This Cafe and Catering Operations SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled for day-to-day work in a cafe or catering kitchen, from cooking and food handling to serving customers and cleaning. It covers 19 activities, from contact with steam, hot oil and hot surfaces to sharps disposal and emergency response, with the hazards, control measures and risk ratings before and after controls for each. It's written by WHS specialists, aligned to Australian WHS legislation, and fully editable in Microsoft Word.
Who it's for
Cafes and coffee shops
Catering businesses and event caterers
Takeaway shops and lunch bars
Canteens and kiosks at schools, clubs and sports venues
Bakeries with a cafe counter
A SWMS isn't only for construction. Plenty of hospitality businesses use one as the written risk assessment for a task, the same way others use a JSA or Safe Work Procedure.
Use it to
Show clients, insurers and auditors how you manage the risks
Apply for tenders, contracts and supplier panels
Get through prequalification with Avetta, Cm3 and other contractor portals
Induct new workers and train them in the task
What this SWMS covers
Scalds and burns from steam, hot water, hot oil, ovens and hot surfaces
Knife cuts and injuries from kitchen machinery
Food handling, skin damage from hand washing and food hygiene
Electrical safety for appliances, tools and leads
Gas appliances and fittings, including leaks, fire and explosion
Urns, toasters, sandwich makers and microwaves
Heat stress when working near ovens
Difficult customers, intimidation and harassment
Slips, trips, building fires and working after hours or alone
Lifting and moving stock, and fatigue from standing for long periods
Cleaning chemicals and handling sharps such as syringes and broken glass
Emergency response to kitchen fires, burns, gas leaks or electrical faults
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 19 work activities
Risk ratings before and after controls, with a 5x5 risk matrix and the hierarchy of controls
PPE requirements checklist and high risk construction work checklist
Plant and equipment list, including fryers, slicers, a fire blanket and a Class F extinguisher
Materials such as cleaning chemicals, sanitisers and fryer oils, plus maintenance checks for kitchen appliances
Site specific hazards section for anything unique to your job
Worker sign-off sheet and worker consultation record
Why use this template
Saves hours compared with writing a SWMS from a blank page
Covers the most common hazards and control measures for this work, ready to use out of the box
Fully editable, so you can add, remove or change anything to suit your site and how your team works
Helps your business stay compliant, with risk ratings, worker sign-off and consultation records already set up
How it works
Buy online and download straight away. You'll also get an email with your link.
Add your logo, ABN, project and site details.
Check it suits your site and task, edit anything you need to, and consult your workers before you finalise it.
Brief your team and collect signatures.
Common questions
Do I need a SWMS for a cafe or catering business?
No. Cafe and catering work isn't high risk construction work, so a SWMS isn't a legal requirement. You still have to manage the risks, like burns from hot oil and aggressive customers, and a SWMS is a practical way to record how. Clients, insurers and prequalification portals often ask for one.
Does it cover working alone or after hours?
Yes. It covers working after business hours or alone, including walking to and from your vehicle or transport in the dark.
Can I change it?
Yes. It's a Microsoft Word file, so you can add, remove or change any hazard, control or rating, and add your own logo and details.
Does it suit my state?
Yes. It's written to the model WHS laws and suits all states and territories, including Victoria under the OHS Act and Regulations.
What if it doesn't suit my work?
You're covered by our 30-day money-back guarantee if it isn't fit for purpose.
