Carpentry · Australia

SWMS for skirting and trim installation

By Safety PaperworkBuilt from Safe Work Australia and state regulator guidance · How we write and check theseUpdated 9 November 2026

A SWMS is required by law if skirting and trim installation includes any high risk construction work, such as working where someone could fall more than 2 metres. Many principal contractors ask for one either way.

It must list the hazards, the controls and how they will be put in place, monitored and reviewed, and the workers must be consulted and sign before starting. The main hazards are saw cuts and kickback, wood and MDF dust, loud noise and nail gun injuries.

Make this SWMS now Word template PDF

SWMS example: skirting and trim installation

This is a complete SWMS for skirting and trim installation, with 5 job steps. Open it in the builder to add your site, crew and signatures, change anything, and download a PDF. Or download the free Word template below and fill it in by hand.

Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)

Fit skirting and trims · Carpentry · Example

Document SWMS-001 · Rev 1

High risk construction work covered

None for this task on its own. Tick any that apply on your site.

Job steps, hazards and controls

#	Job step	Hazards	Risk before	Controls	Risk after
1	Set up the saw on a stand in a clear, lit area	Slips and trips Poor lighting and night work	Medium	Plan walkways and keep them clear of materials, hoses and leads. Eliminate Run leads and hoses overhead on hooks or stands, or along walls, not across walkways. Engineering Fill or cover holes, and lay boards or mats on muddy access paths. Engineering Clean up offcuts, packaging and spills as you go, not at the end of the day. Administrative Keep work areas, stairs and access paths well lit. Administrative Wear safety boots with good grip, laced up. PPE Plan work for daylight hours where you can. Eliminate Set up enough temporary lighting for the task, walkways, stairs and access points. Engineering Aim lights so they do not dazzle plant operators or drivers. Engineering Check lighting before work starts and carry a torch or head lamp. Administrative Wear hi-vis with reflective tape for night work. PPE	Low
2	Cut lengths with the guard in place	Saw cuts and kickback Wood and MDF dust Loud noise	High	Keep blade guards fitted and working, and use the riving knife on table saws. Engineering Use push sticks and clamps, and support long pieces so they do not pinch the blade. Engineering Use a sharp, undamaged blade made for the material. Administrative Stand to one side of the blade line, out of the kickback path. Administrative Let the blade stop fully before reaching in or putting the saw down. Administrative Buy pre-cut or pre-finished timber where you can. Substitute Cut outdoors or in a well-ventilated area away from others. Isolate Use saws and sanders with dust extraction connected to an M-class (or better) vacuum. Engineering Clean up with a vacuum, not a broom or compressed air. Administrative Wear a P2 dust mask for cutting and sanding. PPE Use quieter tools and methods, such as cut-to-size materials, low-noise machines and battery tools. Substitute Keep noisy plant away from work areas, and use screens or distance between the noise and people. Isolate Keep tools maintained and use mufflers on compressors and generators. Engineering Limit time on noisy tools and rotate workers. Administrative If you have to shout to be heard 1 metre away, wear hearing protection. Administrative Keep exposure below 85 dB(A) over 8 hours. Give hearing tests to workers who often need hearing protection. Administrative	Medium
3	Nail off trims, keeping hands away from the nose of the gun	Nail gun injuries Eye injuries Compressed air	High	Use a nail gun with a sequential (single shot) trigger, not a contact or bump trigger. Substitute Disconnect the air or battery before clearing jams, adjusting or moving between work areas. Engineering Keep your free hand at least 30 cm from the nailing point. Administrative Never point the gun at anyone or carry it with your finger on the trigger. Administrative Train new users before they use a nail gun, and check for pipes, cables and metal behind the surface. Administrative Use tool guards and screens to stop flying particles. Engineering Use dust extraction and water to keep dust out of the air. Engineering Keep others out of the area when cutting, grinding or chipping. Administrative Keep an eye wash station or eye wash bottles on site. Administrative Wear safety glasses at all times, goggles for dust and chemicals, and a face shield for grinding. PPE Fit whip checks (safety cables) on hose joints and check hoses before use. Engineering Fit a pressure regulator and keep pressure to the tool's rating. Engineering Turn off and bleed the line before disconnecting. Administrative Never use compressed air to clean clothes or skin, or point it at anyone. Administrative Wear safety glasses and hearing protection. PPE	Medium
4	Work on knee pads and take breaks from kneeling	Repetitive work and awkward postures	Medium	Use tools that cut the effort: powered screwdrivers, long-handled tools and extension poles for overhead work. Substitute Set work up at waist height on benches or trestles where you can. Engineering Use light tools with good grips, and keep blades and bits sharp. Engineering Rotate tasks and take short breaks every hour on repetitive work. Administrative Warm up before heavy physical work and report aches and pains early. Administrative Wear knee pads for kneeling work and gloves for grip. PPE	Medium
5	Vacuum dust and pick up nails and offcuts	Poor housekeeping and waste	Medium	Order materials to size and send packaging back where you can. Eliminate Put skip bins and waste chutes close to the work. Engineering Clean as you go, and do a full clean up at the end of each day. Administrative Keep exits, stairs and walkways clear at all times. Administrative Stack materials neatly on level ground, away from edges. Administrative Wear gloves when handling waste. PPE	Low

PPE

Steel cap bootsSafety glassesHearing protection (earmuffs or plugs)Knee padsHi-vis shirt or vestP2 dust maskWork glovesSafety gogglesFace shield

Plant and equipment

Drop sawNail gunAir compressorHand tools

Emergency

Call 000. Add the nearest hospital, the assembly point and the first aider for your site.

Sign-off

Supervisor and every worker sign to confirm they have read and understood this SWMS.

Free SWMS template for skirting and trim installation

Word (.docx) and PDF, A4 landscape, no email needed. Fill in your site details, then print or send it.

Word template (.docx)PDF template

Make yours in 2 minutes

Same document, filled in for your job. Answer a few yes or no questions, the crew signs on the phone, and you send the PDF.

Start this SWMS

Pre-start checklist for skirting and trim installation

Tick these off before work starts. They come from the hazards, permits and equipment in this job.

SWMS read, explained and signed by everyone on the job
First aider, first aid kit and emergency number (000) confirmed
PPE checked and worn: steel cap boots, safety glasses, hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs), knee pads

The safe sequence of work

Set up the saw on a stand in a clear, lit area
Cut lengths with the guard in place
Nail off trims, keeping hands away from the nose of the gun
Work on knee pads and take breaks from kneeling
Vacuum dust and pick up nails and offcuts

Hazards to watch on skirting and trim installation

The hazards most specific to this job, and the step where each one comes up.

Step 1Poor lighting and night workDim or dark work areas hide trip hazards, edges and moving plant, and make workers hard to see.

Step 3Compressed airAn air hose whips when a fitting fails, or air blown at skin or eyes drives dirt in and causes injury.

Step 2Wood and MDF dustSawing and sanding timber, MDF and treated wood makes fine dust that causes asthma, skin problems and some cancers.

Step 3Nail gun injuriesA nail gun fires by accident, or a nail goes through the timber or ricochets and hits the user or someone nearby.

Step 3Eye injuriesFlying chips, dust, chemicals or sparks get into the eye and cause damage or blindness.

Step 2Saw cuts and kickbackCircular saws, drop saws and table saws cut fingers and hands or throw material back at the user.

Highest risk on skirting and trim installation: High before controls (B), down to Medium after controls (A), on the Australia 5 by 5 risk matrix (possible and major becomes unlikely and major).

What changes on your site

This example covers the job itself. Your site may add more. Add controls for any of these that apply (the builder asks you these as yes or no questions):

Will anyone work more than 2 metres off the ground?
Will anyone use a ladder or stepladder?
Will anyone work on a roof?
Is there a skylight, clear sheet, fibro or other fragile roofing?
Will you use a scaffold or mobile tower?

Why SWMS get rejected

Principal contractors send documents back for these reasons. This example avoids them, but check yours too.

It is generic: another site address, tasks that are not on this job, or no sign it was reviewed for this site. WorkSafe WA says a generic SWMS may not meet the regulations unless it is reviewed and amended for the workplace.
The HRCW boxes are not ticked, or the ticks do not match the tasks (for example a roof job with no falls box ticked).
Falls are controlled only by "be careful", training or a harness, with no edge protection or scaffold and no reason why higher controls are not reasonably practicable.
Workers will clip on to a harness but there is no rescue plan for someone left hanging.
The "how controls are implemented, monitored and reviewed" part is missing, or it says the same thing on every row.
No worker sign-on, no person responsible for compliance, or a date given to the principal contractor that is before they actually received it.
Licence or White Card details are missing for workers operating plant or doing licensed high risk work.

Questions

Do I need a SWMS for skirting and trim installation?

Who signs the SWMS?

The person conducting the business (PCBU) or their supervisor prepares it with the workers, and every worker doing the high risk work signs to show they were consulted and understand it. Give a copy to the principal contractor before work starts.

How long do I keep it?

Keep this SWMS, and every revised version, until the high risk construction work is finished, where workers and inspectors can see it on site. If a notifiable incident happens during the work, keep it for at least 2 years after the incident.

What PPE is needed for skirting and trim installation?

Usually Steel cap boots, Safety glasses, Hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs), Knee pads, Hi-vis shirt or vest, P2 dust mask, Work gloves, Safety goggles, Face shield. The site rules may add more, so check with the principal contractor.

More carpentry SWMS

SWMSWall Framing6 steps SWMSRoof Truss Installation6 steps SWMSDeck Construction6 steps SWMSDoor Installation5 steps SWMSKitchen Installation6 steps SWMSStair Installation5 steps SWMSTimber Floor Installation6 steps

Related jobs in other trades

ConcretingFormworkAlso involves saw cuts and kickback ConcretingConcrete Slab PourAlso involves repetitive work and awkward postures RoofingRoof Tile ReplacementAlso involves loud noise ElectricalSwitchboard UpgradeAlso involves poor lighting and night work ConcretingConcrete Cutting and Core DrillingAlso involves saw cuts and kickback TilingWet Area WaterproofingAlso involves loud noise

Toolbox talks for this job

Toolbox talkHearing Protection and Noise Toolbox talkSlips, Trips and Falls

Blank SWMS template: free SWMS templates. Also for other countries: United Kingdom (RAMS) · United States (JHA) · Canada (FLHA)