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How to write up a Safe Work Method Statement.
A Safe Work Method Statement is a document that sets out the High risk construction work (HRCW) activities to be performed at an office, the dangers arising from these activities and the measures to be put in place to manage the threats to health and wellness.
Tuesday, 24th May 2022.
Its primary function is to help employees and managers to execute and keep track of the control measures developed to ensure the work is carried out safely.

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

includes a threat of an individual falling more than 2 metres (3 metres in South Australia); or.
includes demolition of an element of a structure that is load-bearing or otherwise related to the physical integrity of the structure; or.
includes, or is likely to include, the disruption of asbestos; or.
involves structural modifications or repair work that need temporary support 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 performed 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 dynamites; or.
is carried out 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 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 remains in use by traffic aside from pedestrians; or.
is performed on a telecommunication tower; or.
is performed in a location at a workplace 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 level; or.
is performed in or near water or other liquid that involves a danger of drowning; or.
involves diving work.
Note: Victorian OHS policies have some slight variations of the above definition of HRCW.

How do I tackle preparing a SWMS?
A typical approach to establishing a SWMS includes the following:.

Gather all appropriate information about the work.
The very first job is to identify the types of HRCW that the work includes and how it is to be performed.

Find out the dangers.
Review the proposed work and info about each job to determine the risks, i.e., the occasions or things that may cause damage to workers or other individuals. Information, such as codes of practice or guidance product, might be readily available in the website of your regional office health and wellness regulator for specific construction jobs.

Consult with the appropriate workers.
In consultation with the workers that will carry out the HRCW, their managers and health and wellness representatives (if any) review the local health and wellness requirements, and the proposed work.

Consider the views of employees about the risks, 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 impacted by the work they should also be sought advice from.

Keep in mind: There is a legal obligation to speak with afflicted workers and their health and safety agents when identifying hazards or selecting measures to control risk, and to take their views into account.

Select the most proper control measures to eliminate or lower risks.

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 information sheet The Hierarchy of Control discusses how the hierarchy of control applies to the requirements for handling work environment risks and dangers.

Initially, you should seek to get rid of risks up until now 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 should implement any particular control procedures that are mandatory by law in your State or Area.
Some work environment health and safety laws recommend specific control measures that must be made an application for managing threats to health and safety developing from particular threats or activities. Examples include, but are not restricted to, work including asbestos, work at height, work in confined areas. Particular requirements remain in the workplace health and safety laws offered in the website of your regional work environment health and safety regulator.

After implementing step 2, if a risk remains, the risk should be decreased up until now as is reasonably practicable by carrying out one, or a mix of the following:.
Substituting a procedure or substance with one that is less dangerous. For example, wet sweeping instead of dry sweeping of hazardous dusts such as crystalline silica.
Isolating workers and other persons from the risk. For instance by setting up barriers in between workers and mobile plant.
Using engineering controls. Using a raised work platform or a scaffold to decrease the risk of falling from height.
If after implementing the above control measures a risk to health or security still stays, lower that risk, up until now as is fairly practicable, by Utilising administrative controls. This includes, safety training, work directions, warning indications and supervision. For example, if a scaffold used to lower risks you may need to consist of scaffold tags revealing appropriate maximum loads, signs for insufficient scaffolds. You might likewise need to describe the training required for those putting up the scaffold and the supervision of scaffold users.
If a danger to health or safety still stays after implementing the above, minimise that danger, so far as is fairly practicable by providing individual protective equipment (PPE). This includes using protective clothing such as shatterproof glass, hard hats, gloves, respiratory protection, or a combination of appropriate PPE.
In many cases, a mix of control procedures will require to be applied to minimise risks as far as is reasonably practicable.

Making up the SWMS - What information must be included?
A SWMS should:.

determine the work that is high threat construction work.
define the risks connecting to the high danger construction work and the dangers to health and safety.
explain the steps to be implemented to control the threats, and.
explain how the control steps are to be carried out, kept an eye on and evaluated.
For an example of how to do this see: How to complete a SWMS when Utilising silica.

The control procedures need to be set out and expressed in a way that is easily available and comprehensible to the individuals who will utilise the SWMS. Explain in clear terms how threats to health and wellness are to be controlled to enable the work to be done safely, and how the control steps are to be executed.

You can utilise any form or design template to produce up the SWMS, including paper and electronic formats, offered the above info is consisted of and is easily accessible.

Can I utilise a generic SWMS?
A generic SWMS can be used after it has been evaluated and revised as needed to ensure that it covers all the dangers and risks that exist on the website where the work is to be carried out. A generic SWMS requires to be reviewed/revised prior to commencing the work and prior to beginning a new activity or a modification in work location or situations.

For more information about SWMS and your commitments go to the site of your local office health and safety authority and search for safe work approach declarations.
safe work method statement

My Website: https://occupational-safety.com.au/collections/swms