HRCW (High-Risk Construction Work)
HRCW stands for High-Risk Construction Work. It's a legal category under WHS Regulation reg 291 that triggers a mandatory SWMS before work starts.
Ask Chalkline about this →HRCW stands for High-Risk Construction Work. It is a defined legal category under Australian WHS law, set out in reg 291 of the model Work Health and Safety Regulations (adopted in all jurisdictions except Victoria, which uses reg 322 of the OHS Regulations 2017). Any construction activity that falls into one of the 18 HRCW categories requires a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) to be prepared and in place before the work starts.
The 18 categories include work where a person could fall more than 2 m, work involving asbestos disturbance, work in or near a confined space, work in a trench or shaft deeper than 1.5 m, structural alterations requiring temporary support, tilt-up or precast concrete, work near live electrical installations, and work near water with a drowning risk, among others. On a residential build, fall risk (category 1) and confined space entry (category 6) are the most frequently triggered.
HRCW is a different concept from High-Risk Work (HRW), which covers activities requiring a specific licence (such as rigging, dogging, or scaffold erection above 4 m). Some activities trigger both: scaffolding above 4 m is HRCW (requiring a SWMS) and may also require an HRW licence.
Also known as: high risk construction work
Category: WHS / safety
Related
- HRCW: The 18 High-Risk Construction Work categories
- SWMS: When it’s required and how to write one
- Confined spaces in residential construction
See also
Last updated: 2026-05-10. Verified: 2026-05-10. Quarterly review for currency.