Safe Work Procedure template — the steps, written down
An SWP turns “everyone knows how we do it” into a written, step-by-step procedure — the document you train new workers from and hand an auditor when they ask how the task is controlled.
Free to fill and print
The worksheet opens in Blue Crane's Form Maker: fill the fields on screen, print, done — no account. Free PDFs carry a small Blue Crane footer line; the one-time Form Maker Pass ($12 for 30 days, $79 for a year) strips all Blue Crane text for clean, client-ready prints and auto-fills your company details on all 126 forms.
Worksheet and record, not a filing. Where an official form or filing exists, this prepares the information and keeps your copy — the filing itself is done with the regulator.
What goes in a Safe Work Procedure
A usable SWP fits on a page or two and covers:
- The task, plainly named — one SWP per task, not one for the whole trade
- The hazards of that task, specifically — not generic boilerplate
- Required PPE and equipment before starting
- The steps in order, written the way the work is actually done
- What to do when something goes wrong — stop-work and emergency steps
- Who wrote it, when, and when it gets reviewed
SWP, JHA, FLHA — which one?
They answer different questions. A JHA/JSA analyzes a job to find its hazards. An SWP is the standing instruction that results — how the task is done safely, every time. An FLHA is the daily field check that today’s conditions match the plan. Mature safety programs run all three.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Safe Work Procedure legally required?
Canadian OHS law places a general duty on employers to inform, instruct, and supervise workers so work is done safely. Written procedures are how that duty is evidenced for recurring or higher-risk tasks — and specific regulations require written procedures for certain work. If an auditor or officer asks how a task is controlled, the SWP is the answer they expect on paper.
How many SWPs does a contractor need?
One per recurring task that carries real risk — not one per trade. A small crew might run a dozen: ladder work, cutting, lockout, lifting with equipment, confined entry if it applies. Start with the tasks that would hurt someone the fastest.
Who should write the SWP?
Someone who actually does the task, with a supervisor or competent person reviewing it. A procedure written far from the work reads that way — and workers ignore documents that describe a job they do not recognize.
How often should SWPs be reviewed?
Review when the task, equipment, or site changes — and on a regular cycle regardless, so the review date on the document is never years old. The template carries an effective date and a review-due date for exactly that reason.
The paperwork is the easy part now.
The Blue Crane App keeps documents, certs, crew sign-offs, and costs per job site — the Form Maker is the free front door.