Roofer SWMS in Western Australia
In Western Australia, roofer contractors must prepare a Safe Work Method Statement before starting high risk construction work, under WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA) reg 299, which requires a SWMS before any high risk construction work. The regulator is WorkSafe WA. 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 Western Australia
Roofer work in Western Australia is regulated by WorkSafe WA under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) and the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WA). The duty to prepare a SWMS before high risk construction work is set by WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA) reg 299, and the high risk construction work itself is defined in WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA) reg 291. These follow the harmonised model WHS laws, so a SWMS prepared for another harmonised state transfers with a site-specific review.
WA was the last jurisdiction to adopt the harmonised model WHS laws (31 March 2022), so its construction case law is still developing; its WHS (General) Regulations 2022 sit alongside separate mining and petroleum safety regulations.
Industrial manslaughter has applied in Western Australia since the WHS Act 2020 (WA) commenced on 31 March 2022, replacing the former Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984, with penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment for an individual and 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 (General) Regulations 2022 (WA) reg 299, a roofer SWMS in Western Australia 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 Western Australia builders check before you start
A principal contractor in Western Australia 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 Western Australia legislation. SWMS Pack writes to all four: your site details throughout, WHS (General) Regulations 2022 (WA) reg 299 cited, and an adversarial review pass before delivery.
Common questions
▸Do roofer contractors need a SWMS in Western Australia?
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 (General) Regulations 2022 (WA) reg 299.
▸Which law covers SWMS in Western Australia?
The Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) and the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WA), enforced by WorkSafe WA. These follow the harmonised model WHS laws used in most states.
▸How fast can I get a roofer SWMS for a Western Australia site?
About 5 minutes of questions, then the document is generated and verified in a few minutes and downloads straight away, written to Western Australia legislation and to your specific site.
Roofer SWMS in other states
New South WalesVictoriaQueenslandSouth AustraliaTasmaniaAustralian Capital TerritoryNorthern Territory
Other trades in Western Australia
ElectricianPlumberCarpenterScaffolderConcreterBricklayerPainterTilerDemolitionExcavation / EarthmovingSolar Installer