Materials and duct lifter SWMS, drafted for your job
A duct lifter raises awkward loads on a small footprint; a load off-centre or a mast run up into a ceiling service brings it back down the hard way. Describe the work and the site: your SWMS is drafted around those details, ready for your crew to check before starting.
A$39per job
However many high-risk activities it covers.
- However many high-risk activities it covers.
- 3 for A$99
- 10 for A$249
- Yearly A$129 for 120
- Monthly A$60 for 10
You review it on site before work starts.
Your Business
Safe Work Method Statement
Version 1
Draft
Materials and duct lifter
Site Your site address
Law Your state
High-risk construction work
Job steps, hazards and controls
| 1 | Check the lifter and the load | Damaged cable and oversized load | High | Inspect the winch; confirm weight and rating |
| 2 | Set the lifter on firm ground | Tipping on soft or sloping floor | High | Level footing; brakes and legs set |
| 3 | Seat and secure the load | Off-centre load on the forks | High | Centre, strap and test the balance |
| 4 | Raise and position the load | Overhead services and pinch points | High | Clear the path; people out from under |
| 5 | Fix the load and lower away | Load left unsupported | High | Secure the load before releasing support |
Illustrative first page. Yours carries your business name only.
What you get
What your materials and duct lifter SWMS will contain
An A4 document your crew can read on site, a PDF for the builder and a sign-on register.
- Job and site detailsYour business, the site, the principal contractor, the dates.
- High-risk construction workThe categories your job involves, ticked.
- Step-by-step methodEach step with its hazards, risk rating and controls.
- How controls are checkedWho puts each control in place, monitors and reviews it.
- PPE, plant and permitsEquipment and training the job needs.
- Emergency planAssembly point, first aid, nearest hospital to confirm on site.
- Consultation and reviewWho was consulted, when it is reviewed.
- Sign-on registerYour crew signs by QR or on paper.
High-risk construction work
High-risk work on this job
This task is not usually high-risk construction work. If your job involves any category, tick it when you start and the SWMS covers it.
State notes
Rules depend on your state
Pick your state when you start. Your state's regulator publishes the rules and guidance for this work.
Hazards and controls
What goes wrong on a materials and duct lifter job, and how the SWMS controls it
These rows are written for this task. Your draft adds the ones your site and method need.
- 1
Load sliding off the lifter forks as it rises
High- Centre and strap or cradle the load on the carriage before lifting
- Keep the load within the lifter's rated capacity
- 2
Lifter tipping on uneven floor or a side pull
High- Set the lifter on firm level ground with legs or brakes locked
- Raise vertically only; reposition the lifter rather than dragging a load sideways
- 3
Winch or cable failing under load
High- Inspect the cable, brake and carriage before each use
- Keep people out from under the load and lower in a controlled way
- 4
Mast or load striking overhead services and fittings
High- Check the lift path for lights, sprinklers, pipes and cables first
- Isolate or reroute where the load cannot pass clear
- 5
Worker beneath a raised load while it is adjusted
High- Keep people clear of the raised load and work from beside it
- Lower onto stable supports before adjusting the load or its carriage restraints
- 6
Hands pinched in the mast and cable mechanism
Medium- Keep hands off the mast, pulleys and cable while raising or lowering
- Stop movement before clearing a snag or adjusting the carriage
- 7
Trips over lifter legs in tight work areas
Medium- Mark the lifter feet and keep the working route clear of materials
- Plan the travel path before the lifter is loaded
How the job usually runs
- 1Check the lifter and the loadDamaged cable and oversized load → Inspect the winch; confirm weight and rating
- 2Set the lifter on firm groundTipping on soft or sloping floor → Level footing; brakes and legs set
- 3Seat and secure the loadOff-centre load on the forks → Centre, strap and test the balance
- 4Raise and position the loadOverhead services and pinch points → Clear the path; people out from under
- 5Fix the load and lower awayLoad left unsupported → Secure the load before releasing support
PPE for this job
- Safety boots
- Work gloves
- Safety glasses
- Safety helmet for overhead work
Your draft lists the PPE your site and method need.
After you finalise
Brief your crew and send it to your builder
Crew signs by QR
Send to my builder
PDF and register
Builder sent it back?
Make their changes and re-issue the same job free. Workers re-sign the new version.
Questions
Materials and duct lifter SWMS questions
- Last reviewed
- 21 October 2026
- How
- Hazard rows checked against the task; no legal line is stated unless it is logged from primary text.
- Next review
- Every six months, or when the method or rules change
Does it cover hand-winch and powered lifters?
Yes. Name the lifter and the load. The draft covers cable and brake checks, a firm level base, strapping the load and keeping people out from under it for both types.
What if the load will not sit balanced on the forks?
An unbalanced load needs repacking, a suitable attachment or another lifting method before raising. The draft covers centring and securing the load, then checking balance with people clear.
Does it cover lifting to ceiling height?
Yes. Describe the height and what is overhead. The draft covers checking the path for services and fittings, raising vertically and securing the load before the lifter is released.
How much does a materials and duct lifter SWMS cost?
One job uses 1 SWMS when you finalise: A$39 for one, however many high-risk activities it covers. AI drafting needs a SWMS pack or plan. Packs and Yearly cost less per SWMS.
Is this a template?
No. You describe the job and the site, and the SWMS is drafted for them. You edit anything, then finalise it.
Who checks the SWMS?
You do, with your crew, on site before work starts. The draft gives you a strong starting point; the person running the work makes sure it matches the site.
My builder sent it back. What now?
Open it, make the changes they asked for and re-issue it. Corrections to the same job are free.
How does my crew sign it?
Show the QR code on your phone or print the A4 sign-on sheet. Workers read and sign on their own phones without an account.
Does it work in my state?
Yes. You choose the state before drafting, and the document names the law that applies there. Victoria uses its OHS Regulations.
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