Concreting · Australia

SWMS for formwork

By SiteSortedBuilt from Safe Work Australia and state regulator guidance · How we write and check theseUpdated 9 November 2026

Yes. Formwork usually includes high risk construction work (work in an area with movement of powered mobile plant), so a SWMS is required by law before work starts.

It must list the hazards, the controls and how they will be put in place, monitored and reviewed, and the workers must be consulted and sign before starting. The main hazards are falling from height, being hit by mobile plant, falling through a floor opening or void and falling tools and materials.

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SWMS example: formwork

This is a complete SWMS for formwork, with 9 job steps. Open it in the builder to add your site, crew and signatures, change anything, and download a PDF. Or download the free Word template below and fill it in by hand.

Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)

Formwork installation and stripping · Concreting · Example

Document SWMS-001 · Rev 1

High risk construction work covered

Work in an area with movement of powered mobile plant

Job steps, hazards and controls

#	Job step	Hazards	Risk before	Controls	Risk after
1	Check the formwork design and that props sit on sole plates on firm ground	Formwork collapse	High	Keep people out from under the formwork during the pour. Isolate Use formwork designed by a competent person or engineer for the load. Engineering Formwork collapse: see step 7 for the full controls Administrative	Medium
2	Plan deliveries and crane lifts of form materials, with an exclusion zone under the load	Crane and lifting failure Falling tools and materials Being hit by mobile plant	Extreme	Barricade the lift zone and keep everyone out from under the load. Isolate Use a crane rated for the load at the radius, set up on firm ground with outrigger pads. Engineering Check slings, chains, shackles and hooks before use. Remove anything damaged or not tagged. Engineering Plan the lift: weight, radius, ground, path and landing area. Use a written lift plan for complex lifts. Administrative Crane operators and doggers or riggers hold the right High Risk Work Licence. Administrative Barricade and sign the drop zone under overhead work so nobody walks beneath. Isolate Fit toe boards, kick plates and mesh screens on scaffolds and edges. Engineering Use catch fans, debris netting or covered walkways where people pass below. Engineering Tether hand tools when working at height. Engineering Keep platforms tidy. Do not stack materials near edges or above toe board height. Administrative Separate people and plant with barriers, exclusion zones and marked walkways. Isolate Use plant with working reversing alarms, cameras and lights. Engineering Have a traffic management plan showing plant routes, loading areas and pedestrian paths. Administrative Use a spotter when reversing or working near people. Administrative Make eye contact with the operator before going near. Stay out of the swing radius. Administrative	Medium
3	Install edge protection before anyone works near an edge	Falling from height Falling through a floor opening or void	Extreme	Do the work from the ground where you can, for example pre-assemble on the ground or use extension poles. Eliminate Install guardrails or edge protection on all open edges before work starts. Isolate Use a scaffold, mobile work platform or EWP instead of working off a ladder. Engineering Where edge protection is not practical, use a fall restraint or fall arrest system on a rated anchor point. Engineering Everyone working at height holds a White Card and has been briefed on this SWMS before going up. Administrative Have a written emergency and rescue plan, tested before work starts, so a worker hanging in a harness can be brought down within minutes (WHS Regulations r.80). Administrative Wear a full body harness with a shock-absorbing lanyard, clipped on at all times when using fall arrest. PPE Cover every hole and penetration with a fixed, secured cover marked "HOLE" or "DANGER". Isolate Put guardrails with toe boards around stairwells, lift shafts, voids and open edges. Isolate Install stairs early and fit temporary handrails as soon as they go in. Engineering Never remove a cover or guardrail without approval. Put it back straight away. Administrative Inspect covers and barriers daily and after other trades have been through. Administrative Keep lighting good enough to see openings, especially on lower floors and in the evening. Administrative Use a harness clipped to a rated anchor when working right next to an open void. PPE	Medium
4	Cut and fix form ply and timber with saw guards working	Saw cuts and kickback Nail gun injuries Wood and MDF dust Loud noise	High	Keep blade guards fitted and working, and use the riving knife on table saws. Engineering Use push sticks and clamps, and support long pieces so they do not pinch the blade. Engineering Use a sharp, undamaged blade made for the material. Administrative Stand to one side of the blade line, out of the kickback path. Administrative Use a nail gun with a sequential (single shot) trigger, not a contact or bump trigger. Substitute Disconnect the air or battery before clearing jams, adjusting or moving between work areas. Engineering Keep your free hand at least 30 cm from the nailing point. Administrative Never point the gun at anyone or carry it with your finger on the trigger. Administrative Buy pre-cut or pre-finished timber where you can. Substitute Cut outdoors or in a well-ventilated area away from others. Isolate Use saws and sanders with dust extraction connected to an M-class (or better) vacuum. Engineering Clean up with a vacuum, not a broom or compressed air. Administrative Use quieter tools and methods, such as cut-to-size materials, low-noise machines and battery tools. Substitute Keep noisy plant away from work areas, and use screens or distance between the noise and people. Isolate Keep tools maintained and use mufflers on compressors and generators. Engineering Limit time on noisy tools and rotate workers. Administrative Keep exposure below 85 dB(A) over 8 hours. Give hearing tests to workers who often need hearing protection. Administrative	Medium
5	Erect props, bearers and joists in the designed order, bracing as you go. Work from a platform or from below, never walking on unfixed joists	Formwork collapse Lifting and carrying heavy loads Falling from height	Extreme	A competent person inspects the formwork and props before the pour and signs it off. Administrative Follow the design for prop spacing, bracing and pour rate. Administrative Formwork collapse: see step 7 for the full controls Administrative Plan to avoid carrying: have materials delivered, and old items picked up, as close as possible to where they are used. Eliminate Use lighter or smaller loads: order smaller bags and shorter lengths, and drain or break down old items before moving them. Substitute Use trolleys, pallet jacks, hoists, vacuum lifters or plant instead of carrying by hand. Engineering Use a two-person lift for anything heavy, long or awkward. Plan the route first and clear it. Administrative Keep the load close, back straight and no twisting. Turn with your feet. Administrative Falling from height: see step 3 for the full controls Administrative	Medium
6	Lay the deck, cover penetrations and cap reo bars that stick up	Falling through a floor opening or void Impalement on reo bars Falling from height Strong wind and storms	Extreme	Falling through a floor opening or void: see step 3 for the full controls Administrative Cover or cap all exposed bar ends with approved caps or covers. Engineering Bend bars over where the design allows. Engineering Use edge protection near starter bars so nobody can fall onto them. Engineering Keep walkways clear of exposed bars and mark the hazard. Administrative Falling from height: see step 3 for the full controls Administrative Check the forecast each morning and plan work at height and lifting around the weather. Eliminate Tie down or weigh down loose sheets, panels, boards and rubbish at the end of each shift. Engineering Set wind limits for roof work, platforms and cranes, using the manufacturer's limits, and stop when they are reached. Administrative Stop work and get down in lightning. Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back up. Administrative	Medium
7	Inspect forms and props and get sign off before the pour, then watch them during it	Formwork collapse Wet concrete and cement burns	High	Keep people out from under the formwork during the pour. Isolate Use formwork designed by a competent person or engineer for the load. Engineering A competent person inspects the formwork and props before the pour and signs it off. Administrative Follow the design for prop spacing, bracing and pour rate. Administrative Watch for movement or bulging during the pour and stop if it happens. Administrative Do not strip formwork until the concrete reaches the strength the engineer requires. Administrative Wear a hard hat, safety boots and gloves. PPE Use long-handled tools and pumps to cut down contact. Engineering Wash concrete off skin straight away with clean water. Administrative Have clean water and eye wash at the pour. Administrative Wear waterproof gloves, long sleeves and gumboots with trousers worn over the top. PPE Wear safety glasses or goggles to stop splashes. PPE	Medium
8	Strip forms only when the engineer says so, from a safe position, back propping as designed	Falling tools and materials Structural collapse during alterations Lifting and carrying heavy loads	High	Lower materials with a hoist, chute or rope. Never throw or drop anything down. Administrative Wear a hard hat anywhere objects could fall. PPE Falling tools and materials: see step 2 for the full controls Administrative Get an engineer to check before removing any wall, beam, post or bracing that may be load-bearing. Eliminate Keep everyone clear of the area under and next to the work. Isolate Install temporary props, needles or shoring as designed before removing any support. Engineering Follow the engineer's sequence. Do not change it without approval. Administrative Check props daily. Do not remove them until the permanent support is in and approved. Administrative Install temporary support to the engineer's or temporary works design before any load bearing element is altered. Administrative Rotate tasks and take breaks on long lifting jobs. Administrative Wear gloves for grip and safety boots to protect your feet. PPE Lifting and carrying heavy loads: see step 5 for the full controls Administrative	Medium
9	Denail, stack timber and clean up	Cuts from sharp edges Poor housekeeping and waste	Medium	Deburr or cover sharp edges, and fit edge protectors on exposed sheet metal. Engineering Use knives with retractable or self-retracting blades. Engineering Cut away from your body and keep your other hand clear. Administrative Put used blades in a blade bin or sharps container. Administrative Use two people to handle large sheets of metal or glass. Administrative Wear cut-resistant gloves and long sleeves. PPE Order materials to size and send packaging back where you can. Eliminate Put skip bins and waste chutes close to the work. Engineering Clean as you go, and do a full clean up at the end of each day. Administrative Keep exits, stairs and walkways clear at all times. Administrative Stack materials neatly on level ground, away from edges. Administrative Wear gloves when handling waste. PPE	Low

PPE

Steel cap bootsHard hatSafety glassesWork glovesHearing protection (earmuffs or plugs)Safety harness and lanyardHi-vis shirt or vestP2 dust maskChemical-resistant gloves (nitrile)Safety gogglesKnee padsCut-resistant gloves

Plant and equipment

Circular sawNail gunPower drillCrane (Franna or mobile): HRWL for the crane class (e.g. C2, CN, C6), plus Dogging licence (DG) where slinging needs judgement or the load is out of the operator's viewHand tools

Permits and plans

Lift plan

Emergency

Call 000. Add the nearest hospital, the assembly point and the first aider for your site.

Sign-off

Supervisor and every worker sign to confirm they have read and understood this SWMS.

Page 1 of the free formwork SWMS template: business details, high risk construction work and job steps with hazards, risk ratings and controls

Free SWMS template for formwork

Word (.docx) and PDF, A4 landscape, no email needed. Fill in your site details, then print or send it.

Word template (.docx)PDF template

Make yours in 2 minutes

Same document, filled in for your job. Answer a few yes or no questions, the crew signs on the phone, and you send the PDF.

Start this SWMS

Pre-start checklist for formwork

Tick these off before work starts. They come from the hazards, permits and equipment in this job.

SWMS read, explained and signed by everyone on the job
Edge protection installed and checked before anyone works above 2 m
Openings, voids and penetrations covered and marked
Exclusion zone and spotter set up for plant and traffic
Exclusion zone below the work and public kept out
Wind and weather checked; stop work limits agreed
First aider, first aid kit and emergency number (000) confirmed
PPE checked and worn: steel cap boots, hard hat, safety glasses, work gloves

The safe sequence of work

Check the formwork design and that props sit on sole plates on firm ground
Plan deliveries and crane lifts of form materials, with an exclusion zone under the load
Install edge protection before anyone works near an edge
Cut and fix form ply and timber with saw guards working
Erect props, bearers and joists in the designed order, bracing as you go. Work from a platform or from below, never walking on unfixed joists
Lay the deck, cover penetrations and cap reo bars that stick up
Inspect forms and props and get sign off before the pour, then watch them during it
Strip forms only when the engineer says so, from a safe position, back propping as designed
Denail, stack timber and clean up

Hazards to watch on formwork

The hazards most specific to this job, and the step where each one comes up.

Step 1, 5, 7Formwork collapseFormwork or falsework fails during a concrete pour and collapses with workers on or under it.

Step 6Impalement on reo barsA worker falls or trips onto exposed reo or starter bars and is impaled or badly cut.

Step 4Nail gun injuriesA nail gun fires by accident, or a nail goes through the timber or ricochets and hits the user or someone nearby.

Step 4Wood and MDF dustSawing and sanding timber, MDF and treated wood makes fine dust that causes asthma, skin problems and some cancers.

Step 2Crane and lifting failureA load falls or swings, or the crane tips, crushing workers under or near the lift.

Step 7Wet concrete and cement burnsWet concrete, mortar and cement burn skin and eyes. Burns can be deep and are often not felt until later.

Highest risk on formwork: Extreme before controls (B), down to Medium after controls (A), on the Australia 5 by 5 risk matrix (likely and catastrophic becomes unlikely and major).

What changes on your site

This example covers the job itself. Your site may add more. Add controls for any of these that apply (the builder asks you these as yes or no questions):

Will anyone use a ladder or stepladder?
Will anyone work on a roof?
Is there a skylight, clear sheet, fibro or other fragile roofing?
Will you use a scaffold or mobile tower?
Will you use an EWP (scissor lift or boom lift)?

Licences and legal requirements in Australia

This task can involve these high risk construction work categories under the WHS Regulations:

Work in an area with movement of powered mobile plant

Equipment on this job that needs a licence, ticket or training:

Crane (Franna or mobile): HRWL for the crane class (e.g. C2, CN, C6), plus Dogging licence (DG) where slinging needs judgement or the load is out of the operator's view

A SWMS must be prepared before any high risk construction work starts. It must list the high risk work, the hazards and risks, the control measures, and how those controls will be put in place, monitored and reviewed. It must be easy for the workers to read and understand.

Rules that apply: WHS Regulation 2011, Part 4.5 High risk work and Part 5.1 Plant; WHS Regulation 2011, Part 3.2 (falling objects); WHS Regulation 2011, Part 5.1 Plant; WHS Regulation 2011, Part 4.4 Falls; WHS Regulation 2011, Part 4.1 Noise; WHS Regulation 2011, Part 4.2 Hazardous manual tasks.

Each state has its own regulator and some extra rules: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Australian Capital Territory.

Why SWMS get rejected

Principal contractors send documents back for these reasons. This example avoids them, but check yours too.

It is generic: another site address, tasks that are not on this job, or no sign it was reviewed for this site. WorkSafe WA says a generic SWMS may not meet the regulations unless it is reviewed and amended for the workplace.
The HRCW boxes are not ticked, or the ticks do not match the tasks (for example a roof job with no falls box ticked).
Falls are controlled only by "be careful", training or a harness, with no edge protection or scaffold and no reason why higher controls are not reasonably practicable.
Workers will clip on to a harness but there is no rescue plan for someone left hanging.
The "how controls are implemented, monitored and reviewed" part is missing, or it says the same thing on every row.
No worker sign-on, no person responsible for compliance, or a date given to the principal contractor that is before they actually received it.
Licence or White Card details are missing for workers operating plant or doing licensed high risk work.

Questions

Do I need a SWMS for formwork?

Yes. Formwork usually includes high risk construction work (work in an area with movement of powered mobile plant), so a SWMS is required by law before work starts.

Who signs the SWMS?

The person conducting the business (PCBU) or their supervisor prepares it with the workers, and every worker doing the high risk work signs to show they were consulted and understand it. Give a copy to the principal contractor before work starts.

How long do I keep it?

Keep this SWMS, and every revised version, until the high risk construction work is finished, where workers and inspectors can see it on site. If a notifiable incident happens during the work, keep it for at least 2 years after the incident.

What PPE is needed for formwork?

Usually Steel cap boots, Hard hat, Safety glasses, Work gloves, Hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs), Safety harness and lanyard, Hi-vis shirt or vest, P2 dust mask, Chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile), Safety goggles, Knee pads, Cut-resistant gloves. The site rules may add more, so check with the principal contractor.

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Toolbox talks for this job

Toolbox talkExtension Leads and Power Tools Toolbox talkHearing Protection and Noise Toolbox talkMobile Plant and Spotters Toolbox talkCrane and Lifting Safety

Blank SWMS template: free SWMS templates. Also for other countries: United Kingdom (RAMS) · United States (JHA) · Canada (FLHA)