This Roof Safety Mesh and Edge Protection Installation SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement) is pre-filled for installing temporary edge protection, roof safety mesh, safety nets and catch platforms. It covers 41 activities, from fall protection planning and structural checks to dismantling, demobilisation 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
Edge protection and height safety installers
Roofing and roof plumbing contractors
Scaffolding contractors erecting nets and catch platforms
Commercial and residential builders
Steel erectors and shed builders
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
Fall protection planning, system selection and structural adequacy checks
Existing roof condition, fragile sheeting and asbestos before fixing in
Overhead powerlines, ground exclusion zones, mobile plant and deliveries
Pre-use inspection of edge protection, mesh and fall-arrest equipment
Ladder, scaffold and EWP access to the roof
Anchor points, static lines, fall clearance, harness fitting and swing fall
Installing guardrail posts, rails and toe boards while edges are still open
Steep pitch and complex roofs where standard guardrail isn't enough
Laying, fixing, lapping and tensioning safety mesh, and what mesh won't protect against
Safety nets, catch platforms, skylights and roof penetrations
Manual handling, cutting mesh, power tools on metal roofs, wind, heat and rain
Handover, tagging, ongoing monitoring, dismantling and rescue of a suspended worker
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
Plant and equipment list, materials, maintenance checks and the training each worker needs
Relevant Australian Standards, including AS/NZS 4389 for roof safety mesh and AS/NZS 4994 for temporary edge protection
Scaffolding licence notes for nets, static lines and catch scaffolds, plus suspension trauma first aid
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 installing roof safety mesh and edge protection?
Almost always. Installing edge protection and mesh usually involves a risk of a fall of more than 2 metres, which is high risk construction work, and it can also involve fixing into asbestos roofing or working near overhead powerlines. On a low-level job where none of those apply a SWMS isn't mandatory, but you still have to manage the risks, and a SWMS is a sound way to record how. Head contractors and prequalification portals often ask for one either way.
Does it explain what roof safety mesh doesn't protect against?
Yes. It covers mesh tensioning and the limits of what mesh protects against, so it isn't relied on as a walkway or an edge control. It also covers fixing, lapping and jointing so mesh doesn't tear free or open at a lap.
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.
