Ceiling Grid Installation SWMS

For ceiling and interior fit-out contractors who install suspended ceiling grid and tiles from mobile scaffolds, platforms, ladders or elevating work platforms. It runs from set-up and ceiling void checks through drilling fixings, hanging grid and fitting tiles to pack-up.

A SWMS is legally required under the WHS Regulation (s 299) only when the work is high risk construction work, such as work with a fall risk of more than 2 metres or drilling that creates silica dust (tick the contaminated atmosphere item, s 291(l)); otherwise this document works as a written safe work procedure or task risk assessment.

New to SWMS? Read What is a safe work method statement?

What is covered in our ceiling grid installation SWMS?

After the standard pre-start checks, the job steps run from “Set-up: work area, access and materials” to “Pack up and completion”. The hazards and controls include:

• Falls from mobile scaffold, platforms, ladders and elevating work platforms
• Disturbing asbestos in old ceilings and soffits
• Contact with energised cables in the ceiling void
• Silica dust from drilling concrete and masonry
• Noise from drilling and fixing
• Tools, clips and grid falling onto people below
• Wire ends, hanger rods and sharp grid edges
• Laser level eye injuries
• Dust from cutting ceiling tiles
• Overhead lifting strains and awkward postures
• Damaging pipes, ducts and sprinkler lines when drilling

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
• Training in the safe use of the mobile scaffold, trestle platform, ladder or elevating work platform used
• High risk work licence for the scaffolding class that matches the scaffold (basic, intermediate or advanced) for anyone erecting, altering or dismantling a scaffold from which a person or object could fall more than 4 m
• High risk work licence for the boom-type elevating work platform class where the boom length is 11 m or more
• Licensed electrician for any isolation or electrical work in the ceiling void
• Training in the identification and safe handling of asbestos (asbestos awareness) for workers who may disturb ceiling materials
• Respirator fit test and training for workers who wear P2 respirators when drilling masonry or cutting tiles

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
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice 2021
• Managing respirable crystalline silica dust exposure in construction and manufacturing of construction elements Code of Practice 2022
• 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
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld)
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): isolation and testing of electrical equipment in the ceiling void
• Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: Elevating work platforms (guidance)

What you get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (15 pages), laid out on A4 landscape pages. Type your business, client and job details once and they fill in on every page, with a space for your logo
• 9 job steps for this work, each with its hazards, controls, initial and residual risk scores and the person responsible
• PPE listed for this job: safety boots; safety glasses with side shields; cut-resistant gloves for handling grid and cutting tiles; long-sleeved high-visibility clothing
• Emergency arrangements for: fall from height and suspected asbestos or damaged cable found in the ceiling void
• Plus the parts every Work Safety QLD SWMS shares, from the s 291 checklist to the worker sign-on sheet (see the layout in our free SWMS template)

Adjust it for your site, plant and crew, and talk it through with your workers before work starts.

Checked against the Queensland laws and codes of practice listed above. Last reviewed October 2026.