Mast Climbing Work Platform SWMS

For builders, facade and finishing trades who work from a mast climbing work platform that someone else has erected. It follows the shift in order, from handover and pre-start checks to loading, landings, wind, a stuck platform and shutdown, and uses Queensland falls and falling object rules. Erection and dismantling are outside this document.

The fall of more than 2 metres item is ticked for you, because working from a raised mast climbing work platform puts a worker at risk of falling (WHS Regulation s 291), so a SWMS is required before the work starts (s 299). Add other items that apply to your job, such as work near 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 Mast Climbing Work Platform SWMS?

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

• Using a platform that is not fully erected, tied or inspected
• Overloaded or unevenly loaded platform
• Falls through gaps at landings
• Crush against ties, floors and the structure
• Falls while reaching or using boxes and ladders
• Falling materials striking people below
• Contact with overhead power lines
• Electric shock from leads and tools
• Wind and storms loading the platform
• A stuck platform and emergency lowering

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, and site induction
• A mast climbing work platform is a hoist under Schedule 19, but Schedule 3 does not name using one as a licence class: the Materials hoist class (item 19) and Personnel and materials hoist class (item 20) apply to hoists defined separately in Schedule 19 (a cantilevered car for goods, or a cantilever hoist, tower hoist or winch hoist), and the mast climbing work platform is defined as its own kind of hoist. Operators are instead trained and verified as competent on the make and model; confirm with WorkSafe Queensland if unsure
• Operator training on the platform’s controls, load and person limits, limit devices, emergency stop and emergency lowering, from the supplier or manufacturer
• Erecting, climbing, altering and dismantling the platform are outside this SWMS: they need a separate SWMS and a worker holding the intermediate scaffolding licence (Schedule 3 item 2(2)(f)) or the basic rigging licence (item 5(2)(e)), or a trainee under their supervision
• Competent person who inspects, tests and gives written sign-off of the erected platform before first use and after any alteration or repair
• Licensed electrician for connection to the supply and electrical repairs (Electrical Safety Act 2002 s 55)
• Trained rescuers and a first aider who know the emergency lowering and rescue plan

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 (temporary work platforms, mast climbing work platforms)
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Hazardous Manual Tasks 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
• WHS Regulation: s 291 (high risk construction work), Schedule 3 and Schedule 19 (hoist and mast climbing work platform definitions), Schedule 5 item 1.14 (plant design registration), ss 315B-315M (falling objects)
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld)
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): s 140 (AS/NZS 3012 for construction work) and overhead electric line exclusion zones (ss 10-13 and schedule 2)
• AS 2550.16 Cranes – Safe use – Part 16: Mast climbing work platforms (cited in the Falls Code)

What You Get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (13 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.