SWMS, JHA, RAMS, SSSP: Safe Work Plans for Painters by Country
A SWMS in Sydney, a JHA in Seattle, a RAMS in Manchester, an SSSP in Auckland. Same painter, same hazards — different document, different regulator.
The safety document a painting contractor produces is called something different in every country. The structure is similar; the regulatory framework cited is what changes.
| Country | Document | Statute | Regulator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) | WHS Act 2011 | Safe Work Australia |
| United States | Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) | OSHA 29 CFR 1926 | OSHA |
| United Kingdom | Risk Assessment & Method Statement (RAMS) | HSWA 1974 | HSE |
| New Zealand | Site-Specific Safety Plan (SSSP) | HSWA 2015 | WorkSafe NZ |
| Canada | Site-specific safety plan (varies) | Provincial OHS Acts | Provincial WHS body |
When a painting business needs one
Almost always for commercial work. For residential, the trigger is high-risk construction work — which for painting includes:
- Working above 2 m (Australia, UK, NZ) or 6 ft (US) — covers most exterior repaints above ground floor.
- Spray application — atmospheric contamination.
- Lead paint disturbance — buildings pre-1970 (AU/NZ), pre-1978 (US), pre-1992 (UK).
- Asbestos — buildings pre-2003 (AU), pre-1999 (UK), pre-2016 (NZ).
- Work near energised electrical.
- Confined spaces.
What goes in the document
Whatever the country calls it, the content covers:
- Project address and painter business details
- Description of high-risk activities
- Hazards identified, with risk scores (5×5 matrix is standard)
- Control measures in hierarchy of control order — eliminate, substitute, engineer, administer, PPE
- Residual risk score after controls
- Worker sign-off acknowledging the plan
- Review trigger — when the document is reviewed
Auto-generation
Surfacely's safe work plan generator picks the right document for the painter's country and pre-fills painting-specific hazards from the project data — building age (lead, asbestos), surface application method (spray inhalation, enclosed-space spray), access equipment (scaffold, EWP, ladder), occupancy. The crew signs off via a QR code on the brief.