Notes

How to create an SWMS.
A Safe Work Method Statement is a document 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 steps to be put in place to control the dangers to health and wellness.
Tuesday, 24th May 2022.
Its main function is to assist employees and supervisors to execute and keep track of the control determines established to make certain the work is performed securely.

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

includes a threat of an individual 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 integrity of the structure; or.
includes, or is likely to involve, the disruption of asbestos; or.
involves structural changes or repair work that need temporary assistance to prevent collapse; or.
is performed in an area at an office 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 the use of explosives; or.
is carried out on or near pressurised gas circulation mains or piping; or.
is performed on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines; or.
is performed on or near energised electrical setups or services; or.
is carried out in a location that might have a polluted or combustible atmosphere; or.
involves tilt-up or precast concrete; or.
is performed on, in or adjacent to a road, train, shipping lane or other traffic corridor that is in use by traffic aside from pedestrians; or.
is performed on a telecommunication tower; or.
is performed in an area at a work environment in which there is any motion of powered mobile plant; or.
is performed in an area in which there are artificial extremes of temperature; or.
is performed in or near water or other liquid that includes a danger of drowning; or.
involves diving work.
Note: Victorian OHS guidelines have some small variations of the above meaning of HRCW.

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

Gather all relevant details about the work.
The first task is to identify the types of HRCW that the work involves and how it is to be performed.

Discover the threats.
Evaluation the proposed work and information about each task to determine the dangers, i.e., the occasions or things that might trigger harm to workers or other people. Details, such as codes of practice or guidance material, may be readily available in the site of your local work environment health and wellness regulator for specific construction jobs.

Speak with the relevant employees.
In assessment with the employees that will undertake the HRCW, their supervisors and health and safety agents (if any) evaluate the regional health and safety requirements, and the proposed work.

Think about the views of workers about the threats, the possible threat control procedures and any site-specific matters that may impact the safety of the work. If there are other workers that could be affected by the work they should likewise be consulted.

Keep in mind: There is a legal commitment to consult affected employees and their health and wellness representatives when recognising dangers or selecting measures to manage threat, and to take their views into account.

Select the most suitable control steps to remove or lower risks.

To choose the most suitable control measures you need to use the 'hierarchy of control' as detailed in steps 1 to 5 listed below. HIA's details sheet The Hierarchy of Control discusses how the hierarchy of control applies to the requirements for managing work environment risks and threats.

You should 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 fairly practicable to eliminate dangers, you must carry out any specific control steps that are mandatory by law in your State or Area.
Some workplace health and safety laws prescribe specific control measures that should be made an application for handling risks to health and wellness developing from specific risks or activities. Examples include, however are not restricted to, work including asbestos, work at height, operate in confined areas. Particular requirements remain in the work environment health and safety laws readily available in the website of your local work environment health and wellness regulator.

After executing step 2, if a threat remains, the risk must be minimised so far as is reasonably practicable by implementing one, or a mix of the following:.
Substituting a process or substance with one that is less dangerous. Wet sweeping instead of dry sweeping of hazardous dusts such as crystalline silica.
Isolating workers and other persons from the threat. For instance by setting up barriers between workers and mobile plant.
Using engineering controls. Utilising an elevated work platform or a scaffold to minimise the threat of falling from height.
If after executing the above control measures a threat to health or security still stays, lower that danger, so far as is fairly practicable, by using administrative controls. This consists of, safety training, work directions, cautioning signs and supervision. For instance, if a scaffold used to lower threats you may require to consist of scaffold tags showing appropriate maximum loads, signs for incomplete scaffolds. You may likewise require to explain the training needed for those erecting the scaffold and the supervision of scaffold users.
If a danger to health or safety still stays after executing the above, lower that threat, up until now as is fairly practicable by providing individual protective devices (PPE). This includes Utilising protective clothing such as shatterproof glass, construction hats, gloves, respiratory protection, or a combination of suitable PPE.
Most of the times, a combination of control procedures will need to be applied to reduce risks as far as is reasonably practicable.

Creating up the SWMS - What details must be consisted of?
A SWMS must:.

recognise the work that is high threat construction work.
specify the hazards connecting to the high threat construction work and the risks to health and wellness.
explain the measures to be implemented to manage the dangers, and.
explain how the control procedures are to be carried out, kept track of and examined.
For an example of how to do this see: How to finish a SWMS when using silica.

The control steps must be set out and expressed in a way that is readily available and comprehensible to the individuals who will utilise the SWMS. Describe in clear terms how threats to health and safety are to be controlled to allow the work to be done safely, and how the control steps are to be implemented.

You can use any type or design template to draft up the SWMS, including paper and electronic formats, offered the above information is consisted of and is readily accessible.

Can I use a generic SWMS?
A generic SWMS can be utilised after it has been examined and revised as essential to make sure that it covers all the threats and dangers that are present on the website where the work is to be carried out. 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 scenarios.

For additional information about SWMS and your responsibilities go to the site of your local work environment health and safety authority and look for safe work approach declarations.
swms

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