Notes

How to draft an SWMS.
An SWMS is a document that sets out the High threat construction work (HRCW) activities to be carried out at a workplace, the dangers emerging from these activities and the steps to be put in place to control the risks to health and safety.
Tuesday, 24th May 2022.
Its main function is to assist workers and supervisors to execute and keep track of the control determines established 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 risk of a person 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.
involves, or is most likely to involve, the disruption of asbestos; or.
includes structural alterations or repair work that need momentary support to prevent collapse; or.
is carried out in an area at an office in which there is any movement of powered mobile plant; or.
is performed in or near a confined 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 the use of 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 performed in an area that may have a polluted 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 use by traffic besides pedestrians; or.
is carried out on a telecommunication tower; or.
is carried out in an area at an office in which there is any movement 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 includes a threat of drowning; or.
includes diving work.
Keep In Mind: Victorian OHS policies have some slight variations of the above meaning of HRCW.

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

Collect all pertinent details about the work.
The first task is to identify the types of HRCW that the work includes and how it is to be performed.

Discover the risks.
Review the proposed work and details about each task to determine the dangers, i.e., the occasions or things that may cause harm to workers or other individuals. Info, such as codes of practice or assistance product, may be offered in the website of your regional workplace health and safety regulator for specific construction tasks.

Consult with the relevant workers.
In consultation with the employees that will undertake the HRCW, their managers and health and wellness representatives (if any) examine the local health and wellness requirements, and the proposed work.

Consider the views of employees about the risks, the prospective risk control measures 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 also be sought advice from.

Note: There is a legal obligation to speak with affected workers and their health and wellness agents when identifying risks or choosing procedures to control threat, and to take their views into account.

Select the most proper control steps to get rid of or decrease dangers.

To select the most suitable control measures you require to use 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 handling office risks and risks.

You need to seek to get rid of threats so far as is reasonably practicable (e.g., doing as much work as possible on the ground rather than at height).
If it is not reasonably practicable to get rid of threats, you should execute any particular control steps that are necessary by law in your State or Territory.
Some work environment health and safety laws recommend particular control steps that need to be obtained managing dangers to health and wellness arising from particular risks or activities. Examples consist of, however are not limited to, work involving asbestos, work at height, operate in confined spaces. Specific requirements are in the workplace health and safety laws offered in the site of your local work environment health and safety regulator.

After executing step 2, if a danger remains, the risk must be reduced so far as is reasonably practicable by implementing one, or a combination of the following:.
Replacing a procedure or substance with one that is less dangerous. Damp sweeping instead of dry sweeping of dangerous dusts such as crystalline silica.
Isolating employees and other individuals from the danger. For instance by setting up barriers in between workers and mobile plant.
Utilising engineering controls. For instance, Utilising an elevated work platform or a scaffold to lower the threat of falling from height.
If after implementing the above control determines a threat to health or safety still remains, reduce that danger, so far as is reasonably practicable, by Utilising administrative controls. This consists of, safety training, work directions, alerting indications and supervision. If a scaffold used to reduce dangers you might require to consist of scaffold tags showing appropriate maximum loads, indications for insufficient scaffolds. You might likewise need to describe the training required for those setting up the scaffold and the supervision of scaffold users.
If a risk to health or security still remains after implementing the above, lower that danger, so far as is fairly practicable by supplying personal protective equipment (PPE). This consists of Utilising protective clothing such as shatterproof glass, hard hats, gloves, breathing security, or a combination of proper PPE.
In many cases, a combination of control steps will need to be applied to minimise threats as far as is reasonably practicable.

Coming up with up the SWMS - What info must be included?
A SWMS needs to:.

recognise the work that is high danger construction work.
define the hazards connecting to the high danger construction work and the threats to health and safety.
explain the measures to be implemented to control the dangers, and.
describe how the control measures 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 steps should be set out and revealed in a way that is easily available and comprehensible to the individuals who will utilise the SWMS. Explain in clear terms how dangers to health and safety are to be controlled to allow the work to be done safely, and how the control procedures are to be carried out.

You can utilise any kind or design template to write the SWMS, consisting of paper and electronic formats, offered the above info is included and is readily accessible.

Can I utilise a generic SWMS?
A generic SWMS can be used after it has actually been evaluated and modified as required to ensure that it covers all the risks and dangers that are present on the site where the work is to be performed. A generic SWMS requires to be reviewed/revised prior to beginning the work and prior to beginning a brand-new activity or a change in work location or situations.

For more details about SWMS and your obligations go to the website of your regional workplace health and wellness authority and look for safe work approach declarations.
how to write an SWMS

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