Structural Steel Erection SWMS

For steel erectors and builders who erect columns, beams, rafters, purlins and bracing for steel frame buildings. It follows the work in order, from the erection plan and site setup through lifting and landing members, connecting at height, bolting up, daily stability checks and handover. Crane operation and general rigging and dogging need their own SWMS.

Structural steel erection is high risk construction work because of the risk of a fall of more than 2 metres (item 0 in the tool) and the movement of powered mobile plant such as cranes, EWPs and delivery trucks (item 14), so both are ticked for you, which is why a SWMS is required under WHS Regulation s 299. Tick item 10 as well if the work is on or near energised overhead lines or services (s 291(k)), and item 13 if the site is beside a road open to traffic. Item 4 (temporary support to prevent collapse) applies to structural alterations or repairs, not to erecting a new frame.

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 Structural Steel Erection 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 while connecting and bolting at height
• Collapse of partly erected steel
• Columns toppling before they are secured
• Dropped tools, bolts and members
• Loads slipping from slings or swinging into riggers
• Crane and EWP overturning
• Contact with overhead power lines
• Struck by delivery trucks and mobile plant
• Falls from rafters while fitting purlins and girts
• Hearing loss and strain from impact tools
• Heat, wind and wet steel
• People walking under steelwork being erected

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
• Is carried out in an area at a workplace in which there is any movement of powered mobile plant

Licences, Training and Competency

• High risk work licence in the basic rigging class (rigging work for structural steel erection is in the basic rigging class, and a higher rigging class covers it too) for riggers; the dogging class for doggers who sling and direct loads (WHS Regulation Schedule 3 items 4 to 7)
• High risk work licence for the class of crane in use, held by the crane operator (covered by the separate crane SWMS)
• High risk work licence for a boom-type elevating work platform with a boom length of 11 metres or more; training and verified competency for any other EWP or scissor lift
• High risk work licence for the scaffolding class where a scaffold from which a person could fall more than 4 metres is built; trainees work under a licence holder’s supervision
• A competent person, named in the job plan, to verify the stability of the partly erected structure
• Engineer’s written advice or certification for lifting brackets, fabricated work platforms, rigger’s posts and static lines, and any change to bolts or holes
• Competent person to inspect and approve fall arrest anchorage points before first use (WHS Regulation s 306I) and workers trained in the fall arrest rescue procedure
• Trained safety observer where cranes or EWPs work near overhead power lines
• General construction induction training card (white card) and site induction

Legislation and Codes of Practice Referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld): ss 291, 299 to 303 (high risk construction work and safe work method statements)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld): ss 306C to 306J (falls in construction work), ss 306K to 306M (ladders) and s 80 (rescue)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld): ss 315B to 315M (falling objects) and s 220 (persons lifted by plant not designed for it)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld): s 56 (noise exposure standard) and Schedule 3 (high risk work licence classes)
• Steel Construction Advisory Standard 2004 (approved code, written before the WHS Regulation: read with ss 306C to 306J and 315B to 315M)
• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Mobile Crane Code of Practice 2024
• Tower Crane Code of Practice 2017 (where a tower crane is used)
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals 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): s 10 to s 13 and Schedule 2 (overhead power line exclusion zones)
• Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2020 – Working near overhead and underground electric lines (distances come from the 2026 Regulation)

What You Get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (18 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.