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How to come up with an SWMS.
An SWMS is a document that sets out the High risk construction work (HRCW) activities to be performed at a workplace, the hazards arising from these activities and the measures to be put in place to control the risks to health and wellness.
Tuesday, 24th May 2022.
Its main function is to assist employees and managers to execute and monitor the control determines developed to make sure the work is performed securely.

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

includes a risk 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 most likely to involve, the disruption of asbestos; or.
includes structural changes or repair work that need temporary assistance to prevent collapse; or.
is performed in an area at a workplace 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 making use of dynamites; or.
is performed on or near pressurised gas circulation mains or piping; or.
is carried out on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines; or.
is performed on or near energised electrical setups or services; or.
is carried out in an area that might have a polluted or flammable environment; or.
involves tilt-up or precast concrete; or.
is performed on, in or adjacent to a road, railway, delivering lane or other traffic corridor that remains in use by traffic besides pedestrians; or.
is carried out on a telecommunication tower; or.
is performed in a location at a workplace in which there is any motion of powered mobile plant; or.
is performed in a location 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.
Note: Victorian OHS regulations 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 involves the following:.

Collect all pertinent information about the work.
The first task is to figure out the types of HRCW that the work involves and how it is to be carried out.

Find out the risks.
Review the proposed work and info about each task to determine the hazards, i.e., the events or things that might cause harm to employees or other individuals. Details, such as codes of practice or assistance product, may be readily available in the website of your local office health and wellness regulator for specific construction tasks.

Speak with the appropriate employees.
In consultation with the workers that will carry out the HRCW, their managers and health and safety representatives (if any) evaluate the local health and safety requirements, and the proposed work.

Consider the views of employees about the threats, the potential risk control measures and any site-specific matters that might impact the safety of the work. If there are other workers that could be impacted by the work they should likewise be spoken with.

Note: There is a legal responsibility to speak with afflicted employees and their health and safety representatives when identifying hazards or picking measures to control risk, and to take their views into account.

Select the most suitable control measures to get rid of or reduce threats.

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

You should 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 risks, you should carry out any particular control measures that are mandatory by law in your State or Territory.
Some office health and wellness laws recommend particular control measures that should be requested managing dangers to health and wellness occurring from particular dangers or activities. Examples include, but are not restricted to, work including asbestos, work at height, operate in confined areas. Specific requirements remain in the workplace health and safety laws readily available in the website of your local office health and wellness regulator.

After executing step 2, if a danger remains, the danger should be decreased so far as is reasonably practicable by implementing one, or a mix of the following:.
Replacing a process or substance with one that is less dangerous. Damp sweeping rather of dry sweeping of dangerous dusts such as crystalline silica.
Isolating employees and other individuals from the danger. By setting up barriers between workers and mobile plant.
Using engineering controls. For instance, using a raised work platform or a scaffold to minimise the risk of falling from height.
If after executing the above control determines a risk to health or security still stays, lower that threat, so far as is fairly practicable, by using administrative controls. This consists of, security training, work guidelines, alerting signs and supervision.
If a threat to health or security still stays after executing the above, minimise that threat, up until now as is reasonably practicable by offering individual protective devices (PPE). This consists of using protective clothes such as safety glasses, hard hats, gloves, breathing defense, or a combination of suitable PPE.
For the most part, a mix of control steps will need to be applied to minimise dangers as far as is fairly practicable.

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

identify the work that is high danger construction work.
specify the hazards relating to the high threat construction work and the risks to health and wellness.
describe the measures to be implemented to control the dangers, and.
describe how the control measures are to be implemented, kept an eye on and reviewed.
For an example of how to do this see: How to complete a SWMS when Utilising silica.

The control steps should be set out and expressed in a manner that is easily available and comprehensible to the individuals who will use the SWMS. Describe in clear terms how dangers to health and wellness are to be managed to enable the work to be done safely, and how the control measures are to be executed.

You can use any form or template to write the SWMS, consisting of paper and electronic formats, supplied the above details is included and is readily accessible.

Can I utilise a generic SWMS?
A generic SWMS can be used after it has been reviewed and revised as necessary to ensure that it covers all the threats and dangers that exist on the website where the work is to be performed. A generic SWMS needs to be reviewed/revised prior to beginning the work and prior to commencing a new activity or a modification in work place or scenarios.

To find out more about SWMS and your commitments go to the website of your local office health and wellness authority and search for safe work method statements.
Safe Work Method Statement Template

Here's my website: https://occupational-safety.com.au/collections/swms