Formwork SWMS: base template and example

When formwork needs a SWMS

• Safe Work Australia says formwork and falsework work may be high risk construction work, for example where it involves temporary load-bearing support or a risk of a fall over 2 metres. A SWMS must then be prepared before the work starts.
• NSW has its own formwork code of practice (2020), and SafeWork NSW has warned about an increase in inadequate formwork designs and certifications.
• Queensland has its own Formwork Code of Practice 2016, and rules vary in other states and territories. Check your own regulator, and your principal contractor may have extra requirements.

Not sure whether your job needs a SWMS? Read what a SWMS is and when it's required.

Need to record an incident instead? Get the free incident report template.

Controls to think about

• Safe Work Australia's guide to formwork says a certifying engineer should inspect and certify the formwork before it's loaded, with a pre-pour inspection before concrete is placed.
• During the pour, the guide says nobody should be under the deck except a designated observer, who watches for movement and can raise the alarm, and the designer's pour rate shouldn't be exceeded.
• Put perimeter screens and secure penetration covers in place before deck work, keep loads within the design limits, and only strip once a competent person confirms in writing that the slab can support itself. Your SWMS should show which controls you'll use for each work step.

What to include in a formwork SWMS

• The formwork system, the design and who designed it
• The erection sequence, edge protection and penetration covers
• Load limits for the deck, and how materials are delivered
• Inspection and certification before loading and before the pour
• The pour plan, the observer and the stripping sequence
• What to do if the formwork moves or collapses, and sign-off from everyone on the job

Filled-in formwork SWMS example

Example only, not for use as your own SWMS. This is the base template filled in for a fictional job: erecting, pouring and stripping suspended slab formwork 3.6 metres above ground. Click a page to enlarge it.

This example includes risk scores. They aren't legally required, and WorkSafe Victoria advises leaving risk matrices and scores out of a SWMS, so check what your regulator expects. Your own SWMS must be specific to your job and site, and prepared in consultation with the workers doing the work.

How to fill one in for formwork

1. Fill in the project details, including the slab, its height and the formwork design.
2. Tick the high risk construction work boxes for temporary load-bearing support and falls over 2 metres if they apply, and every hazard that applies.
3. List your plant and equipment, such as the formwork system, screens, crane and concrete pump.
4. Write the job steps in order, from design to stripping, with the controls for each step and who is responsible.
5. Talk it through with the crew, have everyone sign it before work starts, and review it whenever the design, job or site changes.

Build your formwork SWMS online, or get it into the app

The Shadow Forms SWMS builder is a tool on our website that guides you step by step through creating a SWMS for your job, including formwork. It's a draft only, so have a competent person review it before use. Enter your email address and you can download it as a PDF.

The PDF is a copy only. To complete it digitally, upload it and we can add it to the app, Shadow Forms branded. If you have your own uniquely branded SWMS, or want this example adjusted to your business, we can do that too. Upload a form, or get in touch.

Need a JSA instead? Try the free JSA template.

Just need a quick check before you start? Get the free Take 5 template.