Notes

How to make an SWMS.
An SWMS is a file that sets out the High threat 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 risks to health and safety.
Tuesday, 24th May 2022.
Its main purpose is to assist employees and managers to implement and keep track of the control determines established to ensure the work is performed safely.

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

involves 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 include, the disturbance of asbestos; or.
involves structural modifications or repairs that require momentary assistance to prevent collapse; or.
is carried out 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 carried out in or near:.
a shaft or trench with an excavated depth greater than 1 5 metres; or.
a tunnel; or.
includes making use of explosives; 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 an area that may have a contaminated or flammable environment; or.
involves tilt-up or precast concrete; or.
is performed on, in or adjacent to a road, train, delivering lane or other traffic corridor that remains in use by traffic other than pedestrians; or.
is carried out on a telecommunication tower; or.
is carried out in a location at an office in which there is any movement of powered mobile plant; or.
is performed in a location in which there are artificial 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 slight variations of the above meaning of HRCW.

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

Collect all relevant details about the work.
The very first task is to figure out the types of HRCW that the work involves and how it is to be performed.

Discover the hazards.
Review the proposed work and information about each job to identify the hazards, i.e., the occasions or things that might trigger damage to workers or other individuals. Details, such as codes of practice or assistance material, might be offered in the website of your local workplace health and safety regulator for specific construction jobs.

Speak with the appropriate employees.
In consultation with the workers that will undertake the HRCW, their supervisors and health and wellness agents (if any) review the local health and wellness requirements, and the proposed work.

Think about the views of employees about the threats, the possible threat control procedures and any site-specific matters that may affect the security of the work. If there are other workers that could be affected by the work they need to also be consulted.

Note: There is a legal responsibility to speak with afflicted employees and their health and safety representatives when recognising hazards or selecting measures to manage threat, and to take their views into account.

Select the most suitable 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 below. HIA's information sheet The Hierarchy of Control describes how the hierarchy of control applies to the requirements for managing work environment hazards and threats.

You need to seek to remove 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 fairly practicable to remove threats, you need to execute any specific control measures that are necessary by law in your State or Territory.
Some workplace health and wellness laws prescribe specific control steps that should be requested managing risks to health and wellness occurring from particular risks or activities. Examples consist of, however are not restricted to, work including asbestos, work at height, work in confined areas. Particular requirements remain in the office health and wellness laws readily available in the site of your local workplace health and safety regulator.

After carrying out step 2, if a risk remains, the danger must be decreased so far as is fairly practicable by implementing one, or a combination of the following:.
Substituting a process or compound with one that is less dangerous. For example, damp sweeping instead of dry sweeping of harmful dusts such as crystalline silica.
Isolating employees and other persons from the danger. By setting up barriers between employees and mobile plant.
Utilising engineering controls. Utilising an elevated work platform or a scaffold to reduce the risk of falling from height.
If after carrying out the above control determines a threat to health or safety still remains, lower that danger, so far as is fairly practicable, by Utilising administrative controls. This consists of, safety training, work instructions, warning indications and guidance. If a scaffold utilised to decrease dangers you may require to include scaffold tags revealing appropriate optimum loads, signs for insufficient scaffolds. You might likewise require to describe the training required for those putting up the scaffold and the supervision of scaffold users.
If a risk to health or security still stays after executing the above, decrease that threat, so far as is reasonably practicable by offering personal protective devices (PPE). This includes using protective clothes such as shatterproof glass, hard hats, gloves, respiratory protection, or a combination of suitable PPE.
A combination of control procedures will need to be used to reduce dangers as far as is fairly practicable.

Writing the SWMS - What details must be consisted of?
A SWMS needs to:.

identify the work that is high threat construction work.
specify the threats associating with the high threat construction work and the threats to health and safety.
describe the measures to be implemented to manage the risks, and.
describe how the control steps are to be carried out, monitored and reviewed.
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 manner that is easily accessible and understandable to the persons who will utilise the SWMS. Describe in clear terms how risks to health and safety are to be managed to make it possible for the work to be done securely, and how the control measures are to be implemented.

You can use any form or design template to write up the SWMS, including paper and electronic formats, offered the above details is included and is readily accessible.

Can I utilise a generic SWMS?
A generic SWMS can be utilised after it has been evaluated and revised as required to make certain that it covers all the risks and dangers that exist on the website 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 brand-new activity or a change in work place or scenarios.

To find out more about SWMS and your commitments go to the site of your local workplace health and wellness authority and look for safe work approach statements.
swms

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