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How to pen an SWMS.
An SWMS 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 procedures to be put in place to manage the risks to health and safety.
Tuesday, 24th May 2022.
Its primary function is to assist employees and managers to implement and keep track of the control determines established to make sure the work is performed securely.

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

involves a threat of an individual falling more than 2 metres (3 metres in South Australia); or.
involves demolition of an element of a structure that is load-bearing or otherwise related to the physical stability of the structure; or.
involves, or is likely to involve, the disruption of asbestos; or.
includes structural changes or repair work that need temporary assistance to prevent collapse; or.
is carried out in an area at an office in which there is any motion of powered mobile plant; or.
is carried out in or near a confined area; or.
is performed in or near:.
a shaft or trench with an excavated depth greater than 1 5 metres; or.
a tunnel; or.
includes the use of explosives; or.
is carried out on or near pressurised gas distribution mains or piping; or.
is carried out on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines; or.
is carried out on or near energised electrical installations or services; or.
is performed in an area that may have an infected or flammable environment; or.
includes tilt-up or precast concrete; or.
is carried out on, in or adjacent to a road, train, shipping lane or other traffic corridor that is in usage by traffic aside from pedestrians; or.
is carried out on a telecommunication tower; or.
is performed in an area at a workplace in which there is any movement of powered mobile plant; or.
is performed in a location in which there are artificial extremes of temperature; or.
is carried out in or near water or other liquid that includes a threat of drowning; or.
includes diving work.
Note: Victorian OHS guidelines have some slight variations of the above definition of HRCW.

How do I set about preparing a SWMS?
A typical technique to establishing a SWMS involves the following:.

Collect all appropriate info about the work.
The first task is to figure out the kinds of HRCW that the work includes and how it is to be performed.

Discover the risks.
Review the proposed work and info about each job to determine the dangers, i.e., the events or things that might cause damage to workers or other people. Info, such as codes of practice or guidance material, may be offered in the website of your local office health and safety regulator for particular construction jobs.

Speak with the relevant employees.
In assessment with the employees that will carry out the HRCW, their managers and health and wellness representatives (if any) evaluate the regional health and wellness requirements, and the proposed work.

Think about the views of workers about the threats, the possible risk control measures and any site-specific matters that might affect the safety of the work. If there are other employees that could be affected by the work they should likewise be consulted.

Note: There is a legal commitment to consult affected workers and their health and safety representatives when determining dangers or choosing steps to manage threat, and to take their views into account.

Select the most proper control procedures to eliminate or lower threats.

To choose the most proper control procedures you require to apply the 'hierarchy of control' as detailed in steps 1 to 5 listed below. HIA's information sheet The Hierarchy of Control explains how the hierarchy of control applies to the requirements for handling office hazards and risks.

You should look for to eliminate threats so far as is fairly practicable (e.g., doing as much work as possible on the ground rather than at height).
If it is not reasonably practicable to remove dangers, you need to execute any particular control steps that are obligatory by law in your State or Area.
Some work environment health and safety laws prescribe specific control steps that should be looked for handling risks to health and safety arising from specific threats or activities. Examples include, however are not limited to, work involving asbestos, work at height, operate in restricted areas. Specific requirements remain in the office health and wellness laws offered in the site of your regional work environment health and wellness regulator.

After executing action 2, if a danger remains, the threat should be lowered up until now as is fairly practicable by carrying out one, or a combination of the following:.
Replacing a procedure or substance with one that is less hazardous. For instance, wet sweeping instead of dry sweeping of harmful dusts such as crystalline silica.
Isolating workers and other individuals from the hazard. By setting up barriers in between employees and mobile plant.
Utilising engineering controls. For example, Utilising an elevated work platform or a scaffold to reduce the risk of falling from height.
If after implementing the above control measures a danger to health or security still stays, decrease that danger, so far as is reasonably practicable, by Utilising administrative controls. This consists of, security training, work instructions, alerting signs and supervision. For instance, if a scaffold utilised to decrease risks you may need to include scaffold tags showing acceptable maximum loads, signs for insufficient scaffolds. You might also require to explain the training needed for those erecting the scaffold and the guidance of scaffold users.
If a threat to health or safety still remains after executing the above, reduce that threat, up until now as is reasonably practicable by providing personal protective devices (PPE). This consists of using protective clothes such as safety glasses, construction hats, gloves, respiratory protection, or a mix of appropriate PPE.
A mix of control measures will require to be used to reduce risks as far as is fairly practicable.

Preparing up the SWMS - What details must be consisted of?
A SWMS needs to:.

recognise the work that is high risk construction work.
define the dangers associating with the high risk construction work and the dangers to health and safety.
explain the measures to be implemented to control 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 complete a SWMS when using silica.

The control steps need to be set out and revealed in a way that is readily available and understandable to the individuals who will utilise the SWMS. Explain in clear terms how threats to health and safety are to be controlled to make it possible for the work to be done safely, and how the control steps are to be executed.

You can use any kind or template to produce up the SWMS, consisting of paper and electronic formats, provided the above details is included and is easily available.

Can I use a generic SWMS?
A generic SWMS can be used after it has been reviewed and modified as needed to make sure that it covers all the hazards and risks that exist on the site where the work is to be carried out. A generic SWMS needs to be reviewed/revised prior to starting the work and prior to beginning a brand-new activity or a change in work area or circumstances.

For additional information about SWMS and your obligations go to the site of your regional work environment health and safety authority and search for safe work technique declarations.
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