Working Near Water SWMS

Working Near Water Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) 

SWMS Overview 

The Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) for Working Near Water outlines the essential safety controls required to manage the significant risks posed when personnel are operating in close proximity to natural or man-made water bodies, including rivers, lakes, dams, stormwater systems, retention basins, and marine environments. This SWMS applies to construction workers, maintenance teams, and field technicians whose tasks bring them near water hazards in urban, rural, or remote settings.

Key risk mitigation strategies include site-specific risk assessments, the use of fall protection and flotation devices, emergency response planning (including rescue protocols), and environmental hazard identification such as unstable ground, tides, swift currents, and submerged objects. The SWMS also enforces the buddy system, communication protocols, first aid preparedness, and where applicable, vessel safety procedures and marine licensing requirements.

Suitable for electrotechnology trades including:

Compliant in all Australian States and New Zealand

This ready-to-use SWMS package features:

• Understanding NECA SWMS

• JSA SWMS Cover Sheet

• Working Near Water & Boating Operations SWMS – Style A

• Working Near Water & Boating Operations SWMS – Style B

• SWMS Sign Off Sheet

Flexible SWMS Styles

To meet unique project and contractor needs, we’ve developed two consistent SWMS styles:

• Style A (Blue): A simple, streamlined version inspired by the Safe Work Australia template, perfect for workers who prefer clear, straightforward safety documents.

• Style B (Tan): A detailed format designed to meet strict compliance checklists, ideal for principal contractors requiring enhanced documentation.

Both styles maintain the same core safety content, ensuring consistency across projects. Workers inducted and trained in one style can seamlessly adapt to the other, streamlining document control and significantly reducing admin time and stress during the SWMS submission process.

Why Choose NECA SWMS?

NECA SWMS solutions are industry-specific, written by professionals with real-world experience, and based on Standards, Codes of Practice, and Legislation. These templates:

• Simplify compliance with principal contractor requirements.

• Save admin time with editable MS Word templates ready for instant download.

• Provide clear, user-friendly documents to reduce frustration in the workplace.

Completed SWMS templates. Simply insert your company logo, business details, and site details, and they’re ready to send off to your client. Templates can be amended to suit specific needs, saving valuable time and resources while maintaining compliance.

With a NECA SWMS, you can ensure robust safety practices, better version control, and a stress-free submission process.