Notes

How to create an SWMS.
An SWMS is a file that sets out the High risk construction work (HRCW) activities to be carried out at a work environment, the risks developing from these activities and the procedures to be put in place to control the threats to health and wellness.
Tuesday, 24th May 2022.
Its main purpose is to assist workers and managers to execute and keep track of the control measures developed to make sure the work is performed securely.

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

involves a threat of an individual falling more than 2 metres (3 metres in South Australia); or.
involves 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 disruption of asbestos; or.
includes structural modifications or repair work that need short-term support to prevent collapse; or.
is performed in an area at a work environment 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 using dynamites; 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 performed in a location that may have a contaminated or flammable environment; or.
includes tilt-up or precast concrete; or.
is performed on, in or adjacent to a road, railway, shipping lane or other traffic passage that remains in use by traffic besides pedestrians; or.
is performed on a telecommunication tower; or.
is carried out in a location at an office in which there is any motion of powered mobile plant; or.
is carried out in an area in which there are artificial 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 meaning of HRCW.

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

Collect all relevant details about the work.
The very first job is to identify the kinds of HRCW that the work includes and how it is to be carried out.

Discover the hazards.
Review the proposed work and information about each task to identify the threats, i.e., the events or things that might cause damage to workers or other people. Details, such as codes of practice or assistance material, might be readily available in the website of your regional workplace health and wellness regulator for particular construction jobs.

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

Consider the views of employees about the threats, the prospective danger control steps and any site-specific matters that might impact the security of the work. If there are other employees that could be affected by the work they need to likewise be spoken with.

Keep in mind: There is a legal commitment to speak with afflicted workers and their health and wellness agents when identifying hazards or selecting steps to manage threat, and to take their views into account.

Select the most suitable control procedures to eliminate or decrease dangers.

To choose the most appropriate control procedures you need to use the 'hierarchy of control' as detailed in steps 1 to 5 below. HIA's information sheet The Hierarchy of Control describes how the hierarchy of control applies to the requirements for handling workplace risks and dangers.

First, you should seek to remove threats so far 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 eliminate threats, you should carry out any specific control measures that are obligatory by law in your State or Area.
Some workplace health and wellness laws prescribe specific control steps that must be looked for handling threats to health and wellness occurring from particular dangers or activities. Examples consist of, however are not restricted to, work involving asbestos, work at height, operate in confined areas. Specific requirements are in the workplace health and wellness laws readily available in the site of your local office health and wellness regulator.

After carrying out step 2, if a risk remains, the threat must be lowered up until now as is fairly practicable by carrying out one, or a mix of the following:.
Replacing a procedure or substance with one that is less dangerous. Wet sweeping instead of dry sweeping of harmful dusts such as crystalline silica.
Separating employees and other individuals from the danger. For instance by setting up barriers between workers and mobile plant.
Utilising engineering controls. Using an elevated work platform or a scaffold to lower the risk of falling from height.
If after implementing the above control determines a risk to health or security still remains, minimise that danger, up until now as is reasonably practicable, by using administrative controls. This includes, security training, work directions, warning signs and guidance. If a scaffold utilised to decrease threats you might need to include scaffold tags showing appropriate optimum loads, indications for incomplete scaffolds. You may also need to describe the training required for those setting up the scaffold and the guidance of scaffold users.
If a threat to health or security still remains after executing the above, reduce that danger, up until now as is fairly practicable by providing personal protective equipment (PPE). This includes Utilising protective clothing such as shatterproof glass, construction hats, gloves, breathing protection, or a mix of suitable PPE.
A combination of control procedures will require to be used to minimise dangers as far as is reasonably practicable.

Writing the SWMS - What info must be consisted of?
A SWMS should:.

determine the work that is high threat construction work.
define the hazards associating with the high threat construction work and the risks to health and wellness.
describe the measures to be implemented to control the dangers, and.
explain how the control steps are to be executed, kept an eye on and examined.
For an example of how to do this see: How to finish a SWMS when using silica.

The control steps should be set out and revealed 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 safety are to be controlled to make it possible for the work to be done safely, and how the control procedures are to be implemented.

You can utilise any form or design template to write the SWMS, consisting of paper and electronic formats, provided the above info is consisted of and is readily available.

Can I use a generic SWMS?
A generic SWMS can be utilised after it has been reviewed and revised as required to ensure that it covers all the hazards and threats that are present on the website where the work is to be performed. A generic SWMS requires to be reviewed/revised prior to beginning the work and prior to starting a new activity or a change in work area or circumstances.

For additional information about SWMS and your commitments go to the site of your local office health and wellness authority and search for safe work technique statements.
swms

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