This Joinery and Display Unit Installation (Shopfitting) SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled for installing shopfront joinery, counters, display units, glass showcases and signage in retail tenancies. It covers 36 activities, from the daily pre-start and centre induction to securing the tenancy 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
Shopfitters and shopfitting contractors
Cabinet makers and joiners who install their own work
Retail fit-out and refurbishment builders
Display, fixture and showcase installers
Signage and lightbox installers working in shopping centres
 
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
Centre induction, permits, after-hours approvals and fire system isolation and reinstatement
Asbestos register and existing conditions check before strip out
Loading dock deliveries and moving joinery through malls and goods lifts
Hoarding, work area protection and stable storage of panels and glass
Night work, working alone, fatigue and program pressure alongside other trades
Locating concealed services and scanning post-tensioned slabs before drilling
Cutting and drilling, with wood dust, silica, noise and vibration controls
Installing counters, wall-mounted units, gondolas and glass showcases without topple or pull-out
Ceiling void access, working at height and overhead work above trafficked malls
Display lighting and signage fixed to structure, with electrical connection by licensed trades
Stone counter tops, contact adhesives and keeping dust and odour out of trading shops
Emergency response to crush, laceration, fall, electric shock or fire
 
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 36 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, maintenance checks and the training each worker needs
Relevant Australian Standards, including AS 1288 for glass in buildings and AS 4386 for cabinetry
Licence requirements for EWPs, forklifts and scaffolding, plus silica training and RPE fit testing
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 shopfitting and joinery installation?
A SWMS is legally required when the job is high risk construction work, for example working where someone could fall more than 2 metres, disturbing asbestos behind an old shopfront, or working near energised electrical services. Outside those situations a SWMS isn't mandatory, but you still have to manage the risks, and a SWMS is a sound way to record how. Centre managers, head contractors and prequalification portals often ask for one either way.
Does it cover stone and engineered stone counter tops?
Yes. It covers silica exposure when modifying a stone counter top on site, the prohibition on engineered stone work that has applied since 1 July 2024, and the manual handling risk of placing heavy tops into a confined servery or shopfront run.
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.