Free Safe Work Procedure Template (SWP)

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Safe Work Procedure Template

Purpose of a Safe Work Procedure Template Document

Safe Work Procedure templates are used to identify hazards, assess risks and outline controls for work activities within the workplace. The primary goal is to protect workers from injury or illness by providing a safe system of work. This form is broadly aligned with AS45001:2018.

How to Use

Complete the relevant sections of the form, including the site / location and other details as required. Add an overview of the work being conducted / task steps and what hazards and risks exist for these steps. Assess the risks using a risk matrix. Finally, list the controls and have workers read and sign-off that they understand and agree to comply with the Safe Work Procedure.

NOTE: This document is a template only and it must be customised for your business. Other aspects that may need to be considered include, but are not limited to, ensuring that:

Relevant legal requirements have been met,
Workplace specific risks are identified and managed, and
Workers are consulted with during the customisation / review process.

When to Use

Safe Work Procedure should generally be completed prior to work commencing.

Who Should Use

This form can be completed by your workers, Safety Advisor, Project Manager or other competent person in your organisation. Workers must be consulted with during the development of a Safe Work Procedure.

Legal Considerations

There is no specific legal requirement to have documented Safe Work Procedures. However, they are best practice, especially for larger companies. They can help meet general legal duties including:

s(19)(3)c WHS Act – Duty to Provide Safe Systems of Work
s(39) WHS Regulations – Duty to Provide Information, Instruction and Training

FAQ

What is a Safe Work Procedure?

A Safe Work Procedure (SWP) is a set of step-by-step instructions that outline how a specific task or work activity should be carried out safely within a workplace.

What is the difference between a SWMS and a Safe Work Procedure?

In short, not much. Both documents outline the task steps, hazards and controls. Both documents are used to plan work safely. The main difference is that the contents of a SWMS is regulated under the WHS Regulations and legally a SWMS must be completed for high-risk construction work.

Article Sources and Further Reading

Legal considerations

The following legal requirements may be relevant to this type of work.

Work Health and Safety Act (Harmonised) — Provides the primary duties for protecting workers and other people from work health and safety risks.
Work Health and Safety Regulations (Harmonised) — Sets out requirements supporting the management of workplace hazards and risks.

The following codes may be relevant to this type of work.

Managing WHS Risks Code of Practice — Provides practical guidance on identifying hazards, assessing risks and applying effective controls.
Work Health and Safety Consultation, Cooperation and Coordination Code of Practice — Provides practical guidance on consulting workers and coordinating with other duty holders.
Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice — Provides practical guidance on safe work environments, workplace facilities and related controls.