Reviewing & Managing SWMS

Tradie Safety Hub provides a comprehensive workflow for reviewing, auditing, and tracking the lifecycle of Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS).

Why this works this way

The Consulted step exists because the WHS Act (s.47–49) requires you to consult the workers who’ll do the work before it’s approved — it’s a legal step, not just a process nicety, which is why the app won’t let a SWMS skip straight from Under Review to Approved.

This is general information, not legal advice — confirm specific requirements with your WHS advisor or the current legislation for your jurisdiction.

SWMS List

The SWMS List provides an overview of all SWMS in your organization. You can see their current status: Draft, Under Review, Consulted, Approved, or Pending Signatures.

Review Process

A SWMS moves through several stages before it can be used on site:

1. Under Review — Reviewers examine the hazard controls, HRCW categories, and other details, and can send it back to Draft for changes.
2. Consulted — Before a SWMS is approved, the workers who will perform the work must be consulted on it, as required under the WHS Act. This step records that consultation took place.
3. Approved — The SWMS is finalized.
4. Pending Signatures — Approved SWMS still need worker acknowledgement/signatures before they can be used on site — see Worker Acknowledgement.

Auditing SWMS

To maintain a high standard of safety, you can conduct audits on existing SWMS. The auditing functionality allows you to review the SWMS in the context of actual work being performed and note any discrepancies or areas for improvement.