Roof Tie-Down and Cyclone Strap Installation SWMS

Suits carpenters, builders and cyclone upgrade crews who fit straps, ties, bolts and tie-down rod to timber roof frames on new and existing buildings. It follows the job in order, from reading the engineer’s tie-down details and checking the frame to fall protection, nail guns, drilling, roof space entry, checking each connection and handover. Edit the controls to match your tie-down schedule and site.

Fixing tie-downs to an open roof frame involves a risk of a fall of more than 2 metres, which is high risk construction work (WHS Regulation s 291), so that item is ticked and a SWMS is required before the work starts (s 299). Also tick the energised electrical installations item if the work is near power lines or live cables, and the asbestos item if the work may disturb asbestos in an older building.

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 Roof Tie-Down and Cyclone Strap Installation 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 top plates, trusses, scaffold and ladders
• Falling through gaps between trusses and ceilings
• Frame collapse when bracing is removed or missing
• Nail gun discharge, ricochet and double firing
• Drilling into live cables in walls and roof spaces
• Contact with overhead power lines
• Roof space heat, dust and asbestos in older buildings
• Cuts from strap edges and rod threads
• Manual handling of rod and hardware
• Tools and hardware falling onto people below
• Wind, lightning and heat on an open frame
• Missed or under-nailed tie-downs

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, and competency in fixing straps, bolts and tie-down rods to the engineer’s or truss designer’s details; new workers work under the supervision of an experienced installer
• Nail gun training for every operator, covering the gun’s operation, its manual and PPE
• A nominated competent person to choose and check the fall protection, approve anchor points and check each tie-down against the schedule
• Training in the fall protection system used and in the rescue procedure, for workers who use a harness system or may take part in a rescue
• High risk work licence for a boom-type elevating work platform where the boom length is 11 m or more (Schedule 3 item 21); trained and familiarised operators for scissor lifts and smaller elevating work platforms
• Scaffolding licence of the right class for anyone erecting or altering a scaffold from which a person or object could fall more than 4 m (this SWMS covers using scaffold, not building it)
• Licensed electrical worker (Electrical Safety Act 2002 s 55) for any isolation or electrical work on cables met in the walls or roof space
• Workers the PCBU reasonably believes may be involved in asbestos-related work on older buildings are trained under WHS Regulation s 445

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 gives access or edge protection)
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace 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
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2021
• First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021 (older buildings)
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld)
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): overhead line exclusion zones in schedule 2 and roof space work in sections 31 to 36
• Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2020 – Working near overhead and underground electric lines (distances come from the 2026 Regulation)
• Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of falls in housing construction (guidance)
• 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.