This Chainsaw SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled for operating a chainsaw, including felling, limbing and cross cutting. It covers 12 activities, from entanglement and protective clothing to fuel handling, tagging out 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
Arborists and tree services
Landscapers and grounds maintenance crews
Farm and rural property businesses
Council parks and roadside crews
Builders and carpenters cutting timber on site
It also works as a written task risk assessment for any business where workers use a chainsaw, the same way you'd use a JSA or Safe Work Procedure.
Use it to
Hand clients and principal contractors the SWMS they ask for
Apply for tenders and new jobs with your safety paperwork ready
Get through prequalification with Avetta, Cm3 and other contractor portals
Induct new workers and run toolbox talks on the task
What this SWMS covers
Entanglement from long hair, loose clothing and jewellery
Cutting injuries from the exposed moving chain
Chainsaw protective clothing for legs, feet, head, face, eyes and hearing
Noise exposure and hearing protection
Saw condition and maintenance to prevent failure
Felling, limbing and cross cutting, including falling limbs, hung-up trees and kickback
Loss of control when cutting above shoulder height or from a ladder
Housekeeping and slip hazards
Storing and transporting the chainsaw and fuel
Refuelling, including fumes, skin contact and ignition
Starting and operating the saw, including kickback, vibration and fatigue
Tagging out faulty saws and emergency response to cuts, burns or fire
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 12 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
Maintenance checks for chainsaws and associated equipment
Qualifications, including documented chainsaw training on pre-start checks, kickback, cutting technique and felling
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 chainsaw work?
Only if the work is high risk construction work, for example cutting where someone could fall more than 2 metres, or next to a road in use. For tree, farm and grounds work outside construction a SWMS isn't mandatory, but you still have to manage the risks, like kickback and falling limbs, and a SWMS is a sound way to record how. Clients and councils often ask for one.
Does it cover tree felling?
Yes. It covers felling, limbing and cross cutting, including being struck by falling trees, falling limbs or hung-up trees, and kickback when the cut closes on the bar.
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.
