The 18 High-Risk Construction Work Activities That Require a SWMS in Queensland

Written By Luke Squire

“High-risk construction work” is not a judgement call. It is a defined legal term. If your work falls into one of the listed categories, a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is required before the work starts — regardless of how confident or experienced the crew is.

In Queensland, the categories are set out in section 291 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld). There are 18 of them. This is the full list, in plain English, with the thresholds people most often get wrong.

What “high-risk construction work” actually means

Under the WHS Regulation, a PCBU (person conducting a business or undertaking) carrying out high-risk construction work must ensure a SWMS is prepared before the work begins (s.299). Safe Work Australia and WorkSafe Queensland both confirm the same duties: prepare the SWMS, comply with it, review it, and give a copy to the principal contractor before work starts.

The list below is the trigger. If your task is on it, you are in SWMS territory.

The 18 high-risk construction work activities

High-risk construction work is construction work that:

  1. Involves a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres. The single most common trigger. Note this is 2 m for all construction work, not 3 m (more on that below).

  2. Is carried out on a telecommunication tower.

  3. Involves demolition of a load-bearing element of a structure, or an element otherwise related to the physical integrity of the structure.

  4. Involves, or is likely to involve, disturbing asbestos.

  5. Involves structural alteration or repair that requires temporary support to prevent collapse.

  6. Is carried out in or near a confined space.

  7. Is carried out in or near a shaft or trench deeper than 1.5 metres, or a tunnel.

  8. Involves the use of explosives.

  9. Is carried out on or near pressurised gas mains or piping.

  10. Is carried out on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines.

  11. Is carried out on or near energised electrical installations or services.

  12. Is carried out in an area that may have a contaminated or flammable atmosphere.

  13. Involves tilt-up or precast concrete.

  14. Is carried out on, in or adjacent to a road, railway, shipping lane or other traffic corridor in use by traffic other than pedestrians.

  15. Is carried out in an area where there is any movement of powered mobile plant.

  16. Is carried out in an area with artificial extremes of temperature.

  17. Is carried out in or near water or other liquid that involves a risk of drowning.

  18. Involves diving work.

Three thresholds’ people get wrong

Falls: it is 2 metres, not 3

A fall risk over 2 m is high-risk construction work for all construction, including housing. The 3 m figure that gets quoted is a separate point: WorkSafe Queensland explains that specific mandatory control measures apply for falls of 3 m in housing construction and 2 m in other construction. The SWMS trigger, though, is 2 m across the board (s.291 and s.299).

Trenches: 1.5 metres of excavated depth

A trench becomes high-risk construction work once it is deeper than 1.5 m. Below that you still manage the risk, but the SWMS obligation specifically attaches at 1.5 m.

Powered mobile plant: it is about the area, not the operator

The trigger is any movement of powered mobile plant in the work area — not just the person operating it. A labourer working near a moving excavator or telehandler is within the category, even if they never touch the machine.

What is not automatically on the list

Plenty of construction work sits outside these 18 categories — low-risk fit-out, minor maintenance, general labouring away from plant and edges. A SWMS is not legally required for that work.

That does not mean there is no duty. You must still manage health and safety risks so far as is reasonably practicable. A SWMS may not be mandatory, but a documented risk assessment or job safety analysis is often the sensible call.

Check out our article “Do I Need a SWMS? A Simple Decision Guide” for mor information.

If your work is on the list

Once you have confirmed the task is high-risk construction work, the sequence is straightforward:

  • Prepare a site-specific SWMS before the work starts.

  • Consult the workers who will actually do the job.

  • Give a copy to the principal contractor before work begins.

  • Keep it available on site and work in accordance with it.

  • Review and revise it whenever the work method or site conditions change.

Check out our article “How to Write a SWMS: Step-by-Step Guide” for mor information.

Sources and further reading

Need help with your SWMS?

Squire Safety Consultants helps Queensland businesses with SWMS development, WHS documentation, safety management systems and practical workplace safety support — clear, compliant and usable documents that workers will actually follow.

If you would like help getting your SWMS right, get in touch Here

Need a template as a staring point? pick up a Free SWMS Template Here

Luke Squire
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