SWMS guide · updated November 2026

SWMS for painters

Painting becomes high risk construction work as soon as there's a fall risk over 2 metres — exterior work, stairwells, voids and roofs.

Common painting tasks that need a SWMS

• Exterior painting from scaffolds or EWPs
• Stairwells and voids
• Roof painting
• Preparation that disturbs old paint

High risk construction work categories that usually apply

• Risk of a person falling more than 2 metres

Key hazards and example controls

Hazard	Risk	Example controls
Working at height on roofs, edges, scaffolds or ladders	Fall from height causing serious injury or death	Eliminate where possible by doing work at ground level (pre-fabricate). Install edge protection / guardrails before work starts. Use scaffold or EWP in preference to ladders. Where a fall-prevention device isn't practicable, use a fall-arrest system with anchor points certified and a rescue plan in place. Ladders only for short-duration light work, on firm level ground, secured, 3 points of contact.
Fragile roofing, skylights and penetrations	Falling through brittle surfaces	Identify and mark fragile surfaces. Install safety mesh or covers rated for the load. Exclusion zones under work area. Walkways/crawl boards on fragile roofs.
Falling objects from height	Workers or public struck by tools/materials	Toe boards and debris netting. Tool lanyards. Exclusion zone with barricades and signage below. Hard hats in the zone.

Example controls are a starting point only — tailor them to your site, your plant and the way you'll actually do the job.

Other site hazards worth including

• Hazardous chemicals (adhesives, solvents, sealants) — SDS available and followed. Ventilation. Gloves and eye protection. Correct storage and labelling.
• Slips, trips and falls on the same level — Housekeeping: keep walkways clear, manage leads and hoses, clean up spills. Adequate lighting.

What your SWMS has to cover

• Which high risk construction work the job involves.
• The hazards and the risks to health and safety from them.
• The control measures, and how they'll be implemented, monitored and reviewed — e.g. who installs and who checks the edge protection.
• It should be specific to the site and available to the workers and supervisors doing the job.
• If work isn't being done in line with the SWMS, it must stop (immediately or as soon as it's safe).
• Review and revise it whenever the control measures change.

Based on Safe Work Australia, SafeWork NSW and WorkSafe Queensland guidance. Victoria applies its own OHS Regulations — check WorkSafe Victoria.

Common questions

Do painters need a SWMS?

Whenever the job involves high risk construction work — for painting that commonly means working at heights. Many principal contractors also require one before you start on site.

How long does it take to make one?

With SWMS Ready, around 10 minutes: tick the high risk work, tailor the pre-filled hazards and controls, add site and emergency details, then print with a sign-on sheet.

Can I reuse my SWMS on the next job?

Review it for every site. The hazards, controls, people and emergency arrangements need to match the actual job.