This Event Setup and Marquee Erection SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled for building marquees, staging, seating and temporary event infrastructure, then taking it down. It covers 34 activities, from site assessment and approvals to bump-out, load 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
Marquee and party hire companies
Event production and staging companies
Festival and event organisers
Councils and venues running outdoor events
Exhibition and temporary structure contractors
A SWMS isn't only for construction. Plenty of event 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
Site assessment, engineering and approvals, and public separation during bump-in
Locating underground services before pegging, and overhead powerlines
Unloading, plant pre-starts and PPE for outdoor event work
Anchoring with pegs, ballast or hardstand anchors, including silica dust when drilling
Frame assembly, raising the frame and fitting the roof
Falls over 2 metres from structures and stages, and staging and seating stand collapse
Temporary power, generators, refuelling and LPG heaters in marquees
Fire safety in occupied structures and hazardous chemicals
Telehandlers, forklifts, lifting and vehicle movements near live roads
Wind monitoring, the take-down decision and lightning
Noise, heat, manual handling, night work and housekeeping on long builds
Handover inspection, dismantle sequence, load restraint and emergency response
 
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 34 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, materials and pre-build checks for frames, straps, pegs, ballast and RCDs
Relevant Australian Standards, including AS/NZS 1170.2 for wind actions and AS/NZS 3002 for event electrical installations
Training in the wind management plan, storm stop rule and erection sequence for each structure
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 marquee and event setup?
A SWMS is legally required when the build is high risk construction work, for example where someone could fall more than 2 metres from a stage or structure, or where telehandlers and other powered mobile plant are moving. Smaller builds without those risks don't need one by law, but you still have to manage the risks, and a SWMS is a sound way to record how. Event organisers, councils and venues often ask for one.
Does it cover wind and the decision to take a marquee down?
Yes. It covers wind monitoring with an anemometer, a set trigger and someone empowered to stop work, plus the storm stop rule and the evacuation and take-down procedure. It refers to AS/NZS 1170.2 for wind actions.
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.