SWMS Template ACT: Safe Work Method Statements for Australian Capital Territory
If you do high-risk construction work in Australian Capital Territory — Canberra, Queanbeyan or anywhere in between — you need a Safe Work Method Statement before the work starts. This page sets out exactly what WorkSafe ACT expects, what's different about ACT, and how our editable templates handle it.
ACT at a glance
| Regulator | WorkSafe ACT |
|---|---|
| Primary Act | Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (ACT) |
| Regulation | Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (ACT) |
| SWMS duty | section 299 — SWMS required before high-risk construction work (section 291) |
| Fall height that makes work high-risk | 2 m |
| WHS Management Plan required when | $250,000 or more |
| Who holds the duty | The PCBU (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking) |
| Construction induction | Interstate white cards accepted (s 318) |
| Harmonised? | Yes — Australian Capital Territory is harmonised with the national model WHS laws. |
Verified against WorkSafe ACT and Safe Work Australia publications, September 2026. Laws change — the regulator's site is the final word.
The ACT trap most templates fall into
The ACT follows the model numbering closely, but WorkSafe ACT publishes its own SWMS guidance and quotes on-the-spot penalties for missing SWMS. Canberra builders working across the border into NSW need both jurisdictions covered.
That's why we don't sell one national template with the state name swapped. Each pack is built against that state's Act, Regulation and terminology, and reviewed when the legislation moves.
What a ACT SWMS has to contain
Whatever the state, the regulator wants the same four things, in plain language, on a document the crew will actually read:
- the high-risk construction work being done, described specifically — not "carpentry", but "installing roof trusses at 3.4 m on a two-storey dwelling"
- the hazards and the risks to health and safety that come with that work
- the control measures you will use, following the hierarchy of controls — eliminate first, PPE last
- how those controls will be put in place, monitored and reviewed, and by whom
Plus the practical parts inspectors check: the name and ABN of the business, the site address and principal contractor, the date, evidence of consultation with the workers doing the job, and signatures. It must be kept on site, readily available, until the work is finished.
Who needs one in Australian Capital Territory
Every PCBU (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking) whose workers carry out high-risk construction work. That includes the sole-trader subbie with one apprentice. The head contractor's SWMS does not cover you, and yours does not cover them. If you are the principal contractor, you must also obtain and review every subcontractor's SWMS before their high-risk work begins.
What's in the ACT pack
The same 30+ document set as every state — WHS Management Plan, generic and trade-specific SWMS (heights, demolition, excavation, electrical, plumbing), inductions, toolbox talks, incident and inspection forms, registers, and the contract and payment paperwork in the Full Bundle — written against the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (ACT).
See the full document list → · Download the free sample SWMS →
Frequently asked — ACT
Is a SWMS legally required in Australian Capital Territory?
Yes. Section 299 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (ACT) requires a SWMS to be prepared before high-risk construction work starts, and section 291 defines what counts as high-risk.
What is the fall height for high-risk work in ACT?
2 m. Any construction work with a risk of a person falling more than that distance is high-risk construction work and needs a SWMS.
When do I need a WHS Management Plan in ACT?
When the project reaches $250,000 or more. The principal contractor prepares it; every subcontractor's SWMS should be attached to it.
Will an interstate white card work in ACT?
Interstate white cards accepted (s 318).
Can I use a ACT template in another state?
Not safely. Fall heights, project thresholds, regulation numbers and even the name of the Act change at the border. Pick the right state: QLD · NSW · VIC · WA · SA · TAS · NT.
General information only — not legal advice. Check the WorkSafe ACT construction guidance for your obligations.