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How to produce a Safe Work Method Statement.
A Safe Work Method Statement is a file that sets out the High threat construction work (HRCW) activities to be carried out at a workplace, the dangers arising from these activities and the measures to be put in place to manage the risks to health and wellness.
Tuesday, 24th May 2022.
Its main function is to assist employees and supervisors to carry out and keep an eye on the control measures developed to make certain the work is performed safely.

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

includes a threat of a person falling more than 2 metres (3 metres in South Australia); or.
involves demolition of an aspect of a structure that is load-bearing or otherwise related to the physical stability of the structure; or.
involves, or is most likely to involve, the disruption of asbestos; or.
includes structural modifications or repairs that need momentary support to prevent collapse; or.
is performed in a location at a work environment in which there is any movement of powered mobile plant; or.
is performed in or near a restricted area; or.
is carried out in or near:.
a shaft or trench with an excavated depth greater than 1 5 metres; or.
a tunnel; or.
involves using dynamites; or.
is performed on or near pressurised gas distribution mains or piping; or.
is carried out on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines; or.
is performed on or near energised electrical installations or services; or.
is carried out in a location that may have a polluted or combustible 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 besides pedestrians; or.
is performed on a telecommunication tower; or.
is carried out in a location at a work environment in which there is any motion of powered mobile plant; or.
is carried out in a location in which there are artificial extremes of temperature; or.
is performed in or near water or other liquid that involves a threat of drowning; or.
includes diving work.
Keep In Mind: Victorian OHS policies have some small variations of the above definition of HRCW.

How do I go about preparing a SWMS?
A typical method to developing a SWMS includes the following:.

Gather all appropriate info about the work.
The first job is to identify the types of HRCW that the work includes and how it is to be carried out.

Learn the dangers.
Review the proposed work and info about each task to figure out the threats, i.e., the occasions or things that might trigger harm to employees or other people. Details, such as codes of practice or guidance material, might be readily available in the website of your regional office health and safety regulator for particular construction tasks.

Talk to the relevant workers.
In assessment with the employees that will carry out the HRCW, their managers and health and safety agents (if any) examine the regional health and wellness requirements, and the proposed work.

Consider the views of employees about the threats, the prospective threat control measures and any site-specific matters that may impact the safety of the work. If there are other employees that could be impacted by the work they must also be sought advice from.

Keep in mind: There is a legal obligation to seek advice from afflicted workers and their health and wellness agents when identifying threats or selecting steps to manage risk, and to take their views into account.

Select the most appropriate control measures to get rid of or reduce dangers.

To choose the most suitable control procedures you require to use the 'hierarchy of control' as detailed in steps 1 to 5 below. HIA's info sheet The Hierarchy of Control discusses how the hierarchy of control applies to the requirements for handling workplace risks and risks.

You must look for to get rid of 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 fairly practicable to eliminate dangers, you should carry out any specific control measures that are necessary by law in your State or Territory.
Some work environment health and safety laws prescribe particular control measures that should be looked for handling threats to health and safety arising from particular risks or activities. Examples consist of, however are not limited to, work including asbestos, work at height, work in restricted areas. Particular requirements remain in the office health and wellness laws available in the site of your regional work environment health and safety regulator.

After carrying out step 2, if a threat stays, the risk needs to be minimised up until now as is reasonably practicable by implementing one, or a combination of the following:.
Replacing a procedure or compound with one that is less harmful. For instance, damp sweeping instead of dry sweeping of harmful dusts such as crystalline silica.
Isolating employees and other individuals from the threat. For instance by setting up barriers in between employees and mobile plant.
Using engineering controls. Using an elevated work platform or a scaffold to decrease the risk of falling from height.
If after carrying out the above control measures a threat to health or safety still stays, reduce that danger, so far as is reasonably practicable, by Utilising administrative controls. This consists of, safety training, work directions, cautioning indications and supervision.
If a risk to health or safety still stays after carrying out the above, reduce that threat, up until now as is reasonably practicable by offering personal protective devices (PPE). This consists of Utilising protective clothes such as safety glasses, construction hats, gloves, respiratory security, or a combination of suitable PPE.
For the most part, a mix of control measures will need to be applied to minimise risks as far as is fairly practicable.

Making up the SWMS - What information must be consisted of?
A SWMS needs to:.

determine the work that is high danger construction work.
specify the risks connecting to the high danger construction work and the dangers to health and safety.
explain the measures to be executed to manage the threats, and.
explain how the control steps are to be implemented, monitored 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 revealed in a way that is easily accessible and understandable to the persons who will use the SWMS. Describe in clear terms how threats to health and safety are to be managed to make it possible for the work to be done safely, and how the control procedures are to be executed.

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

Can I utilise a generic SWMS?
A generic SWMS can be used after it has actually been examined and modified as essential to make sure that it covers all the risks and risks that are present on the website where the work is to be carried out. A generic SWMS needs to be reviewed/revised prior to starting the work and prior to starting a brand-new activity or a modification in work place or circumstances.

For more details about SWMS and your commitments go to the site of your local work environment health and safety authority and look for safe work approach statements.
swms

Homepage: https://occupational-safety.com.au/collections/swms