Mastering SWMS: How to Manage High-Risk Work Safely

With 3.5% of workers reporting a work-related illness or injury in the previous year, high-risk construction activity continues to be a major contributor to workplace fatalities and injuries in Australia. Many of these incidents are caused by poorly managed hazards. A safety planning document called the Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is required for all high-risk construction projects. This plan outlines safety precautions, identifies potential risks, and ensures that everyone on the job site understands how the work is done.

Too often, major site accidents may be traced back to a single problem: the SWMS was either ignored, out-of-date, or absent. Businesses that fail to properly plan or explain high-risk work often get fined by regulators. When a SWMS is clear and practical, it helps workers follow safer steps, and get home safely at the end of the day.