Notes

How to compose an SWMS.
A Safe Work Method Statement is a document that sets out the High threat construction work (HRCW) activities to be performed at a workplace, the dangers developing from these activities and the steps to be put in place to control the threats to health and safety.
Tuesday, 24th May 2022.
Its main purpose is to help workers and supervisors to implement and monitor the control determines established to make certain the work is carried out securely.

What is 'high danger construction work' (HRCW)?
High threat construction work is defined in WHS guidelines as construction work that:.

includes a threat 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 integrity of the structure; or.
involves, or is most likely to include, the disruption of asbestos; or.
includes structural modifications or repair work that require momentary assistance to prevent collapse; or.
is carried out in a location at a workplace in which there is any motion of powered mobile plant; or.
is carried out in or near a restricted space; or.
is carried out in or near:.
a shaft or trench with an excavated depth greater than 1 5 metres; or.
a tunnel; or.
includes the use of dynamites; 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 performed on or near energised electrical setups or services; or.
is carried out in a location that might have a contaminated or combustible atmosphere; 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 remains in usage by traffic other than pedestrians; or.
is carried out on a telecommunication tower; or.
is carried out in a location at a workplace in which there is any movement of powered mobile plant; or.
is carried out in an area in which there are synthetic extremes of temperature level; or.
is performed in or near water or other liquid that includes a threat of drowning; or.
includes diving work.
Note: Victorian OHS policies have some minor variations of the above definition of HRCW.

How do I go about preparing a SWMS?
A common method to establishing a SWMS involves the following:.

Gather all pertinent info 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.

Find out the threats.
Evaluation the proposed work and details about each task to identify the risks, i.e., the events or things that might cause harm to workers or other people. Info, such as codes of practice or assistance product, may be offered in the website of your regional office health and wellness regulator for particular construction jobs.

Talk to the pertinent workers.
In assessment with the workers that will undertake the HRCW, their managers and health and wellness representatives (if any) evaluate the local health and safety requirements, and the proposed work.

Consider the views of employees about the hazards, the prospective danger control steps and any site-specific matters that may affect the safety of the work. If there are other workers that could be affected by the work they must also be sought advice from.

Keep in mind: There is a legal responsibility to speak with afflicted employees and their health and wellness agents when determining hazards or selecting steps to control danger, and to take their views into account.

Select the most proper control procedures to get rid of or reduce threats.

To pick the most appropriate control measures you need to use the 'hierarchy of control' as detailed in steps 1 to 5 listed below. HIA's details sheet The Hierarchy of Control explains how the hierarchy of control applies to the requirements for managing work environment hazards and threats.

Initially, you should look for to remove dangers up until now as is reasonably practicable (e.g., doing as much work as possible on the ground instead of at height).
If it is not reasonably practicable to get rid of risks, you need to carry out any specific control procedures that are necessary by law in your State or Area.
Some office health and wellness laws recommend specific control procedures that must be requested managing threats to health and safety occurring from specific dangers or activities. Examples consist of, but are not restricted to, work including asbestos, work at height, operate in restricted spaces. Specific requirements are 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 remains, the danger should be lowered up until now as is reasonably practicable by implementing one, or a mix of the following:.
Replacing a process or substance with one that is less hazardous. Wet sweeping rather of dry sweeping of hazardous dusts such as crystalline silica.
Separating workers and other individuals from the risk. By installing barriers in between workers and mobile plant.
Utilising engineering controls. For example, Utilising an elevated work platform or a scaffold to lower the risk of falling from height.
If after executing the above control measures a threat to health or security still stays, minimise that risk, so far as is reasonably practicable, by Utilising administrative controls. This consists of, security training, work guidelines, cautioning indications and supervision. If a scaffold utilised to lower threats you may need to consist of scaffold tags showing acceptable optimum loads, signs for incomplete scaffolds. You might also require to describe the training needed for those setting up the scaffold and the supervision of scaffold users.
If a risk to health or security still remains after implementing the above, lower that risk, up until now as is reasonably practicable by offering personal protective equipment (PPE). This consists of using protective clothes such as shatterproof glass, hard hats, gloves, breathing protection, or a combination of proper PPE.
A combination of control procedures will need to be used to reduce risks as far as is reasonably practicable.

Writing the SWMS - What details must be included?
A SWMS needs to:.

determine the work that is high threat construction work.
define the hazards associating with the high danger construction work and the dangers to health and safety.
explain the measures to be carried out to control the threats, and.
describe how the control measures are to be implemented, kept track of and reviewed.
For an example of how to do this see: How to finish a SWMS when using silica.

The control measures should be set out and expressed in such a way that is readily available and comprehensible to the persons who will utilise the SWMS. Explain in clear terms how risks to health and wellness are to be managed to enable the work to be done securely, and how the control procedures are to be executed.

You can utilise any kind or template to make up the SWMS, including paper and electronic formats, offered the above information is consisted of and is readily available.

Can I use a generic SWMS?
A generic SWMS can be used after it has actually been reviewed and modified as necessary to ensure that it covers all the risks and threats that are present on the website where the work is to be carried out. A generic SWMS needs to be reviewed/revised prior to beginning the work and prior to starting a brand-new activity or a change in work area or situations.

To find out more about SWMS and your obligations go to the site of your regional office health and safety authority and search for safe work approach statements.
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