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How to come up with 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 carried out at a work environment, the threats developing from these activities and the measures to be put in place to manage the dangers to health and wellness.
Tuesday, 24th May 2022.
Its main function is to assist workers and supervisors to execute and monitor the control measures established to make certain the work is performed securely.

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

includes a danger of an individual falling more than 2 metres (3 metres in South Australia); or.
includes demolition of a component of a structure that is load-bearing or otherwise related to the physical stability of the structure; or.
includes, or is likely to include, the disturbance of asbestos; or.
includes structural modifications or repair work that need momentary support to prevent collapse; or.
is carried out in an area at a work environment in which there is any movement of powered mobile plant; or.
is performed in or near a restricted 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 carried out 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 flammable atmosphere; or.
involves tilt-up or precast concrete; or.
is performed on, in or adjacent to a road, train, delivering lane or other traffic passage that remains in use by traffic besides pedestrians; or.
is performed on a telecommunication tower; or.
is performed in a location 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 performed in or near water or other liquid that involves a risk of drowning; or.
includes diving work.
Keep In Mind: Victorian OHS guidelines have some minor variations of the above definition of HRCW.

How do I set about preparing a SWMS?
A normal approach to establishing a SWMS includes the following:.

Gather all appropriate details about the work.
The very first task is to identify the types of HRCW that the work involves and how it is to be performed.

Learn the hazards.
Evaluation the proposed work and details about each task to determine the risks, i.e., the occasions or things that may trigger harm to workers or other people. Info, such as codes of practice or assistance product, might be readily available in the site of your regional office health and safety regulator for specific construction tasks.

Seek advice from the relevant workers.
In assessment with the workers that will carry out the HRCW, their supervisors and health and wellness representatives (if any) review the local health and safety requirements, and the proposed work.

Think about the views of employees about the dangers, the possible danger control procedures and any site-specific matters that might affect the security of the work. If there are other employees that could be impacted by the work they need to likewise be spoken with.

Note: There is a legal commitment to consult afflicted workers and their health and wellness agents when identifying hazards or selecting measures to manage threat, and to take their views into account.

Select the most appropriate control steps to remove or decrease threats.

To choose the most appropriate control measures 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 describes how the hierarchy of control applies to the requirements for managing workplace risks and risks.

Initially, you must seek to eliminate risks 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 fairly practicable to remove dangers, you must carry out any particular control steps that are necessary by law in your State or Territory.
Some office health and wellness laws prescribe particular control steps that need to be gotten managing dangers to health and wellness occurring from particular hazards or activities. Examples include, however are not limited to, work including asbestos, work at height, operate in confined spaces. Particular requirements remain in the work environment health and wellness laws readily available in the site of your local work environment health and wellness regulator.

After implementing action 2, if a threat stays, the risk must be lowered up until now as is reasonably practicable by implementing one, or a combination of the following:.
Substituting a procedure or substance with one that is less hazardous. For example, wet sweeping instead of dry sweeping of harmful dusts such as crystalline silica.
Separating employees and other persons from the danger. By installing barriers between workers and mobile plant.
Utilising engineering controls. Utilising an elevated work platform or a scaffold to lower the risk of falling from height.
If after implementing 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, security training, work directions, alerting indications and supervision. If a scaffold used to reduce threats you may need to consist of scaffold tags showing acceptable maximum loads, indications for incomplete scaffolds. You may likewise require to explain the training needed for those putting up the scaffold and the guidance of scaffold users.
If a risk to health or safety still remains after implementing the above, lower that danger, up until now as is fairly practicable by offering personal protective equipment (PPE). This consists of using protective clothes such as shatterproof glass, hard hats, gloves, breathing protection, or a mix of appropriate PPE.
For the most part, a combination of control measures will need to be applied to minimise threats as far as is reasonably practicable.

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

identify the work that is high risk construction work.
define the hazards associating with the high threat construction work and the dangers to health and safety.
explain the procedures to be executed to control the threats, and.
explain how the control procedures are to be executed, kept track of and examined.
For an example of how to do this see: How to complete a SWMS when using silica.

The control procedures must be set out and expressed in such a way that is readily accessible and comprehensible to the persons who will use the SWMS. Explain in clear terms how dangers to health and wellness are to be managed to allow the work to be done safely, and how the control procedures are to be carried out.

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

Can I use a generic SWMS?
A generic SWMS can be utilised after it has actually been reviewed and modified as essential to make sure that it covers all the risks and dangers that are present on the site where the work is to be carried out. A generic SWMS requires to be reviewed/revised prior to starting the work and prior to commencing a new activity or a modification in work place or situations.

To learn more about SWMS and your responsibilities go to the site of your local office health and wellness authority and look for safe work approach statements.
More hints

Read More: https://occupational-safety.com.au/collections/swms