Solar Installation Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) Template
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This Solar Installation Safe Work Method Statement, or Solar Installation SWMS, is an easy-to-use form that your workers can use to plan and manage solar installation risks before installing panels, mounting systems, wiring, or related equipment. Easily select the scope of work, possible hazards, and required PPE from a list of choices, then work through a ready-to-use list of job steps, risk assessments, and method statements for common solar installation activities.
After a solar installation SWMS you can fill out on site and make your own? It comes pre-filled with solar installation job steps, risk assessments, and method statements you can edit to match how your company works, and your crew can scan to sign on before starting and export the finished SWMS to PDF or CSV.
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What is Solar Installation Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)?
A Solar Installation Safe Work Method Statement, or Solar Installation SWMS, is a document used by site teams, supervisors, electricians, and solar installers to plan how solar installation work will be carried out safely. This SWMS usually includes details on the work area, roof access, fall protection, electrical isolation, panel handling, tools, weather conditions, PPE, job steps, hazards, risk ratings, and control measures.
Due to the risks that come with solar installation work, hazards such as falls from height, electric shock, manual handling injuries, falling objects, roof fragility, heat exposure, sharp edges, and poor weather conditions have to be planned around to lessen potential accidents. This makes Solar Installation SWMS documents highly relevant in Australian construction, electrical, roofing, facilities management, residential building, commercial projects, and renewable energy works where solar systems are installed, connected, tested, or maintained.
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Applicable Standards and Policies for Solar Installation Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)
There are generally no explicit formatting requirements for a Solar Installation Safe Work Method Statement. However, Australian WHS laws require PCBUs to prepare a SWMS for high-risk construction work where applicable, and to document hazards, risks, and control measures involved in solar panel installation, electrical work, roof access, working at height, and manual handling. A Solar Installation SWMS is a good document to support compliance with this.
- Model WHS Regulations require a SWMS for high-risk construction work in Australia
- Safe Work Australia’s Construction Work Code of Practice covers SWMS requirements for high-risk construction work
- Safe Work Australia’s Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice 2018 covers work at height risks
- AS/NZS 5033:2021 covers installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic arrays
- AS/NZS 3000:2018 covers electrical installation safety requirements in Australia and New Zealand
Staff Members and Parties that use Solar Installation Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)
A Solar Installation SWMS is primarily used by project teams that manage solar panel installation, roof work, electrical connections, mounting systems, manual handling, and work near live electrical equipment. Here are examples of other common parties that use a Solar Installation SWMS:
- Solar installers and electricians
- Site supervisors and project managers
- Roof workers
- Health and safety teams
- Contractors and subcontractors carrying out solar installation work
Business Risks Reduced by Solar Installation Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)
A Solar Installation SWMS puts controls in place for the hazards behind most solar installation incidents, such as falls from height, electric shock, manual handling, falling objects, roof damage, poor weather, and incorrect isolation of electrical systems. Applied consistently, it reduces the following business risks.
- Injuries, fatalities, and solar installation-related incidents
- Non-compliance with Australian SWMS, electrical, and work at height requirements
- Legal claims, enforcement action, and incident-related costs
- Project delays from injuries, electrical faults, damaged panels, and site shutdowns
Business Opportunities Created by Solar Installation Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)
A well-prepared Solar Installation SWMS helps businesses improve control over solar installation, roof access, electrical work, and work at height activities. Here are some ways a well-designed Solar Installation SWMS can help businesses:
- Improve worker confidence before solar installation work begins
- Strengthen contractor prequalification and tender competitiveness
- Improve coordination between supervisors, installers, electricians, and roof workers
- Build trust with clients, regulators, insurers, and project stakeholders
What Should be Included in a Solar Installation SWMS?
A Solar Installation SWMS should be prepared before solar installation work is carried out as part of high risk construction work. While exact requirements can vary across Australian states, territories, projects, and principal contractor requirements, there are some core elements that are typically included that you should know about:
- Scope of work, site location, roof type, solar system details, and responsible persons
- Job steps for delivery, access, roof work, mounting, panel handling, cabling, testing, commissioning, and clean-up
- Hazards such as falls, fragile roof areas, electric shock, manual handling, weather exposure, dropped objects, and silica dust
- Required controls such as edge protection, harness systems, roof access controls, isolation, lockout, PPE, exclusion zones, and licensed electrical work
- Risk ratings, emergency procedures, rescue arrangements, worker consultation, sign-off, and review requirements
Why are Solar Installation SWMS Important?
Solar Installation SWMS are important because solar work can expose workers to fall risks, electrical hazards, fragile roof materials, manual handling injuries, and changing weather conditions. This is critically important on residential, commercial, and industrial projects where workers may install panels on roofs, near live electrical services, around roof penetrations, or above occupied areas.
Essentially, a Solar Installation SWMS helps confirm that the work steps, height controls, electrical isolation, roof access, and emergency arrangements have been reviewed before the task begins. Additionally, it gives project management teams clear documentation of the due diligence performed, supporting consultation, site coordination, and compliance with Australian WHS requirements for high risk construction work.
How to Create a Solar Installation Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)
Building effective Solar Installation SWMS forms requires the right structure and information. In this section, we explain how to create your own SWMS forms from scratch.
Before starting your Solar Installation Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) form, the following pre-requisites should be ready.
- Project or site details are required.
- Solar installation scope and work area must be listed.
- High-risk construction work details must be covered.
- Hazards, risks, and control measures must be stated.
- Electrical isolation and working at height controls must be included.
- PPE, roof access, weather, and manual handling needs must be noted.
- Worker sign-off and SWMS review requirements must be recorded.
Start with Project and SWMS Information
First, you need to place high-level general information at the beginning of your Solar Installation Safe Work Method Statement to help establish context for the work to be done. Here are some examples of core elements that you can use:
- Project name and site location
- SWMS title and document reference number
- Description of solar installation works to be completed
- Name of the PCBU, contractor, or subcontractor
- Names and roles of workers, supervisors, installers, and electricians
Define the Scope of Solar Installation Works
Next, you will want to define the scope of work so it is clear what solar installation activities are covered by the SWMS. For example, you will want to list the following information in your Solar Installation SWMS:
- Type of solar PV system being installed
- Roof area, mounting location, or installation zone
- Panels, rails, brackets, inverters, batteries, cables, and other components required
- Access equipment, ladders, scaffold, or EWP requirements
- Delivery, lifting, storage, and exclusion zone requirements
Assess Solar Installation Hazards
It is important that potential hazards are identified before solar installation work starts so the appropriate safety control measures can be implemented. Common hazards that you should look out for include:
- Falls from roofs, ladders, scaffolds, or elevated work areas
- Electrical shock from live electrical systems, PV panels, cabling, or inverters
- Manual handling of panels, rails, tools, and equipment
- Falling tools, materials, or solar panels
- Heat, glare, wind, rain, fragile roofing, or poor roof access
Record Safety Control Measures and Work Method
After the hazards are identified, you will want to determine the appropriate safety control measures to reduce risks for your workers and nearby site personnel. Be sure to document the following information in your SWMS:
- Fall prevention, roof access, edge protection, and harness requirements
- Electrical isolation, testing, and qualified worker requirements
- Safe lifting, panel handling, and material storage controls
- Exclusion zones, signs, barricades, and falling object controls
- Work sequence for set-up, roof access, mounting, cabling, installation, testing, clean-up, and handover
Complete Review, Approval, and Worker Sign-Off
Complete your Solar Installation SWMS with review, approval, and worker sign-off to confirm that the work method and safety control measures have been communicated before work starts. Here are some examples of fields you can include:
- Names and roles of reviewers and approvers
- Date of review and approval
- Worker confirmation that the SWMS has been read and understood
- Supervisor or person in charge sign-off
- Revision number and next review trigger
Frequently asked questions
How to create SWMS Process in an App or Software System
A well-designed SWMS process ensures workers clearly understand the hazards, risks, and required control measures to perform high-risk work, while enabling your team to easily document, review, and share safe work procedures before work begins.
40 minutes
Medium difficulty
Start your Solar Installation SWMS with General Information
It is important to begin your Solar Installation Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) with key project, site, date, reference, and location details so the document can be traced to the correct rooftop solar installation activity. This section should use simple text and date fields for fields such as:
- Text field or Automatic Form Counter for SWMS Reference Number
- Date selector field for Date
- Text fields for Project Name and Address
- Text field or Automatic Single Day Weather capture
- Multi-line text field for Description of Work
Create a Section for Scope of Work, Hazards, and PPE
Next, create a section where users can select the project scope, possible hazards, and required PPE for the solar installation works. For simplicity, we recommend using multiple-choice selector fields for this section, with fields such as:
- Multiple-choice selector field for Project Scope
- Multiple-choice selector field for Possible Hazards
- Multiple-choice selector field for PPE Required, including Safety Harness
- Conditional text field for other hazards or PPE not listed in the pre-filled choices
Create a Table for Material and Equipment Information
Users will next need to list the solar panels, mounting rails, brackets, inverter equipment, and other equipment required for the task. We highly recommend using a table for this section so each item can be recorded with its make, asset details, and required training information.
- First column for Material or Equipment Name
- Second column for Make or Model
- Third column for Registration or Asset ID, if any
- Fourth column for Required License or Training, if any
Create a Table for the Method Statement and Risk Assessment
Next, create the main SWMS table where users can record each solar installation job step, hazards, risk scores, controls, and responsible persons. We highly recommend using a table for this section, with the following formatting for the columns:
- First column for Job Step
- Second column for Potential Hazards
- Third column for Initial Risk Score
- Fourth column for Controls
- Fifth column for Residual Risk Score
- Sixth column for Person Responsible
Add Pre-filled Method Statement Rows for Solar Installation Work
After the main table is created, add pre-filled rows that reflect the most common solar installation job steps in the attached SWMS. These rows help users complete the form faster while still allowing the SWMS to be adjusted for the actual site task.
- Row for Pre-start planning, site setup and equipment inspection
- Row for Accessing the roof and installing mounting rails and brackets
- Row for Lifting, positioning and securing solar panels
- Row for Installing electrical cabling, inverter connections and commissioning system
Create a Section for Additional High-Risk or Site-Specific Steps
Some solar installation tasks may require extra job steps depending on hoisting needs, roof access, wind conditions, exclusion zones, falling loads, or how panels and mounting materials are transferred to the roof. We highly recommend creating an additional method statement table so users can add extra risk assessment rows when needed.
- Columns for Job Step, Potential Hazards, Likelihood, Consequence, Initial Risk Score, Controls, Residual Risk Score, and Person Responsible
- Dropdown fields for Likelihood and Consequence scores
- Risk Score = Likelihood Rating x Consequence Rating
Create a Section for Risk Matrix Guidance
Next, add a risk matrix section as a guide for users to assess initial and residual risk scores for any additional job steps they may add. We highly recommend using the following fields and features to help guide users:
- Pre-filled or photo of the Risk Matrix table showing Likelihood, Consequence, and Risk Score levels
- Pre-filled text field for Consequence ratings from 1 to 5
- Pre-filled text field for Likelihood ratings from 1 to 5
- Pre-filled guide for residual risk actions, including Low, Moderate, High, and Catastrophic risk outcome
End your Solar Installation SWMS with Worker and Supervisor Sign-offs
Finally, complete the Solar Installation Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) with worker confirmation and sign-off fields for the responsible parties. If your app or software allows, use scan-to-sign and automatic e-signature fields to keep the sign-off process digital.
- A scan to sign-on table for workers’ sign-off
- E-signature field for Supervisor Sign-off
- E-signature field for Project Manager Sign-off
- Automatic date and time stamp fields for each sign-off
About the author
Ron Gadugdug
Engineering Content Writer
Education:
Cebu Institute of Technology - University - Civil Engineering
Bio:
Ron is a Civil Engineer with 6 years of experience in the construction industry, primarily focused on quantity surveying, cost estimation, project management, quality control, contract administration, and property & engineering insurance. At Sitemate, he writes about practical applications of evolving technologies and digital solutions that support construction professionals in improving efficiency, compliance, and project delivery across the built world.
Project Details:
Quantity Surveying & Cost Engineering
Performed quantity take-offs of several high-rise and horizontal structures using sheets and applications like Revit and Bluebeam Revu, and spearheaded trials with Building Information Modeling (BIM) software.
Project Management & Consultancy
Coordinated with project management teams during the construction of local projects such as a 4-tower hotel & resort, a 22 storey condominium project, and a school dormitory project.
Contract Administration
Assisted during contract biddings and negotiations with general contractors and sub-contractors, and oversaw progress reporting, billings, and payment.
Property & Engineering Insurance
Dedicated non-life claims handler, overseeing property and contractor all-risk insurance claims, risk management, and bonds.
Version History:
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