This Function Room Setup and Furniture Handling SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled and covers setting up, turning around and packing down function rooms, from tables and chairs to staging and operable walls. It covers 24 activities, from the run sheet and crew briefing to end of shift 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
Hotels, function centres and conference venues
Event setup and banqueting crews
Clubs, pubs and restaurants with function rooms
Event hire and staging companies
Labour hire providers supplying event crews
A SWMS isn't only for construction. Plenty of venues and 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
Run sheet briefing, naked flame and haze approvals, and room inspection
Inspecting trolleys, ladders, staging and leads before the shift
Loading dock traffic, pallet jacks and forklifts in service corridors
Handling banquet tables, trestles and stacked chairs
Moving operable wall panels and assembling staging and dance floors
Work at height for drapes, signage and audio visual equipment
Temporary leads, broken glass and repetitive table dressing
Chafing fuel, gel fuel and hot water urns
Guests in the room, aggression and keeping exits clear
Noise, early and late shifts, and working alone
Pack-down, and blood, vomit and sharps during the reset
Emergency response to a crush injury, fall, serious cut or evacuation
 
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 24 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, with maintenance checks for trolleys, staging, operable walls and leads
Relevant Australian Standards, including AS 1892.5 for portable ladders and AS 2550.10 for elevating work platforms
Training in the venue's operable wall system, staging assembly, chafing fuel handling and evacuation
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 function room setup?
No. Function room setup isn't high risk construction work, so a SWMS isn't a legal requirement. You still have to manage the risks, including manual handling of tables and chairs and moving operable wall panels, and a SWMS is a practical way to record how. Clients, insurers and prequalification portals often ask for one.
Does it cover operable walls?
Yes. It covers inspecting and moving operable wall panels, the stop rule when a panel binds, and the rule that only workers trained in that specific wall system move them.
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.