Fragile Roof Work SWMS

For roof inspectors, cleaners, maintenance crews and builders who must go onto roofs with fragile sheeting or skylights. It follows the job from assessing the roof and setting up access and covers, through inspection, cleaning and minor repairs, to leaving the roof marked.

Repair and maintenance of a structure is construction work (WHS Regulation s 289(1)), but s 289(3)(d) excludes testing, maintenance or repair work of a minor nature. Work with a risk of a fall of more than 2 metres is high risk construction work (s 291(a)), so the falls item is ticked. Whether an inspection, clean or small repair counts as minor depends on the work itself; if it does, a SWMS is not required by law (s 299), the fall-risk duties still apply, and this works as a written safe work procedure. Tick the other items that apply, such as asbestos and energised electrical installations or services.

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 Fragile Roof Work 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 through fragile sheeting and skylights
• Falls from roof edges and ladders
• Unplanned access and walkways
• Slippery, mossy and wet roofs
• Asbestos in old roof sheeting
• Contact with overhead power lines
• Solar panel and roof wiring
• Slips while cleaning and washing
• Sharp edges and fixings
• Falling objects
• Wind and lightning
• Heat, sun and hot metal

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) for construction work
• Site induction
• Competent person to assess the roof and fragile areas, and to approve walkways, covers and anchor points
• Training in the fall protection used, in the rescue plan and in recognising fragile materials
• Boom-type elevating work platform licence where the boom length is 11 m or more (Schedule 3)
• Scaffolding licence for scaffold where a person or object could fall more than 4 m (erected under a separate scaffolding SWMS)
• Licensed electrician for any electrical isolation near roof wiring or solar equipment
• First aid equipment, facilities and trained first aiders (or access to them) as the work needs (WHS Regulation s 42)

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)
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• 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 in schedule 2
• Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2020 – Working near overhead and underground electric lines (distances come from the 2026 Regulation)
• WorkSafe Queensland guidance: Managing the risk of falls while working on roofs in housing construction (guidance, not a code)

What You Get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (14 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.