SWMS template · Working at Heights
Edge Protection Installation — Safe Work Method Statement
Safe Work Method Statement for installing, inspecting and dismantling temporary edge protection systems on roofs, slab edges and open floor perimeters before other trades start work.
Last reviewed
- Category
- Working at Heights
- HRCW
- 1 category
- Job steps
- 6
- Hazards rated
- 10
- PPE items
- 7
Installing temporary edge protection is high-risk construction work (HRCW) because the installers are working at the unprotected edge, often more than 2 metres above the ground, before the guardrail exists. The job protects everyone who comes after, but the installers carry the highest fall risk on the project while doing it. A SWMS is required before the work starts.
Temporary edge protection should comply with AS/NZS 4994 (Temporary edge protection), which covers the general requirements and the installation and dismantling of roof edge protection. In practice that means a top rail between 900 mm and 1100 mm above the working surface, a mid rail or infill panel, and a toeboard. Rails must withstand the design loads without excessive deflection. On steeper roofs the system needs mesh infill or a catch platform to stop someone who slides down the roof from going under or over the rail. Check the manufacturer's maximum roof pitch and installation guide before you quote, not on the day.
The key hazards are falls from the edge during installation, failure of the supporting structure (fascias, rafters, parapets and slab edges that cannot take the clamp or post loads), components dropped onto people below, and gaps left at corners, ladder access points and changes in roof plane. Plan to install from outside the fall zone: work from an EWP or scaffold at the eaves where you can, or work from behind a restraint line that physically stops you reaching the edge. Fall arrest is a last resort and needs a rescue plan.
No high-risk work licence is needed to install edge protection, but installers must be trained in the specific system, and where the edge protection is a scaffold, the scaffolding licence rules apply. Check your state or territory regulator for local requirements.
Customise this template with the edge protection system brand and type (clamp, fascia, post, parapet or slab-edge), the roof pitch or slab height, how the installers will be protected during installation (EWP, scaffold, restraint or fall arrest and the rescue method), the structural capacity checks done on fascias, rafters or slab edges, and who signs the handover inspection before other trades are allowed onto the roof or floor.
Important: This SWMS template is a starting point only. Review and customise it for your workplace and task. The PCBU remains responsible for ensuring the SWMS is suitable for the work. Not legal advice.
High Risk Construction Work Types
- Risk of a person falling more than 2 metres
Personal Protective Equipment
- Hard hat with chin strap
- Full-body harness and restraint lanyard (AS/NZS 1891)
- Steel-capped non-slip safety boots
- Cut-resistant gloves
- Safety glasses
- High-visibility vest
- Hearing protection when drilling or using impact drivers
Risk Assessment
RatingsCatastrophicHighModerateLow
Step 1Site assessment and system selection
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edge protection system unsuitable for the roof pitch or supporting structure | High | Measure roof pitch and check fascia, rafter, parapet or slab-edge construction before installation day. Select a system whose installation guide covers this pitch and substrate. Where the fascia or parapet capacity is unknown, use a post or scaffold-based system, or get confirmation from the builder's engineer. Record the system and installation guide reference in the SWMS. | Low | Edge Protection Supervisor |
| Overhead power lines near the eaves or roof edge | Catastrophic | Identify all overhead lines during the site assessment. Keep people, rails and posts outside the approach distance set by your state or territory electrical safety regulator, or arrange with the network operator for the lines to be de-energised or shrouded before installation. Never carry long rails upright near lines. | Low | Edge Protection Supervisor |
Step 2Setting up exclusion zones and delivering components
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Components dropped onto workers or the public below | High | Barricade the ground below the installation area, extending at least 2 m beyond the edge line, and keep it in place until the system is complete. Lift components with a rope and bag, materials hoist, crane or telehandler. Never throw them up or down. Keep the loose components on the roof to only what is needed for the next section. | Low | Installers / Site Supervisor |
| Manual handling strain from carrying rails and posts up ladders | Moderate | Never carry components while climbing a ladder. Use a hoist, haul line or mechanical lifting. Use two-person carries for long rails and mesh panels. | Low | Installers |
Step 3Installing brackets, posts and rails at the edge
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installer falls from the unprotected edge during installation | Catastrophic | Install from an EWP or scaffold at the eaves where practicable. Where work must be done from the roof or slab, use a restraint line anchored to a rated anchor and adjusted so the installer cannot reach within 1 m of the edge, with only the hands and tools reaching past that line. Where restraint cannot be achieved, use fall arrest with a rated anchor, adequate clearance and a written rescue plan. Never work alone at the edge. | Moderate | Installers / Edge Protection Supervisor |
| Bracket or clamp pulling out of the fascia, rafter or slab edge | High | Fix brackets at the spacings and with the fixings in the manufacturer's installation guide, into the structural member and not just cladding or fascia board. Tighten clamps to the specified torque or setting. Check every fixing before the rail is loaded. | Low | Installers |
| Gaps at corners, ends, roof plane changes and access points | High | Run edge protection continuously around corners and return it at ends. Install mesh infill or a catch platform where the roof pitch requires it under the manufacturer's guide. Fit a self-closing gate or protected landing at the ladder or stair access point. Check for gaps larger than the system allows before handover. | Low | Installers |
Step 4Handover inspection and tagging
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incomplete or defective system used by other trades | Catastrophic | The supervisor walks the full perimeter and checks rail heights (900 to 1100 mm), mid rails or infill, toeboards, fixings and gate operation. Attach a dated handover tag at each access point. Other trades may not access the area until the tag is signed. Record the handover in the site register. | Low | Edge Protection Supervisor / Site Supervisor |
Step 5Ongoing inspection and modifications
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other trades removing rails or panels to get materials onto the roof | High | Brief all trades at induction that only the edge protection installer may alter the system. Inspect the system weekly, after strong winds and after any reported damage or interference. If a section must be opened for a crane lift, have a competent person do it, protect workers with restraint while it is open, and reinstate and re-inspect it the same day. | Moderate | Site Supervisor / Edge Protection Supervisor |
Step 6Dismantling the system
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall from the edge as rails are removed | Catastrophic | Confirm with the builder that all roof and edge work is finished and no other trade is on the roof. Dismantle in the reverse order of installation, using the same EWP, scaffold or restraint method as for installation. Keep the ground exclusion zone in place and lower components by hoist or rope. Do not drop them. | Moderate | Installers |
Relevant Codes of Practice
Worker Acknowledgement
By signing below, I confirm that I have read, understood and agree to comply with this Safe Work Method Statement.
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