Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work
The Safe Work Australia model code of practice for construction work: principal contractors, designers and commissioning clients, safe work method statements for high risk construction work, WHS management plans, white card and site induction, site security, excavation and general workplace arrangements. Guidance, not law: once a jurisdiction approves it under WHS Act s 274 it is admissible evidence of what is reasonably practicable (s 275).
Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work is a compliance framework from Australia (model for the harmonised WHS jurisdictions: Commonwealth, NSW, Qld, SA, WA, Tas, ACT, NT; not Victoria) with 7 domains and 49 controls that map to 1 other frameworks. The largest domains are Section 7 and Appendices J and K: General workplace management arrangements – Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work (10 controls), Section 2: Specific duties relating to construction work – Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work (9 controls), Section 4: Safe work method statements – Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work (8 controls). Every control below carries what it requires and what an assessor expects to see.
Framework summaries on this platform are AI-assisted interpretations for educational and compliance planning purposes. They do not reproduce or replace the official standards. Refer to the authoritative source for the definitive text. Framework names and trademarks belong to their respective organisations.
Framework Domains (7)
Section 1: Construction work, projects and duty holders – Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::1.5 | 1.5 Every construction project has one principal contractor, properly authorised (r 293) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::1.6 | 1.6 Multiple and shared duties: each duty holder complies, no contracting out |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::1.7a | 1.7 Manage construction risks, physical and psychosocial, through the hierarchy of control (rr 297, 32 to 38) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::1.7b | 1.7 Consult workers at every step of risk management (ss 47, 48) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::1.7c | 1.7 Consult, cooperate and coordinate with other duty holders on site (s 46) |
Section 2: Specific duties relating to construction work – Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::2.1a | 2.1 Designers give the commissioning PCBU a written safety report on design-specific construction hazards (r 295) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::2.1b | 2.1 Persons who commission construction work consult the designer and pass on hazard information (rr 294, 296) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::2.1c | 2.1 Principal contractor site signage (r 308) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::2.1d | 2.1 Secure the construction workplace from unauthorised access (r 298) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::2.1e | 2.1 Obtain and provide underground essential services information before excavation (r 304) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::2.1f | 2.1 Manage excavation risks and support trenches of 1.5 metres or more (rr 305, 306) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::2.1g | 2.1 Officers exercise due diligence over construction WHS (s 27) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::2.2 | 2.2 Workers' duties, including keeping the white card available for inspection |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::2.3 | 2.3 Other persons at the site: reasonable care and compliance with instructions |
Section 3: The risk management process – Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::3.1 | 3.1 Identify physical and psychosocial construction hazards |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::3.2 | 3.2 Assess risks where it helps decide controls |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::3.3a | 3.3 Eliminate construction risks, then minimise by substitution, isolation and engineering |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::3.3b | 3.3 Administrative controls and PPE only after higher controls, or to add protection |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::3.3c | 3.3 Combine controls and check the combination introduces no new risk |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::3.4 | 3.4 Maintain and review controls, and revise the SWMS and WHS management plan with them (rr 37, 38) |
Section 4: Safe work method statements – Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::4.1 | 4.1 Prepare a SWMS before high risk construction work starts, and coordinate who prepares it (r 299) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::4.2a | 4.2 SWMS content: specific controls, accessible, workplace specific, generic versions reviewed |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::4.2b | 4.2 Consult workers and HSRs when preparing and reviewing a SWMS |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::4.2c | 4.2 Construction projects: SWMS reflects the WHS management plan and reaches the principal contractor first (rr 301, 312) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::4.3a | 4.3 Ensure work follows the SWMS; stop work when it does not (r 300) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::4.3b | 4.3 Make the SWMS readily accessible and instruct workers on it |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::4.3c | 4.3 Keep the SWMS until the work is complete, or 2 years after a notifiable incident (r 303) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::4.4 | 4.4 Review and revise the SWMS with workers when controls change (r 302) |
Section 5: WHS management plans for construction projects – Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::5.2 | 5.1 and 5.2 Prepare a written WHS management plan before the project starts, with the required content (r 309) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::5.3 | 5.3 Generic WHS management plans reviewed for each project |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::5.4 | 5.4 Make everyone doing the work aware of the plan and their right to inspect it (r 310) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::5.5 | 5.5 Review the plan to keep it current and tell people of revisions (r 311) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::5.6 | 5.6 Keep the plan until project completion, or 2 years after a notifiable incident (r 313) |
Section 6: Information, training, instruction and supervision – Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::6 | 6 Provide information, training, instruction and supervision for construction work (r 39) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::6.1a | 6.1 General construction induction training before construction work (rr 316, 317) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::6.1b | 6.1 Ensure each construction worker holds a white card or certification (rr 317, 319) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::6.2 | 6.2 Workplace specific induction training |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::6.3 | 6.3 Task-specific training developed and kept current |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::6.4 | 6.4 Supervision by trained and authorised supervisors |
Section 7 and Appendices J and K: General workplace management arrangements – Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::7a | 7 Principal contractor arranges compliance with the general workplace duties (r 314) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::7b | 7 Principal contractor manages materials, stored plant, traffic and essential services risks (r 315) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::D | Appendix D: Designers' duties for structures (WHS Act s 22 and r 295) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::K-env | Appendix J and K: Work environment, entry and exit, work areas, floors, lighting and heat (r 40) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::K-ep | Appendix J and K: Prepare, maintain, test and implement an emergency plan (r 43) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::K-fa | Appendix J and K: First aid equipment, facilities and trained first aiders (r 42) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::K-fac | Appendix J and K: Provide and maintain adequate, accessible facilities (r 41) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::K-fo | Appendix J and K: Manage falling object risks: prevent free fall, otherwise arrest it (rr 54, 55) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::K-ppe | Appendix J and K: Provide, select and use personal protective equipment (rr 44 to 47) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-construction-work::K-ri | Appendix J: Remote or isolated work (r 48) |
Maps to 1 other framework
Coverage is not the same as your position
This page shows what Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work overlaps with in general. Where your organisation actually stands, against the standard you are going for and the certifications you already hold, is a different question. Same graph and the same recorded refutations, scoped to you rather than to a pair.
The Compliance Position Diagnostic, $5,000 fixed, ten business daysWhat is Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work and who does it apply to?
Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work is a compliance framework from Australia (model for the harmonised WHS jurisdictions: Commonwealth, NSW, Qld, SA, WA, Tas, ACT, NT; not Victoria) with 7 domains and 49 controls. The Safe Work Australia model code of practice for construction work: principal contractors, designers and commissioning clients, safe work method statements for high risk construction work, WHS management plans, white card and site induction, site security, excavation and general workplace arrangements. Guidance, not law: once a jurisdiction approves it under WHS Act s 274 it is admissible evidence of what is reasonably practicable (s 275). It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
What does Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work actually require?
Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work has 49 controls organised across 7 domains. The largest domains are Section 7 and Appendices J and K: General workplace management arrangements – Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work (10 controls), Section 2: Specific duties relating to construction work – Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work (9 controls), Section 4: Safe work method statements – Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work (8 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
If I already comply with another framework, how much of Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work do I already cover?
Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work maps to 1 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are ISO 45001:2018 (71% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I implement Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work?
Start your Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work compliance journey by running a self-assessment on our platform to identify your current compliance posture. Our AI advisory can answer specific questions about Australia Model Code of Practice: Construction Work requirements, and cross-framework mapping helps you leverage existing controls from other frameworks you may already comply with. Create a free account to access all 49 controls and track your progress.
Start Your Compliance Journey
Create a free account to run self-assessments, get AI advisory, and track your compliance progress across 849 frameworks.
Get Started Free →Free forever — no credit card required