Safe Work Method Statement Example
A plain-English walkthrough of a completed SWMS, with painting-specific sample rows.
A safe work method statement example is a filled-in SWMS: the job described, the high-risk work categories ticked, hazards listed, and controls written so a crew can follow them. Blank headings are not enough. The table below shows what each section should look like, with painting-site sample rows.
General information for Australian painting businesses, not legal, financial, tax or safety advice. Rules change and vary by state or territory. Confirm anything you rely on with the relevant regulator (Safe Work Australia and your state or territory WHS regulator) before acting.
What a finished SWMS looks like
A completed SWMS is specific to the job. It names the work, flags which high-risk construction work categories apply, lists hazards, and sets out the controls you will use before work starts. Generic copy-paste text that does not match the site fails the purpose of the document.
Source: Safe Work Australia — high risk construction workAnnotated example walkthrough
| Section | What to write | Painting example |
|---|---|---|
| Job / work activity | What you are doing, where, and for whom | Exterior eaves repaint, two-storey house, 12 Smith St |
| High-risk construction work | Which HRCW categories apply (tick only what is real) | Risk of a person falling more than 2 metres (ladders / scaffold on upper level) |
| Hazards | What can hurt people on this job | Fall from height; falling tools; power lines near eaves; dust from sanding |
| Control measures | How you eliminate or reduce each hazard (hierarchy of controls) | Scaffold or EWP preferred over ladders; exclusion zone below; spotter; PPE for dust |
| Who / when | Who prepares, who reviews, when work can start | PCBU / supervisor prepares before work starts; crew briefed on site |
Painting-specific sample rows
Painters most often hit the fall-from-height category (more than 2 metres), and sometimes work near energised electrical services, confined spaces, or asbestos disturbance. Lead paint dust is a health hazard to control even when it is not, by itself, high-risk construction work. See the painter HRCW table →
Common mistakes that fail a SWMS
- Using a blank or generic template with no job-specific hazards or controls.
- Listing PPE as the only control when elimination or engineering controls are available.
- Writing the SWMS after work has already started.
- Never briefing the crew on what the document actually says.
Next step: painter-specific guide
For heights, lead and admin time costed into the job, use the painting SWMS guide → For the general Australian requirements, see the SWMS hub →
Frequently asked questions
What should a SWMS example include?
The work activity, which high-risk construction work categories apply, the hazards, the control measures in order of the hierarchy of controls, and who prepares and reviews it before work starts. An example shows filled rows, not blank headings.
Is a blank template enough?
No. A blank form is not a SWMS. You must complete it for the specific job: the real hazards and the controls you will actually use on that site.
What is the difference between a SWMS and a JSA example?
A SWMS is the document required for high-risk construction work under WHS regulations. A JSA (job safety analysis) is a related risk-assessment style document; it does not replace a SWMS when HRCW applies.
Do I need a SWMS for every job?
No. You need one when the work is high-risk construction work. Straight ground-level interior painting usually is not; painting with a fall risk over 2 metres usually is.