jpg","Safety and compliance","2026-11-01T02:19:07.436Z","2026-11-01T02:54:54.590Z",2,"\n\u003Ch2>When is a SWMS required?\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>A SWMS is required before any \u003Cstrong>high risk construction work\u003C\u002Fstrong> starts. Work health and safety regulations list the types of work that count. Common examples for tradies include:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>Work where a person could fall more than two metres.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Work on or near energised electrical installations or services.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Work on or near pressurised gas mains or piping.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Trenches or shafts deeper than 1.5 metres.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Work involving demolition of load-bearing elements, or disturbing asbestos.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>Work in or near confined spaces, or near traffic or moving plant.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp>Check Safe Work Australia and your state regulator for the full list that applies to you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Does Victoria have different rules?\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Yes. Victoria has its own occupational health and safety framework, the OHS Act 2004 and OHS Regulations 2017, while most other jurisdictions use the model WHS laws. A SWMS is still required before high risk construction work, with broadly similar triggers, so check WorkSafe Victoria.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the Victorian regulations, employers and self-employed persons prepare the SWMS and keep a copy for the duration of the work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>What must a SWMS include?\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>A SWMS must identify the high risk construction work, state the hazards and risks, describe the control measures and how they'll be put in place, monitored and reviewed. It must be written so the workers doing the job can understand it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Who prepares the SWMS?\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>The business doing the high risk work prepares it, in consultation with the workers involved. If you're a subcontractor, you prepare the SWMS for your work and give it to the principal contractor before you start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>Does the SWMS need to be on site?\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>The SWMS must be kept and available for inspection while the work is being done. Workers should be able to access it and the work must be carried out in line with it. If the work changes, the SWMS must be reviewed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Ch2>How do you manage SWMS without paperwork?\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Attach the right SWMS to job types in your job management app. Workers review and sign it on their phone before starting, and a signed copy stays on the job record. That gives you an audit trail and stops forms going missing in the ute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>General information only. Check your state's WHS regulator for requirements that apply to your work.\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>Sources\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsafeworkaustralia.gov.au\u002Fduties-tool\u002Fconstruction\u002Fhazards-information\u002Fhigh-risk-construction-work-requiring-swms\">Safe Work Australia: High risk construction work requiring a SWMS\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.worksafe.vic.gov.au\u002Fsafe-work-method-statements-swms\">WorkSafe Victoria: Safe work method statements\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.safeworkaustralia.gov.au\u002Fduties-tool\u002Fconstruction\u002Fhazards-information\u002Fworking-heights\">Safe Work Australia: Working at heights\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n",{"title":128,"description":129,"image":15,"canonical":7,"noindex":130},"What Is a SWMS? When Tradies Need One","A plain-English guide to Safe Work Method Statements for Australian tradies: when they're required, what to include and how to manage them.",false,{"name":132,"slug":133,"role":7,"bio":7,"photo":15,"linkedin":7},"Manoj Adhikari","manoj-adhikari",[135],{"q":136,"a":137},"Is a SWMS the same as a JSA?","No. A SWMS is a legal requirement for high risk construction work. A Job Safety Analysis is a general risk assessment tool. Some businesses use a JSA for other tasks, but it doesn't replace a SWMS where one is required.",[]]