Build an Australian Safe Work Method Statement in minutes

A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is required for high-risk construction work. Riskora structures HRCW identification, hazards, hierarchy of controls, sign-on and supervisor review; the competent person and receiving contractor decide whether it is suitable for the job. 100+ industries supported.

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  • UK · IE · US · CA · AU · NZ
  • RAMS · SWMS · JHA · JSA · COSHH · Task Analysis · Toolbox Talks
  • Site-specific — not a blank template
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You're probably here because…
  • Demolition, confined space or work at height under HRCW.
  • Asbestos, lead or hazardous-substance removal.
  • Powered mobile plant, cranes or telehandlers on site.
  • Energised electrical work or trenching >1.5m.
What to add to the box
  • A client email asking for paperwork
  • A site manager's WhatsApp or text message
  • Scope of works or job description
  • Tender or PQQ notes for the package
  • A previous RAMS to update or improve
Inside the document

What's in every Safe Work Method Statement

Job-specific hazards

Hazards drawn from the task, the site and the scope you describe — not a stock list.

Hierarchy of controls

Elimination first, PPE last. Initial and residual risk shown side by side.

Step-by-step method

Sequenced steps with a person responsible for each, written for this SWMS.

PPE & equipment

Task-specific PPE, plant and inspection requirements.

Emergency arrangements

First aid, fire, spill and rescue arrangements specific to the work.

Chemicals & substances

Substance prompts appear when materials in scope need a hazardous-substance assessment.

Permits & hold points

Hot work, working at height, confined space and inspection hold points where they apply.

Briefing & sign-off

Pre-start briefing register, version lock and an audit-ready workflow.

Structured for principal-contractor review SWMS PDF

Branded, paginated PDF you can issue without reformatting.

Example output

Built for the Australian WHS review

HRCW identification at the top of the document, hazards mapped to controls in hierarchy order, sign-on register, and a supervisor-review block that triggers a re-issue when controls change.

Not a blank template

Riskora isn't a blank template or a generic AI text generator

Riskora asks for your job and site context, then structures a client-ready, site-specific SWMS: hazards, controls, method steps, PPE, emergency arrangements and sign-off — not a paragraph of AI prose. You stay in control of every section and the output is built for an audit-ready workflow.

Inside the document

What your SWMS actually contains

Riskora builds a structured, client-facing document — not a generic AI paragraph. Every section is shaped around your job, your site and your team.

  • Hazards

    Task-specific hazards for the job, captured row by row — not a generic list pulled from an old SWMS.

  • Controls

    Control measures mapped to each hazard with residual risk scoring after controls are applied.

  • PPE

    PPE requirements tied to the activity and site, ready to brief to the team.

  • Method steps

    Step-by-step method statement structured around how the work is actually sequenced on site.

  • Emergency arrangements

    First aid, rescue plan, emergency contacts and site-specific escalation routes.

  • COSHH prompts

    Substance prompts when the work involves chemicals, dusts, fumes or sealants — flagged early, not missed at review.

  • Sign-off

    Operative sign-off captured against the document — names, dates and acknowledgement of the brief.

  • Version history

    Every change tracked so you can show what was issued, when, and which version the team signed.

  • Approval status

    Clear approval state on every document — draft, in review, approved, issued — visible across the team.

  • Audit trail

    Who created it, who reviewed it, who signed it. A complete trail you can hand to a principal contractor or auditor.

Before & after

From copied-and-pasted to site-specific

The reason SWMS get rejected is rarely the format — it's that the document is obviously generic. Riskora rebuilds it around this job, this site and this task.

Before

Generic template copied from an old job.

  • • Hazards and controls that don't match this site or task.
  • • Method steps written for a different sequence of work.
  • • No emergency arrangements specific to the location.
  • • Client flags it as generic and asks for a rewrite.
After

Site-specific document structured around this job, site and task.

  • • Hazards captured from the actual scope you pasted in.
  • • Method steps sequenced for how the work runs on site.
  • • Emergency arrangements and rescue plan tied to the location.
  • • Approved internally, briefed to the team, signed off and stored.
How it works

From job details to signed-off document

A four-step workflow used by contractors, consultants and safety teams to turn informal job details into client-ready safety paperwork.

  1. 1
    Paste job details

    Drop in a client email, a WhatsApp from the site manager, a scope of works or a tender note. Anything that describes the job.

  2. 2
    Riskora structures the document

    Riskora turns your brief into hazards, controls, method steps, PPE, emergency arrangements and COSHH prompts.

  3. 3
    Review, edit and download

    You stay in control of every section. Tweak anything, then download a clean PDF or share a link.

  4. 4
    Brief the team and record sign-off

    Brief operatives, capture their sign-off and keep a full audit trail of who signed which version.

Built for site reality

Built by people who've written this paperwork on real sites

Riskora is built by a founder with hands-on site and document experience — designed for contractors, consultants and safety teams who need to issue, brief and prove safety paperwork without losing a day to admin.

  • Built for contractors, consultants and teams
    Solo trades, principal contractors and in-house safety teams all run on the same workflow.
  • Supports multiple countries
    UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, US and Canada — wording and document types match the local standard.
  • Not just documents
    Sign-off, approvals, version history and an audit trail — the management workflow around the paperwork.
Start in seconds

Describe the job details — get a structured SWMS

Describe the job details, scope of works, email or WhatsApp message. Riskora structures the rest.

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FAQ

Questions for this exact situation

A SWMS is a document required under WHS Regulation 299 for the 18 categories of high-risk construction work (HRCW). It identifies the work, the hazards, the controls and how the controls will be monitored, reviewed and signed off.

All harmonised states (NSW, QLD, VIC, SA, WA, TAS, ACT, NT). Victoria's OHS Act 2004 terminology is supported alongside Model WHS where activities cross both regimes.

Yes. Consultation with workers (or HSRs) is a duty under WHS. Riskora produces the document; consultation is a process you complete with your crew before sign-on.

Yes — first SWMS is free, no card.

Riskora helps structure a site-specific safety document. It does not replace competent review, site supervision, client requirements or legal duties. Always check the final document before issue.