SWMS NSW: Safe Work Method Statements for New South Wales businesses.
Draft a NSW-compliant SWMS in under 60 seconds. Every document cites the WHS Act 2011 (NSW), the WHS Regulation 2017, and the applicable SafeWork NSW codes of practice — updated for the 1 July 2026 s26A Code-of-Practice enforcement change.
Important for New South Wales: From 1 July 2026, section 26A of the WHS Act (NSW) makes approved Codes of Practice enforceable duties — not just evidence of how to comply. Every RAE IQ SWMS and risk assessment drafted for NSW cites codes at the clause level and will treat them as binding from that date.
WHS legislation for New South Wales
WHS Act
Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW)
WHS Regulation
Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 (NSW)
Regulator
SafeWork NSW
Duty-holder term
PCBU
Key codes of practice for New South Wales SWMS
These codes are commonly cited in construction SWMS for New South Wales. RAE IQ references the applicable codes at the clause level when drafting your document.
- How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice (NSW)
- Construction Work Code of Practice (NSW)
- Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice (NSW)
- Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work Code of Practice (NSW)
- Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice (NSW)
Three steps to a NSW SWMS.
- 1
Tell us about the work
A guided form captures the activity, site, people and conditions: the inputs your safety document actually needs.
- 2
We ground the draft
The drafting engine applies your state's WHS Act, regulations, codes of practice and any reference documents you've uploaded.
- 3
You review and ship
Edit anything, accept the rest, and download a signature-ready PDF with your logo and the right legislation citations.
SWMS New South Wales — frequently asked questions
What legislation governs SWMS in New South Wales?
In NSW, the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) and the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 (NSW) govern SWMS. The regulator is SafeWork NSW. From 1 July 2026, section 26A of the NSW WHS Act makes approved Codes of Practice enforceable duties rather than just evidence of how to comply.
What does the NSW s26A change mean for SWMS?
Before 1 July 2026, a Code of Practice shows one way to comply with the WHS Act. After 1 July 2026, under s26A, following the Code is a duty in its own right. A SWMS that does not engage with the relevant Code clauses is no longer just a weaker document — it is potentially non-compliant. RAE IQ automatically treats NSW Codes as binding from 1 July 2026.
Does RAE IQ cite SafeWork NSW as the regulator for NSW SWMS?
Yes. Every NSW document names SafeWork NSW as the regulator, references the WHS Act 2011 (NSW) and WHS Regulation 2017 (NSW), and cites the applicable NSW codes of practice. From 1 July 2026, codes are cited as binding duties under s26A.
Which NSW codes apply to a construction SWMS?
The Construction Work Code of Practice and the How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice are cited in almost every NSW construction SWMS. Depending on the scope, the Falls Code, Manual Handling Code, Confined Spaces Code, Excavation Code, or Demolition Code may also apply.
Other states and territories