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How to pen a Safe Work Method Statement.
An SWMS is a document that sets out the High danger construction work (HRCW) activities to be performed at a work environment, the threats developing from these activities and the procedures to be put in place to control the dangers to health and wellness.
Tuesday, 24th May 2022.
Its main function is to assist workers and supervisors to implement and keep an eye on the control determines established to ensure the work is performed safely.
What is 'high risk construction work' (HRCW)?
High threat construction work is specified in WHS guidelines as construction work that:.
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includes a risk of an individual falling more than 2 metres (3 metres in South Australia); or.
involves demolition of an aspect of a structure that is load-bearing or otherwise related to the physical integrity of the structure; or.
includes, or is likely to involve, the disruption of asbestos; or.
involves structural changes or repairs that need short-term assistance to prevent collapse; or.
is carried out in a location at a work environment in which there is any motion of powered mobile plant; or.
is carried out in or near a confined space; or.
is performed in or near:.
a shaft or trench with an excavated depth greater than 1 5 metres; or.
a tunnel; or.
involves the use of explosives; or.
is performed on or near pressurised gas distribution mains or piping; or.
is performed on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines; or.
is carried out on or near energised electrical installations or services; or.
is carried out in an area that might have a contaminated or combustible atmosphere; or.
includes tilt-up or precast concrete; or.
is performed on, in or adjacent to a road, railway, delivering lane or other traffic corridor that remains in use by traffic aside from pedestrians; or.
is performed on a telecommunication tower; or.
is carried out in an area at a work environment in which there is any motion of powered mobile plant; or.
is carried out in an area in which there are synthetic extremes of temperature; or.
is carried out in or near water or other liquid that involves a threat of drowning; or.
involves diving work.
Note: Victorian OHS regulations have some small variations of the above meaning of HRCW.
How do I set about preparing a SWMS?
A normal technique to developing a SWMS involves the following:.
Collect all appropriate details about the work.
The very first job is to figure out the types of HRCW that the work includes and how it is to be performed.
Find out the risks.
Evaluation the proposed work and info about each job to determine the hazards, i.e., the occasions or things that might trigger harm to workers or other people. Information, such as codes of practice or assistance product, may be readily available in the site of your regional office health and safety regulator for particular construction tasks.
Seek advice from the appropriate employees.
In consultation with the employees that will carry out the HRCW, their managers and health and wellness agents (if any) evaluate the regional health and safety requirements, and the proposed work.
Think about the views of employees about the dangers, the prospective danger control procedures and any site-specific matters that might impact the security of the work. If there are other employees that could be affected by the work they need to also be sought advice from.
Note: There is a legal commitment to speak with affected employees and their health and wellness representatives when identifying dangers or choosing steps to control danger, and to take their views into account.
Select the most proper control steps to eliminate or decrease threats.
To choose the most proper control steps you need to apply the 'hierarchy of control' as detailed in steps 1 to 5 listed below. HIA's details sheet The Hierarchy of Control discusses how the hierarchy of control applies to the requirements for handling office hazards and threats.
You must look for to remove risks so far as is reasonably practicable (e.g., doing as much work as possible on the ground rather than at height).
If it is not fairly practicable to remove threats, you need to execute any particular control procedures that are necessary by law in your State or Area.
Some workplace health and wellness laws prescribe specific control steps that should be obtained handling threats to health and safety emerging from specific risks or activities. Examples consist of, but are not restricted to, work involving asbestos, work at height, operate in confined areas. Specific requirements remain in the workplace health and safety laws available in the website of your local work environment health and safety regulator.
After implementing action 2, if a threat stays, the risk must be decreased up until now as is reasonably practicable by executing one, or a combination of the following:.
Replacing a process or compound with one that is less dangerous. For example, damp sweeping instead of dry sweeping of harmful dusts such as crystalline silica.
Separating workers and other individuals from the threat. By installing barriers between employees and mobile plant.
Using engineering controls. Using a raised work platform or a scaffold to decrease the danger of falling from height.
If after implementing the above control measures a threat to health or security still stays, lower that danger, so far as is reasonably practicable, by using administrative controls. This includes, security training, work instructions, cautioning indications and guidance.
If a danger to health or security still remains after implementing the above, minimise that threat, up until now as is fairly practicable by supplying personal protective devices (PPE). This consists of Utilising protective clothes such as shatterproof glass, construction hats, gloves, breathing defense, or a combination of appropriate PPE.
For the most part, a combination of control steps will need to be applied to minimise dangers as far as is reasonably practicable.
Writing the SWMS - What details must be included?
A SWMS needs to:.
determine the work that is high danger construction work.
define the dangers connecting to the high threat construction work and the dangers to health and safety.
explain the steps to be implemented to manage the risks, and.
explain how the control measures are to be executed, monitored and evaluated.
For an example of how to do this see: How to finish a SWMS when Utilising silica.
The control procedures must be set out and revealed in a way that is readily accessible and understandable to the persons who will utilise the SWMS. Explain in clear terms how dangers to health and wellness are to be controlled to make it possible for the work to be done safely, and how the control procedures are to be carried out.
You can use any form or template to write the SWMS, including paper and electronic formats, offered the above details is included and is readily available.
Can I utilise a generic SWMS?
A generic SWMS can be used after it has been evaluated and modified as needed to ensure that it covers all the risks and threats that are present on the site where the work is to be carried out. A generic SWMS requires to be reviewed/revised prior to beginning the work and prior to starting a new activity or a modification in work location or scenarios.
For more information about SWMS and your commitments go to the website of your regional office health and wellness authority and search for safe work technique declarations.

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