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How to come up with a Safe Work Method Statement.
An SWMS is a document that sets out the High risk construction work (HRCW) activities to be carried out at an office, the hazards emerging from these activities and the steps to be put in place to control the dangers to health and safety.
Tuesday, 24th May 2022.
Its main function is to assist workers and supervisors to execute and keep an eye on the control determines established to make certain the work is carried out securely.

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

involves a risk of an individual falling more than 2 metres (3 metres in South Australia); or.
includes demolition of an element of a structure that is load-bearing or otherwise related to the physical integrity of the structure; or.
involves, or is most likely to include, the disturbance of asbestos; or.
includes structural alterations or repairs 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 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 dynamites; or.
is carried out on or near pressurised gas distribution mains or piping; or.
is performed on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines; or.
is carried out on or near energised electrical setups or services; or.
is carried out in an area that may have an infected or flammable atmosphere; or.
includes tilt-up or precast concrete; or.
is carried out on, in or adjacent to a roadway, train, shipping lane or other traffic passage that remains in use by traffic besides pedestrians; or.
is performed on a telecommunication tower; or.
is performed in a location at an office in which there is any movement of powered mobile plant; or.
is carried out in a location in which there are artificial extremes of temperature level; or.
is carried out in or near water or other liquid that involves a danger of drowning; or.
includes diving work.
Note: Victorian OHS policies have some minor variations of the above definition of HRCW.

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

Gather all relevant info about the work.
The first job is to determine 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 details about each task to figure out the dangers, i.e., the events or things that may trigger harm to employees or other individuals. Information, such as codes of practice or guidance material, may be available in the site of your regional work environment health and wellness regulator for specific construction jobs.

Speak with the appropriate employees.
In consultation with the employees that will undertake the HRCW, their supervisors 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 hazards, the possible threat control procedures and any site-specific matters that may affect the safety of the work. If there are other workers that could be affected by the work they should likewise be spoken with.

Keep in mind: There is a legal obligation to speak with affected workers and their health and safety representatives when recognising threats or picking measures to manage threat, and to take their views into account.

Select the most appropriate control measures to eliminate or decrease dangers.

To choose the most suitable control procedures 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 discusses how the hierarchy of control applies to the requirements for managing workplace risks and dangers.

First, you must look for to eliminate risks up until now as is fairly practicable (e.g., doing as much work as possible on the ground rather than at height).
If it is not reasonably practicable to remove dangers, you need to execute any specific control measures that are compulsory by law in your State or Area.
Some workplace health and safety laws prescribe particular control measures that should be looked for managing dangers to health and wellness arising from specific threats or activities. Examples consist of, but are not limited to, work involving asbestos, work at height, work in restricted areas. Particular requirements remain in the office health and wellness laws readily available in the site of your local office health and wellness regulator.

After implementing step 2, if a danger remains, the danger needs to be lowered up until now as is fairly practicable by carrying out one, or a mix of the following:.
Substituting a procedure or substance with one that is less harmful. Wet sweeping rather of dry sweeping of dangerous dusts such as crystalline silica.
Isolating employees and other persons from the risk. By installing barriers between workers and mobile plant.
Utilising engineering controls. For instance, Utilising a raised work platform or a scaffold to lower the risk of falling from height.
If after executing the above control determines a threat to health or safety still remains, lower that threat, 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 remains after implementing the above, reduce that risk, so far as is reasonably practicable by supplying personal protective devices (PPE). This includes using protective clothing such as shatterproof glass, hard hats, gloves, breathing defense, or a mix of proper PPE.
A combination of control steps will need to be applied to reduce dangers as far as is fairly practicable.

Writing the SWMS - What information must be included?
A SWMS should:.

identify the work that is high danger construction work.
define the threats connecting to the high risk construction work and the risks to health and wellness.
describe the steps to be carried out to control the risks, and.
explain how the control measures are to be executed, 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 procedures should be set out and revealed in a way that is readily available and understandable to the individuals who will utilise the SWMS. Describe in clear terms how dangers to health and safety are to be controlled to make it possible for the work to be done securely, and how the control measures are to be implemented.

You can utilise any type or design template to compose up the SWMS, including paper and electronic formats, provided the above info is included and is readily available.

Can I use a generic SWMS?
A generic SWMS can be used after it has been reviewed and modified as necessary to make sure that it covers all the dangers and dangers that exist on the site where the work is to be performed. A generic SWMS needs to be reviewed/revised prior to starting the work and prior to starting a new activity or a modification in work place or situations.

To learn more about SWMS and your commitments go to the site of your regional workplace health and safety authority and search for safe work approach declarations.
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Homepage: https://occupational-safety.com.au/collections/swms