Roofer SWMS in Queensland
In Queensland, roofer contractors must prepare a Safe Work Method Statement before starting high risk construction work, under WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) reg 299, which requires a SWMS before any high risk construction work. The regulator is Workplace Health and Safety Queensland. For roofer work the SWMS must be site-specific and cover the high risk categories the trade routinely hits: risk of a person falling more than 2 metres, work on or near energised electrical installations or services. One SWMS can cover several of those activities. A generic template can be reused for recurring work only if it is reviewed and adapted to each site's hazards first; an unreviewed copy does not meet the requirement.
The SWMS law in Queensland
Roofer work in Queensland is regulated by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) and the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld). The duty to prepare a SWMS before high risk construction work is set by WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) reg 299, and the high risk construction work itself is defined in WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) reg 291. These follow the harmonised model WHS laws, so a SWMS prepared for another harmonised state transfers with a site-specific review.
Electrical work in Queensland is regulated separately under the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld) and Electrical Safety Regulation 2013, which sit alongside the WHS Regulation, so electrical SWMS on Queensland sites should account for both regimes.
Queensland was the first state to enact an industrial manslaughter offence (2017, s 34C WHS Act 2011 (Qld)) and recorded Australia's first conviction in 2020; the maximum penalty is 20 years imprisonment for an individual or a $10 million fine for a body corporate. A site-specific SWMS is part of how a roofer business shows it identified and controlled the high risk work these duties attach to, rather than relying on a generic template.
High risk work for roofer crews
The high risk construction work categories a roofer SWMS usually has to cover:
- ✓ Risk of a person falling more than 2 metres
- ✓ Work on or near energised electrical installations or services
Typical roofer activities that each need their own SWMS:
- · Metal roof installation and replacement above 2 m
- · Tile roof repairs and re-bedding
- · Roof sheeting removal and disposal
- · Gutter and downpipe replacement at height
- · Fall protection setup: edge protection, static lines, harness work
- · EWP use for roof access
Hazards a roofer SWMS has to control
The hazards that recur on roofer jobs and that a site-specific SWMS is expected to address:
- ⚠ Falls from roof edges and through fragile surfaces
- ⚠ Falling objects onto persons below
- ⚠ Overhead powerlines
- ⚠ Heat exposure on exposed roofs
- ⚠ Manual handling of sheets and tiles
The rules a roofer SWMS is written against
Beyond the general duty in WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) reg 299, a roofer SWMS in Queensland is written against the specific model WHS duties and standards that apply to the trade's activities:
- § reg 78 and reg 79: managing the risk of falls: work on any roof above 2 m is high risk construction work
- § AS/NZS 1891: industrial fall-arrest systems and devices
- § AS 1657: fixed platforms, walkways and ladders
- § reg 157 and reg 158: working near energised overhead services and solar arrays
- § reg 44 to reg 47: PPE duties
What Queensland builders check before you start
A principal contractor in Queensland collects your SWMS before your crew goes on site and checks four things: that it is site-specific to this job (not a reused template), that every high risk category for roofer work is covered and controlled, that controls follow the hierarchy rather than jumping to PPE, and that it cites Queensland legislation. SWMS Pack writes to all four: your site details throughout, WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) reg 299 cited, and an adversarial review pass before delivery.
Common questions
▸Do roofer contractors need a SWMS in Queensland?
Yes, whenever the work involves any high risk construction work, which for roofer work it usually does (risk of a person falling more than 2 metres and work on or near energised electrical installations or services). The duty to prepare it sits with the PCBU carrying out the work, under WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) reg 299.
▸Which law covers SWMS in Queensland?
The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) and the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld), enforced by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland. These follow the harmonised model WHS laws used in most states.
▸How fast can I get a roofer SWMS for a Queensland site?
About 5 minutes of questions, then the document is generated and verified in a few minutes and downloads straight away, written to Queensland legislation and to your specific site.
Roofer SWMS in other states
New South WalesVictoriaWestern AustraliaSouth AustraliaTasmaniaAustralian Capital TerritoryNorthern Territory
Other trades in Queensland
ElectricianPlumberCarpenterScaffolderConcreterBricklayerPainterTilerDemolitionExcavation / EarthmovingSolar Installer