This Home-Based Work SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled and covers workers doing office and screen-based work from home, including the workspace, equipment, client contact and psychosocial risks. It covers 41 activities, from approving the arrangement and the home workspace self-assessment to ending the arrangement 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
Businesses with workers on hybrid or work from home arrangements
Professional services firms, consultants and agencies
Customer service and call centre teams working remotely
Sole traders and small businesses run from home
Bookkeepers, administrators and other home-based office workers
A SWMS isn't only for construction. Plenty of businesses use one as the written risk assessment for home-based work, 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
Approving the arrangement and the home workspace self-assessment
Work area, walkways, exits and an electrical supply with RCD protection
Handling equipment and reaching high storage
Workstation set-up, screen work, glare and sedentary work
Powerboards, leads, battery charging and fire safety
Headsets, acoustic shock and client contact by phone, email and video
Aggression, sexual harassment and visitors at the home
Client records, shredders, toner and kitchen appliances
Working alone, isolation, workload, after-hours contact and monitoring
Family and domestic violence affecting the home workplace
Heat, ventilation, storms, power outages and first aid
Ending the arrangement, reporting incidents and emergency response when working alone
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 41 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
Equipment list and inspection schedule, including test and tag intervals, smoke alarms and RCD checks
Relevant Australian Standards, including AS/NZS 3760 for electrical testing and AS/NZS 1680.2.2 for office lighting
Worker training in workstation set-up and check-ins, and manager training in remote supervision
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 home-based work?
No. Working from home isn't high risk construction work, so a SWMS isn't a legal requirement. You still have to manage the risks, including workstation set-up and psychosocial hazards like isolation and workload, and a SWMS is a practical way to record how. Clients, insurers and prequalification portals often ask for one.
Does it cover psychosocial hazards for remote workers?
Yes. It covers isolation, workload and job control, after-hours contact, excessive monitoring, aggression and harassment from clients, and family and domestic violence affecting the home workplace.
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.
