This Retail Operations SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled and covers everyday shop floor, counter and stockroom work in a retail store. It covers 11 activities, from working with computers and cash handling equipment to opening cartons with box cutters and incident 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
Retail shops and boutiques
Supermarkets, convenience stores and service stations
Hardware, homewares and department stores
Retail franchise owners and store managers
A SWMS isn't only for construction. Plenty of retailers 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
Workstation setup, posture and repetitive movements at POS terminals
Electrical safety for equipment, power boards and cords
Dealing with difficult customers, intimidation and harassment
Slips, trips, falls and fire inside the store
Working after hours or alone, including walking to your vehicle in the dark
Cash handling, robbery, banking runs and psychological injury after an incident
Lifting and moving stock with correct techniques
Reaching stock at height with step stools and ladders, not chairs or boxes
Handling and disposing of packaging and cleaning products
Opening cartons safely with knives and box cutters
Response to injuries, incidents and damaged equipment
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 11 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, from POS terminals and EFTPOS machines to step ladders and box cutters
Training each worker needs, including manual handling and customer conflict resolution
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 retail work?
No. Retail work isn't high risk construction work, so a SWMS isn't a legal requirement. You still have to manage the risks, including robbery and customer aggression, and a SWMS is a practical way to record how. Clients, insurers and prequalification portals often ask for one.
Does it cover robbery and aggressive customers?
Yes. It covers cash handling, armed and unarmed robbery, banking runs, assault by an aggressive customer and psychological injury after an incident.
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.
