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How to pen a Safe Work Method Statement.
A Safe Work Method Statement is a document that sets out the High threat construction work (HRCW) activities to be performed at a work environment, the risks arising from these activities and the measures to be put in place to control the dangers to health and safety.
Tuesday, 24th May 2022.
Its primary function is to assist employees and managers to execute and keep an eye on the control measures established to make certain the work is carried out securely.
What is 'high threat construction work' (HRCW)?
High threat construction work is specified in WHS policies as construction work that:.
includes a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres (3 metres in South Australia); or.
includes demolition of an aspect of a structure that is load-bearing or otherwise related to the physical stability of the structure; or.
includes, or is most likely to include, the disturbance of asbestos; or.
involves structural modifications or repair work that require momentary assistance to prevent collapse; or.
is performed in an area at an office in which there is any movement 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.
includes making use of explosives; or.
is performed on or near pressurised gas circulation 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 a location that may have an infected or combustible environment; or.
involves tilt-up or precast concrete; or.
is performed on, in or adjacent to a roadway, train, shipping lane or other traffic passage that is in use by traffic besides pedestrians; or.
is carried out on a telecommunication tower; or.
is carried out in an area at an office in which there is any movement of powered mobile plant; or.
is performed in a location in which there are synthetic extremes of temperature; or.
is performed in or near water or other liquid that involves a threat of drowning; or.
includes diving work.
Keep In Mind: Victorian OHS guidelines have some slight variations of the above definition of HRCW.
How do I go about preparing a SWMS?
A typical approach to developing a SWMS includes the following:.
Gather all pertinent information about the work.
The very first job is to determine the types of HRCW that the work includes and how it is to be performed.
Discover the dangers.
Evaluation the proposed work and info about each job to identify the threats, i.e., the occasions or things that may cause harm to employees or other individuals. Information, such as codes of practice or assistance material, might be available in the site of your local office health and wellness regulator for particular construction tasks.
Talk to the pertinent workers.
In consultation with the workers that will carry out the HRCW, their supervisors and health and safety agents (if any) review the regional health and safety requirements, and the proposed work.
Consider the views of employees about the threats, the potential risk control measures and any site-specific matters that may affect the safety of the work. If there are other workers that could be impacted by the work they need to likewise be spoken with.
Keep in mind: There is a legal obligation to consult afflicted employees and their health and safety representatives when determining risks or selecting measures to control threat, and to take their views into account.
Select the most appropriate control measures to get rid of or minimise threats.
To pick the most appropriate control measures you require to use the 'hierarchy of control' as detailed in steps 1 to 5 listed below. HIA's info sheet The Hierarchy of Control describes how the hierarchy of control applies to the requirements for handling workplace threats and dangers.
You must look for to remove threats so far as is fairly practicable (e.g., doing as much work as possible on the ground rather than at height).
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If it is not fairly practicable to eliminate dangers, you should implement any specific control measures that are necessary by law in your State or Area.
Some work environment health and safety laws recommend specific control measures that should be gotten managing dangers to health and wellness emerging from particular threats or activities. Examples consist of, however are not restricted to, work including asbestos, work at height, operate in restricted areas. Particular requirements are in the work environment health and wellness laws available in the website of your local workplace health and safety regulator.
After executing step 2, if a threat stays, the threat should be minimised so far as is fairly practicable by carrying out one, or a combination of the following:.
Substituting a process or substance with one that is less hazardous. For example, wet sweeping instead of dry sweeping of dangerous dusts such as crystalline silica.
Isolating employees and other persons from the risk. For example by installing barriers between workers and mobile plant.
Utilising engineering controls. For example, using a raised work platform or a scaffold to minimise the risk of falling from height.
If after carrying out the above control determines a threat to health or security still remains, decrease that risk, so far as is reasonably practicable, by Utilising administrative controls. This consists of, safety training, work directions, warning indications and supervision. For instance, if a scaffold used to reduce threats you may need to include scaffold tags showing appropriate optimum loads, signs for incomplete scaffolds. You might likewise need to explain the training required for those setting up the scaffold and the guidance of scaffold users.
If a danger to health or safety still remains after executing the above, minimise that threat, up until now as is reasonably practicable by providing individual protective devices (PPE). This consists of using protective clothes such as safety glasses, hard hats, gloves, respiratory defense, or a mix of proper PPE.
Most of the times, a combination of control procedures will need to be applied to minimise risks as far as is fairly practicable.
Writing the SWMS - What details must be consisted of?
A SWMS needs to:.
determine the work that is high danger construction work.
specify the risks associating with the high danger construction work and the dangers to health and wellness.
describe the steps to be implemented to manage the threats, and.
describe how the control procedures are to be implemented, monitored and evaluated.
For an example of how to do this see: How to complete a SWMS when Utilising silica.
The control measures must be set out and expressed in such a way that is easily accessible and understandable to the individuals who will use the SWMS. Explain in clear terms how dangers to health and safety are to be managed to allow the work to be done securely, and how the control procedures are to be executed.
You can utilise any form or design template to compose up the SWMS, consisting of paper and electronic formats, provided the above information is included and is readily available.
Can I utilise a generic SWMS?
A generic SWMS can be utilised after it has been evaluated and modified as required to ensure that it covers all the threats and risks that are present on the site where the work is to be performed. A generic SWMS needs to be reviewed/revised prior to commencing the work and prior to beginning a new activity or a modification in work area or situations.
For additional information about SWMS and your obligations go to the website of your local workplace health and safety authority and look for safe work approach statements.

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