A Safe Work Instruction (SWI), Safe Operating Instruction (SOI) or Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a process control that describes the step by step tasks required to complete a process.

Note that these types of process controls generally apply to standalone processes.

The elements of a standard SWI (in addition to title and scope) are:

 - Specific Hazards. Note that for clarity and ease of reading only the task specific hazards should be defined. For example a SWI for changing a drill string would include the hazard of rotating drill strings but not the hazard of heat exhaustion..

 - Conditions prior to activity (the trigger or start state). For example the preconditions required for drilling would include a drill plan on the drill, a handed over drill bench and authorisation from the Superintendent to commence driling.

 - Startup. How to start the activity. Includes pre-starting equipment, prestart checks etc.

 - Normal operations. What the process is when things happen according to plan.

 - Abnormal operations and recovery. What happens when things go wrong and how to make the process come back into line. Note that any check identified in the SWI indicates the potential for abnormal operation and must then define the indicators of this and the means to bring the process back under control. For example abnormal drilling would include lost drill strings and fishing techniques.

 - Shutdown. How to safely shutdown the activity. May include equipment shutdown, demarcation, communication etc.

 - End State. The the process has delivered. For example the drilling process delivers holes drilled to depth.