Translucent Roof Sheet and Skylight Replacement SWMS

For roofers, builders and maintenance crews who replace worn translucent roof sheets and skylights on existing roofs. It follows the job from assessing the roof and planning the sheet sequence through covering fragile areas, removing and fitting sheets and sealing, to clean-up and disposal.

Replacing roof sheets and skylights is repair and maintenance of a structure and is construction work (WHS Regulation s 289(1)). 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 and a SWMS is required by law (s 299). Tick the asbestos item if neighbouring sheets may be disturbed, and the energised electrical installations or services item if you work on or near live wiring.

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 Translucent Roof Sheet and Skylight Replacement 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 brittle translucent sheets
• Falls through the opening once a sheet is off
• Falls from roof edges and ladders
• Wind catching large sheets
• Cuts from broken sheeting and glazing
• Asbestos in neighbouring old sheets
• Contact with overhead power lines
• Skylight blinds and sensors
• Sealant fumes and slippery sealant
• Sheets and tools falling on people below
• Strain from lifting long sheets
• Heat, sun and lightning

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
• Roofing or sheeting experience, or work under the direct supervision of someone who has it
• Competent person to assess the roof and fragile sheets, approve walkways and anchor points, and inspect edge protection
• Training in the fall protection used, in the rescue plan and in recognising fragile materials
• Asbestos awareness training, and training under WHS Regulation s 445 for any worker who may be involved in asbestos-related work
• Class of asbestos removal licence (or a competent person trained under s 445 for 10 m2 or less of non-friable asbestos, s 458(2)) for any asbestos-containing sheet, under a separate asbestos process
• 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 electrical worker for any electrical isolation or reconnection of skylight blinds, vents or sensors (Electrical Safety Act 2002 s 55)
• 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)
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace 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
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities 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 and construction electrical equipment
• 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 (16 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.