Roofing SWMS

For roofing contractors and builders re-roofing and repairing pitched roofs on existing houses and buildings. It follows the job in order, from checking the roof frame, fragile roofing and asbestos risk through edge protection, stripping the old covering, frame repairs, cutting tiles and mixing mortar, fitting the new covering and flashings, repairing leaks and packing up. Installing new metal roof sheeting and roof safety mesh have their own SWMS.

Roof work is high risk construction work when a person could fall more than 2 metres (WHS Regulation s 291), so that item is ticked and a SWMS is required (s 299); testing, maintenance or repair work of a minor nature is not construction work (s 289(3)) but fall risks must still be managed, and you can also tick energised electrical installations if overhead lines are near the roof and powered mobile plant if a crane or conveyor lifts materials. Tick the contaminated atmosphere item (s 291(l)) too when cutting tiles or mixing mortar creates silica dust, because the approved Queensland silica code treats construction work with a risk of silica exposure as work in an area that may have a contaminated atmosphere.

Learn More: What Is A Safe Work Method Statement?
Have you ever been asked to provide a SWMS on a project in Queensland? Read our guide to what a Safe Work Method Statement is and when you need one.

What Is Covered In Our Roofing SWMS?

The job steps run in the order the work is done, from pre-start checks to finishing up. The hazards and controls include:

• Falls from the roof edge and eaves
• Falls through fragile roofing and weak battens
• Disturbing asbestos in old roofing and eaves
• Contact with overhead power lines
• Roof frames overloaded by stacked materials
• Being struck by cranes, conveyors and falling loads
• Old tiles and tools falling onto people below
• Silica dust from cutting tiles and mixing mortar
• Noise from saws and nail guns
• Heat illness and slippery wet roofs
• Stings and droppings in the roof space
• Electric shock when water-testing leaks
• Cuts and strains from tiles, sheets and flashings

High Risk Construction Work

These high risk construction work items (WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) s 291) are already ticked because they are part of this work. Tick any others that apply to your job:

• Involves a risk of a person falling more than 2m

Licences, Training and Competency

• General construction induction training card (white card) and site induction, including roof access and rescue rules
• Roofers trained and experienced in the roof covering and fixing method being used
• Training in the fall protection used (edge protection, covers, travel restraint or fall arrest) and the rescue plan, for users and rescuers
• Competent person to install travel restraint and to inspect restraint and fall arrest systems at least every 6 months; fall arrest anchors designed by an engineer or approved by a competent person (ss 306G and 306I)
• Competent person to check the roof frame before it is loaded and to identify or assume asbestos in old roofing, eaves and linings; workers able to recognise suspect material and stop work
• High risk work licence for the scaffolding class that matches any scaffold erected, altered or dismantled for access or edge protection where a person or object could fall more than 4 m (under a separate scaffolding SWMS)
• High risk work licence for the class of any crane, forklift truck, vehicle loading crane (10 metre tonnes or more), materials hoist or boom-type elevating work platform (boom length 11 m or more) used on the job; dogging or a higher rigging class for anyone slinging a load or directing a plant operator when the load is out of the operator’s view
• Operators trained on any tile elevator, conveyor or hoist, in line with the manufacturer’s instructions
• Crystalline silica training (VET accredited course or training approved by the regulator) for workers who may do, or be exposed to, high risk silica processing such as tile cutting (s 529CD)
• Trained first aider on site

Legislation and Codes of Practice Referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice 2021
• Scaffolding Code of Practice 2021 (where scaffold is used for access or edge protection)
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Mobile Crane Code of Practice 2024 (where a crane lifts materials)
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Managing respirable crystalline silica dust exposure in construction and manufacturing of construction elements Code of Practice 2022 (tile cutting and mortar)
• How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021 (existing roofs)
• How to Safely Remove Asbestos Code of Practice 2021 (if asbestos is found)
• First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2021
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld)
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): overhead power line exclusion zones and construction site electrical equipment (s 140)
• Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2020 – Working near overhead and underground electric lines (distances come from the 2026 Regulation)
• AS/NZS 4994.2 Temporary edge protection – Roof edge protection – Installation and dismantling (cited in the Falls Code)
• WorkSafe Queensland guidance: Managing the risk of falls while working on roofs in housing construction (guidance, not a code)
• Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: Elevating work platforms (guidance)
• Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of biological hazards at work (guidance)

What You Get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (20 pages), laid out on A4 landscape pages
• Business, client, job and document details typed once and filled in on every page, plus a space for your logo
• The high risk construction work checklist, worded as WHS Regulation s 291, and the construction project question (s 292)
• A worker and health and safety representative consultation record
• Qualifications, plant, PPE, hazardous chemicals, safety equipment, permits, references and emergency arrangements filled in for this work
• A 5 x 5 risk matrix, and job steps with initial and residual risk scores and the people responsible
• Implementing, monitoring and review requirements, an additional controls log, revision history and a worker sign-on sheet

Review and adjust it for your site, your plant and the way your crew does the job, and talk it through with your workers before work starts. If you have any trouble downloading this SWMS, you can contact us at any time. Please make sure you read our Disclaimer before downloading this SWMS.