Electrical · Australia

SWMS for lighting installation

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

Yes. Lighting installation usually includes high risk construction work (risk of a person falling more than 2 metres; work on or near energised electrical installations or services), 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, electric shock from live wiring, EWP tip-over or crush and falling through a floor opening or void.

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SWMS example: lighting installation

This is a complete SWMS for lighting installation, with 5 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)

Lighting installation · Electrical · Example

Document SWMS-001 · Rev 1

High risk construction work covered

Risk of a person falling more than 2 metresWork on or near energised electrical installations or servicesWork in an area with movement of powered mobile plant

Job steps, hazards and controls

#	Job step	Hazards	Risk before	Controls	Risk after
1	Isolate the lighting circuit, lock out and danger tag and test to prove dead	Electric shock from live wiring	Extreme	Isolate the power before any work. Do not do live work except in the limited cases the WHS Regulations allow (r.157; in Qld, the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013). Eliminate Lock out and tag the isolation point with your own personal lock and danger tag. Isolate Test before you touch: prove dead at the point of work with a voltage tester, proving the tester on a known live source before and after (AS/NZS 4836). Engineering Only licensed electricians do electrical work. Administrative Check for back feeds from solar, batteries and generators that can keep a circuit live after the main switch is off. Administrative If live work cannot be avoided, use a permit, a safety observer and insulated tools. Administrative Wear insulated gloves, arc-rated clothing and a face shield when testing or working near live parts. PPE	Medium
2	Set up a platform ladder or EWP on level ground under the work	Falling from a ladder Falling from height EWP tip-over or crush	Extreme	Use a platform ladder, mobile scaffold or EWP for longer jobs instead of a straight ladder. Substitute Use industrial-rated ladders (AS/NZS 1892, 120 kg or more) in good condition. Remove any damaged ladder from site. Engineering Set extension ladders at a 4 to 1 angle on firm, level ground, tied or footed, and reaching 1 metre above the landing. Engineering Use ladders only for short, light work. Do not carry heavy or awkward loads up a ladder. Administrative Keep three points of contact and your belt buckle between the stiles. Do not overreach. Administrative 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 Check the ground before setting up. Use outriggers and spreader pads, and keep clear of trenches, pits and slopes. Engineering Use a platform with tilt alarm and secondary guarding (anti-entrapment) where there is an overhead crush risk. Engineering Hold a High Risk Work Licence (WP) for boom-type EWPs with a boom of 11 metres or more. Under 11 metres and scissor lifts: trained and assessed (for example EWPA Yellow Card). Administrative Do a pre-start check each day. Keep a trained person on the ground who can lower the platform in an emergency. Administrative Have a written emergency and rescue plan, tested before work starts, for a worker stuck in the platform or hanging in a harness (WHS Regulations r.80). Administrative Never exceed the safe working load, climb on the rails or use a ladder in the basket. Administrative In boom-type platforms, wear a harness clipped to the basket anchor point. PPE	Medium
3	Cut holes for downlights, wearing glasses and a dust mask and checking for insulation and cables	General dust Eye injuries Falling through a floor opening or void	Extreme	Use low-dust products, such as dust-reduced or pre-mixed compounds. Substitute Seal off the work area with plastic sheeting in occupied buildings. Isolate Use tools with dust extraction and a vacuum for clean up. Engineering Lightly mist the area with water to keep dust down, away from anything electrical. Engineering Never dry sweep or blow dust off with compressed air. Administrative Use tool guards and screens to stop flying particles. Engineering Use dust extraction and water to keep dust out of the air. Engineering Keep others out of the area when cutting, grinding or chipping. Administrative Keep an eye wash station or eye wash bottles on site. Administrative Wear safety glasses at all times, goggles for dust and chemicals, and a face shield for grinding. 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	Medium
4	Mount fittings, keeping clearance from insulation and timber	Fire from hot works Repetitive work and awkward postures	Extreme	Use cold work methods where you can, such as bolting, press fittings or cutting with a saw instead of a torch. Eliminate Move anything that can burn at least 15 metres away (AS 1674.1), or protect it with fire blankets or screens. Isolate Use fire-resistant screens to stop sparks reaching people or gaps in walls and floors. Engineering Get a hot work permit before starting. Administrative Keep a charged fire extinguisher and fire blanket at the work spot. Administrative Keep a fire watch during the work and for at least 60 minutes after you finish. Administrative Check for smouldering behind walls, in ceilings and under floors before you leave. Administrative Wear flame-resistant clothing, welding gloves and eye or face protection. PPE Use tools that cut the effort: powered screwdrivers, long-handled tools and extension poles for overhead work. Substitute Set work up at waist height on benches or trestles where you can. Engineering Use light tools with good grips, and keep blades and bits sharp. Engineering Rotate tasks and take short breaks every hour on repetitive work. Administrative Warm up before heavy physical work and report aches and pains early. Administrative Wear knee pads for kneeling work and gloves for grip. PPE	Medium
5	Test, restore power and clean up	Electric shock from live wiring Poor housekeeping and waste	Extreme	Electric shock from live wiring: see step 1 for the full controls Administrative 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	Medium

PPE

Steel cap bootsSafety glassesWork glovesP2 dust maskInsulated electrical glovesArc-rated clothing and face shieldHard hatSafety harness and lanyardHi-vis shirt or vestSafety gogglesFace shieldWelding glovesOverallsKnee pads

Plant and equipment

Electrical test equipmentPlatform ladderPower drillHand toolsScissor lift (EWP): Trained and assessed for the EWP type (e.g. EWPA Yellow Card)

Permits and plans

Electrical isolation permitWorking at heights permitHot work permit

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.

Free SWMS template for lighting installation

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 lighting installation

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
Ladder inspected, secured and extending 1 m above the landing
Elevating work platform pre-start check done and the operator is ticketed
Isolation, lockout and test for dead done before work starts
Hot work permit issued, extinguisher at hand, fire watch arranged
First aider, first aid kit and emergency number (000) confirmed
PPE checked and worn: steel cap boots, safety glasses, work gloves, P2 dust mask

The safe sequence of work

Isolate the lighting circuit, lock out and danger tag and test to prove dead
Set up a platform ladder or EWP on level ground under the work
Cut holes for downlights, wearing glasses and a dust mask and checking for insulation and cables
Mount fittings, keeping clearance from insulation and timber
Test, restore power and clean up

Hazards to watch on lighting installation

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

Step 2EWP tip-over or crushThe platform tips on soft or sloping ground, the worker is crushed against a beam or ceiling, or is thrown out of the basket.

Step 4Fire from hot worksSparks and heat from welding, grinding or flame torches set fire to timber, insulation, rubbish or fuel nearby.

Step 3Falling through a floor opening or voidA worker steps into an open hole, stairwell, lift shaft or penetration and falls to the level below.

Step 3Eye injuriesFlying chips, dust, chemicals or sparks get into the eye and cause damage or blindness.

Step 3General dustDust from plasterboard, filler, cement and clean up irritates eyes and lungs and makes it hard to see.

Step 4Repetitive work and awkward posturesDoing the same movement for hours, kneeling or working overhead causes long-term damage to joints, muscles and tendons.

Highest risk on lighting installation: 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 work more than 2 metres off the ground?
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:

Risk of a person falling more than 2 metres
Work on or near energised electrical installations or services
Work in an area with movement of powered mobile plant

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

Scissor lift (EWP): Trained and assessed for the EWP type (e.g. EWPA Yellow Card)

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 4.7 General electrical safety; WHS Regulation 2011, Part 4.4 Falls; WHS Regulation 2011, Part 4.5 High risk work; AS 1674.1 Safety in welding and allied processes (fire precautions); 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 lighting installation?

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 lighting installation?

Usually Steel cap boots, Safety glasses, Work gloves, P2 dust mask, Insulated electrical gloves, Arc-rated clothing and face shield, Hard hat, Safety harness and lanyard, Hi-vis shirt or vest, Safety goggles, Face shield, Welding gloves, Overalls, Knee pads. The site rules may add more, so check with the principal contractor.

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Toolbox talks for this job

Toolbox talkLadder Safety Toolbox talkHot Works Safety

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