High Risk Construction Work: The 18 Categories
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High risk construction work (HRCW) is defined in reg 291 of the WHS Regulations as construction work that involves any of 18 listed activities, from a risk of falling more than 2 metres to work near energised electrical services. If any category applies, a site-specific SWMS must be prepared before the work starts. Victoria has its own similar list (19 categories) in reg 322 of the OHS Regulations 2017.
The full list
- ✓ Risk of a person falling more than 2 metres
- ✓ Work on a telecommunication tower
- ✓ Demolition of a load-bearing structure
- ✓ Work likely to disturb asbestos
- ✓ Structural alterations or repairs requiring temporary support
- ✓ Work in or near a confined space
- ✓ Work in or near a shaft or trench deeper than 1.5 metres, or a tunnel
- ✓ Use of explosives
- ✓ Work on or near pressurised gas distribution mains or piping
- ✓ Work on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines
- ✓ Work on or near energised electrical installations or services
- ✓ Work in an area that may have a contaminated or flammable atmosphere
- ✓ Tilt-up or precast concrete work
- ✓ Work on, in or adjacent to a road, railway or other traffic corridor in use
- ✓ Work in an area with movement of powered mobile plant
- ✓ Work in areas with artificial extremes of temperature
- ✓ Work in or near water with a risk of drowning
- ✓ Diving work
What to do when a category applies
Prepare a SWMS before the work starts (reg 299), covering every applicable category, with the hazards of each work step and controls in hierarchy order. Consult the workers doing the work, give the SWMS to the principal contractor, keep it accessible on site (reg 302), and review it when the work or conditions change (reg 301). One activity commonly triggers several categories at once: a trench near a road with an excavator working hits three.
Common questions
▸Is 18 or 19 the right number?
The harmonised WHS Regulations list 18 categories. Victoria’s OHS Regulations 2017 (reg 322) has its own similar list commonly counted as 19, with different wording. The overlap is nearly complete in practice.
▸Does one SWMS cover multiple categories?
Yes. One SWMS covers one work activity and must address every HRCW category that activity involves. You do not write one SWMS per category; you write one per activity, covering all its categories.
▸Who decides which categories apply?
The PCBU carrying out the work, when preparing the SWMS. In SWMS Pack’s questionnaire, your trade pre-selects the usual categories and you confirm what applies on this site.
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