Roofing · Australia

SWMS for metal roof sheeting installation

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

Yes. Metal roof sheeting installation usually includes high risk construction work (risk of a person falling more than 2 metres; work in an area with movement of powered mobile plant), so a SWMS is required by law before work starts.

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 falling from a roof edge, falling from height, scaffold collapse or fall from scaffold and being hit by mobile plant.

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SWMS example: metal roof sheeting installation

This is a complete SWMS for metal roof sheeting installation, with 7 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)

Install metal roof sheets · Roofing · Example

Document SWMS-001 · Rev 1

High risk construction work covered

Risk of a person falling more than 2 metresWork in an area with movement of powered mobile plant

Job steps, hazards and controls

#	Job step	Hazards	Risk before	Controls	Risk after
1	Install scaffold edge protection and safety mesh before any sheets go up	Falling from a roof edge Falling from height Scaffold collapse or fall from scaffold	Extreme	Do what you can from the ground or from a scaffold at the gutter line, for example pre-assemble parts on the ground. Eliminate Install edge protection or guardrails on all open roof edges before work starts. Isolate Use a perimeter scaffold with handrails and toe boards along the eaves where practical. Engineering Where guardrails cannot be fitted, use fall restraint on certified roof anchors so workers cannot reach the edge. Engineering Only workers briefed on this SWMS go on the roof. Stop and review the SWMS if the roof, weather or method changes. Administrative Use one safe, controlled access point and keep others off the roof. Administrative Have a written emergency and rescue plan, tested before work starts, for any worker using a harness (WHS Regulations r.80). Administrative Do the work from the ground where you can, for example pre-assemble on the ground or use extension poles. Eliminate Install guardrails or edge protection on all open edges before work starts. Isolate Use a scaffold, mobile work platform or EWP instead of working off a ladder. Engineering Where edge protection is not practical, use a fall restraint or fall arrest system on a rated anchor point. Engineering Everyone working at height holds a White Card and has been briefed on this SWMS before going up. Administrative Have a written emergency and rescue plan, tested before work starts, so a worker hanging in a harness can be brought down within minutes (WHS Regulations r.80). Administrative Scaffold is built, altered and taken down only by a competent scaffolder, on a firm base with sole boards and ties. Engineering Fit guardrails, mid rails and toe boards on every working platform. Engineering Use mobile scaffolds only on firm, level ground with castors locked and outriggers fitted. Never move one with anyone on it. Engineering Scaffold where a person or object could fall more than 4 metres is built by a licensed scaffolder (High Risk Work Licence). Administrative Do not use a scaffold over 4 metres until the scaffolder gives a written handover certificate. Administrative Inspect the scaffold before first use, after any change or bad weather, and at least every 30 days. Record it on the scaffold tag. Administrative Do not overload platforms. Know the duty rating and keep material stacks over the standards. Administrative	Medium
2	Check wind speed and stop lifting or laying sheets in strong wind	Strong wind and storms	High	Check the forecast each morning and plan work at height and lifting around the weather. Eliminate Tie down or weigh down loose sheets, panels, boards and rubbish at the end of each shift. Engineering Set wind limits for roof work, platforms and cranes, using the manufacturer's limits, and stop when they are reached. Administrative Stop work and get down in lightning. Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back up. Administrative Check scaffold, fencing and edge protection after strong wind before anyone uses them. Administrative Do not carry large sheets on roofs in wind. Administrative Wear a hard hat with a chin strap at height in windy conditions. PPE	Low
3	Lift sheet packs onto the roof with a crane or telehandler, keeping everyone out from under the load	Crane and lifting failure Falling tools and materials Contact with overhead power lines Being hit by mobile plant	Extreme	Barricade the lift zone and keep everyone out from under the load. Isolate Use a crane rated for the load at the radius, set up on firm ground with outrigger pads. Engineering Check slings, chains, shackles and hooks before use. Remove anything damaged or not tagged. Engineering Plan the lift: weight, radius, ground, path and landing area. Use a written lift plan for complex lifts. Administrative Barricade and sign the drop zone under overhead work so nobody walks beneath. Isolate Fit toe boards, kick plates and mesh screens on scaffolds and edges. Engineering Use catch fans, debris netting or covered walkways where people pass below. Engineering Tether hand tools when working at height. Engineering Ask the network operator to turn off, move or insulate the lines before work starts. Eliminate Use non-conductive (fibreglass) ladders near any power lines. Substitute Mark the safe distance with flags, tape or goal posts and keep all plant and people outside it. Isolate Keep out of the No Go Zone set by your state and the network operator, or get written approval and a safety observer. In NSW and Qld, untrained people and plant stay at least 3 m from lines on poles up to 132 kV, 6 m up to 330 kV and 8 m above 330 kV. In Victoria the limits differ, and work within 8 m of tower lines needs a spotter and the network operator's permission. Administrative Use a dedicated spotter whenever plant moves or raises anything near lines. Administrative Separate people and plant with barriers, exclusion zones and marked walkways. Isolate Use plant with working reversing alarms, cameras and lights. Engineering Have a traffic management plan showing plant routes, loading areas and pedestrian paths. Administrative Use a spotter when reversing or working near people. Administrative	Medium
4	Lay sheets one at a time and fix them down straight away so they cannot blow off	Lifting and carrying heavy loads Cuts from sharp edges Strong wind and storms	High	Plan to avoid carrying: have materials delivered, and old items picked up, as close as possible to where they are used. Eliminate Use lighter or smaller loads: order smaller bags and shorter lengths, and drain or break down old items before moving them. Substitute Use trolleys, pallet jacks, hoists, vacuum lifters or plant instead of carrying by hand. Engineering Use a two-person lift for anything heavy, long or awkward. Plan the route first and clear it. Administrative Keep the load close, back straight and no twisting. Turn with your feet. Administrative Deburr or cover sharp edges, and fit edge protectors on exposed sheet metal. Engineering Use knives with retractable or self-retracting blades. Engineering Cut away from your body and keep your other hand clear. Administrative Put used blades in a blade bin or sharps container. Administrative Use two people to handle large sheets of metal or glass. Administrative Strong wind and storms: see step 2 for the full controls Administrative	Medium
5	Cut sheets with nibblers or shears rather than a grinder where possible	Angle grinder injuries Fire from hot works Eye injuries Loud noise	Extreme	Use a guarded saw or a different tool where you can. Substitute Keep the guard on and use the side handle. Never remove the guard. Engineering Use the right disc for the job, rated for the grinder's speed. Check it for cracks first. Administrative Only trained people change discs, with the grinder unplugged or the battery out. Administrative Use cold work methods where you can, such as bolting, press fittings or cutting with a saw instead of a torch. Eliminate Move anything that can burn at least 15 metres away (AS 1674.1), or protect it with fire blankets or screens. Isolate Use fire-resistant screens to stop sparks reaching people or gaps in walls and floors. Engineering Get a hot work permit before starting. 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 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 Keep exposure below 85 dB(A) over 8 hours. Give hearing tests to workers who often need hearing protection. Administrative	Medium
6	Screw off sheets and fit flashings and ridge capping	Injury from power tools Heat stress Sun exposure (UV) Burns from hot surfaces	High	Keep all guards fitted and working. Never tie back or remove a guard. Engineering Clamp or secure the work piece. Do not hold it by hand. Engineering Only trained, competent people use power tools, following the maker's instructions. Administrative Check tools before use. Unplug or remove the battery before changing blades or bits. Administrative Schedule heavy work for the cooler part of the day. Eliminate Provide shade over work and rest areas, and fans or cooling in roof spaces. Engineering Supply cool drinking water close by and drink a cup every 15 to 20 minutes. Administrative Take regular rest breaks in the shade, more often as it gets hotter. Administrative Plan outdoor work for early morning or late afternoon when UV is lower. Eliminate Put shade covers over fixed work areas. Engineering Check the UV index each day. Use sun protection when it is 3 or higher. Administrative Check your skin regularly and see a doctor about any new or changing spots. Administrative Isolate heating systems and let parts cool before you touch them. Eliminate Fit guards or insulation on hot pipes and equipment. Engineering Mark hot items with chalk or a "HOT" sign so others know. Administrative Keep a first aid kit and cool running water nearby for burns. Administrative	Medium
7	Sweep off swarf and offcuts, then remove mesh and edge protection last	Poor housekeeping and waste Falling from a roof edge Falling tools and materials	Extreme	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 Stop roof work in strong wind or rain, and when the roof is wet, icy or covered in dust or frost. Administrative Wear a harness clipped to a rated anchor when using restraint or fall arrest, and soft-soled non-slip boots. PPE Falling from a roof edge: see step 1 for the full controls Administrative Keep platforms tidy. Do not stack materials near edges or above toe board height. Administrative Lower materials with a hoist, chute or rope. Never throw or drop anything down. Administrative Wear a hard hat anywhere objects could fall. PPE Falling tools and materials: see step 3 for the full controls Administrative	Medium

PPE

Steel cap bootsSafety harness and lanyardCut-resistant glovesSafety glassesHearing protection (earmuffs or plugs)Sun protection (brim hat, long sleeves, SPF 50+)Hard hatHi-vis shirt or vestWork glovesFace shieldWelding glovesOverallsSafety goggles

Plant and equipment

Fixed scaffold: Scaffolding HRWL (SB, SI or SA) to erect, alter or dismantle where a fall of more than 4 m is possibleTelehandler: 3 t or less: trained and assessed (VOC). Over 3 t with a jib, hook or winch: High Risk Work Licence CN (non-slewing mobile crane). Slewing telehandlers: slewing crane licence (C2, C6 and up). Victoria: any non-slewing telehandler over 3 t needs CN or the Victorian telehandler licenceCrane (Franna or mobile): HRWL for the crane class (e.g. C2, CN, C6), plus Dogging licence (DG) where slinging needs judgement or the load is out of the operator's viewPower drillAngle grinderHand tools

Permits and plans

Roof access permitWorking at heights permitLift planHot work permit

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 metal roof sheeting 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 metal roof sheeting 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
Edge protection installed and checked before anyone works above 2 m
Scaffold tagged, with a handover certificate if over 4 m
Overhead lines identified and safe distances marked
Hot work permit issued, extinguisher at hand, fire watch arranged
Exclusion zone and spotter set up for plant and traffic
Exclusion zone below the work and public kept out
Weather checked: water, shade and rest breaks planned
Wind and weather checked; stop work limits agreed
First aider, first aid kit and emergency number (000) confirmed
PPE checked and worn: steel cap boots, safety harness and lanyard, cut-resistant gloves, safety glasses

The safe sequence of work

Install scaffold edge protection and safety mesh before any sheets go up
Check wind speed and stop lifting or laying sheets in strong wind
Lift sheet packs onto the roof with a crane or telehandler, keeping everyone out from under the load
Lay sheets one at a time and fix them down straight away so they cannot blow off
Cut sheets with nibblers or shears rather than a grinder where possible
Screw off sheets and fit flashings and ridge capping
Sweep off swarf and offcuts, then remove mesh and edge protection last

Hazards to watch on metal roof sheeting installation

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

Step 6Burns from hot surfacesTouching hot pipes, tools, bitumen, solder or freshly welded metal burns the skin.

Step 3Crane and lifting failureA load falls or swings, or the crane tips, crushing workers under or near the lift.

Step 5Angle grinder injuriesThe disc shatters, binds or kicks back, causing deep cuts to legs and hands or eye injuries.

Step 1Scaffold collapse or fall from scaffoldA scaffold that is badly built, overloaded or altered collapses or tips, or a worker falls from an unguarded platform.

Step 6Sun exposure (UV)Long hours in the sun cause sunburn, eye damage and skin cancer.

Step 3Contact with overhead power linesA ladder, EWP, crane, tipper or long length of material touches or gets close to an overhead line and electrocutes people.

Highest risk on metal roof sheeting installation: Extreme before controls (B), down to Medium after controls (A), on the Australia 5 by 5 risk matrix (likely and catastrophic 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 use a ladder or stepladder?
Is there a skylight, clear sheet, fibro or other fragile roofing?
Will you use an EWP (scissor lift or boom lift)?
Was the building built before 2004?
Will you sand, scrape, cut or heat paint on a building built before 1997?

Licences and legal requirements in Australia

This task can involve these high risk construction work categories under the WHS Regulations:

Risk of a person falling more than 2 metres
Work in an area with movement of powered mobile plant

Equipment on this job that needs a licence, ticket or training:

Fixed scaffold: Scaffolding HRWL (SB, SI or SA) to erect, alter or dismantle where a fall of more than 4 m is possible
Telehandler: 3 t or less: trained and assessed (VOC). Over 3 t with a jib, hook or winch: High Risk Work Licence CN (non-slewing mobile crane). Slewing telehandlers: slewing crane licence (C2, C6 and up). Victoria: any non-slewing telehandler over 3 t needs CN or the Victorian telehandler licence
Crane (Franna or mobile): HRWL for the crane class (e.g. C2, CN, C6), plus Dogging licence (DG) where slinging needs judgement or the load is out of the operator's view

A SWMS must be prepared before any high risk construction work starts. It must list the high risk work, the hazards and risks, the control measures, and how those controls will be put in place, monitored and reviewed. It must be easy for the workers to read and understand.

Rules that apply: WHS Regulation 2011, Part 4.4 Falls; WHS Regulation 2011, Part 4.4 Falls, Part 5.1 Plant and r.225 (scaffolds); WHS Regulation 2011, Part 4.5 High risk work and Part 5.1 Plant; WHS Regulation 2011, Part 3.2 (falling objects); WHS Regulation 2011, Part 5.1 Plant; WHS Regulation 2011, Part 4.2 Hazardous manual tasks; AS 1674.1 Safety in welding and allied processes (fire precautions); WHS Regulation 2011, Part 4.1 Noise.

Each state has its own regulator and some extra rules: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Australian Capital Territory.

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 metal roof sheeting 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 metal roof sheeting installation?

Usually Steel cap boots, Safety harness and lanyard, Cut-resistant gloves, Safety glasses, Hearing protection (earmuffs or plugs), Sun protection (brim hat, long sleeves, SPF 50+), Hard hat, Hi-vis shirt or vest, Work gloves, Face shield, Welding gloves, Overalls, Safety goggles. The site rules may add more, so check with the principal contractor.

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