Notes

How to prepare a Safe Work Method Statement.
An SWMS is a file that sets out the High risk construction work (HRCW) activities to be carried out at a work environment, the threats emerging from these activities and the steps to be put in place to manage the dangers to health and wellness.
Tuesday, 24th May 2022.
Its primary function is to help workers and supervisors to carry out and monitor the control measures developed to make sure the work is performed securely.

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

involves a danger of an individual 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 integrity of the structure; or.
includes, or is likely to involve, the disturbance of asbestos; or.
involves structural modifications or repairs that require temporary support to prevent collapse; or.
is carried out in a location at an office in which there is any motion 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 explosives; 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 carried out on or near energised electrical installations or services; or.
is carried out in a location 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 road, railway, shipping lane or other traffic passage that is in use by traffic other than pedestrians; or.
is performed on a telecommunication tower; or.
is performed in an area 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 carried out in or near water or other liquid that involves a danger 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 tackle preparing a SWMS?
A normal approach to establishing a SWMS involves the following:.

Gather all pertinent information about the work.
The very first task is to determine the kinds of HRCW that the work includes and how it is to be performed.

Learn the threats.
Review the proposed work and details about each task to determine the dangers, i.e., the occasions or things that might trigger harm to employees or other people. Info, such as codes of practice or guidance product, may be readily available in the site of your regional office health and wellness regulator for particular construction tasks.

Talk to the appropriate workers.
In consultation with the workers that will undertake the HRCW, their supervisors and health and safety representatives (if any) examine the local health and safety requirements, and the proposed work.

Think about the views of employees about the dangers, the potential danger control steps and any site-specific matters that might impact the security of the work. If there are other employees that could be impacted by the work they must likewise be spoken with.

Keep in mind: There is a legal commitment to consult afflicted employees and their health and safety representatives when recognising dangers or picking procedures to manage risk, and to take their views into account.

Select the most proper control steps to remove or lower threats.

To choose the most appropriate 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 describes how the hierarchy of control applies to the requirements for managing work environment risks and dangers.

Initially, you must seek to eliminate threats so far as is fairly practicable (e.g., doing as much work as possible on the ground instead of at height).
If it is not fairly practicable to remove risks, you need to carry out any particular control measures that are obligatory by law in your State or Territory.
Some work environment health and wellness laws prescribe specific control procedures that need to be gotten handling dangers to health and wellness occurring from specific risks or activities. Examples include, however are not limited to, work involving asbestos, work at height, work in restricted spaces. Particular requirements are in the work environment health and safety laws offered in the website of your regional work environment health and wellness regulator.

After implementing step 2, if a risk stays, the risk must be reduced so far as is reasonably practicable by implementing one, or a mix of the following:.
Substituting a procedure or substance with one that is less dangerous. For instance, wet sweeping instead of dry sweeping of hazardous dusts such as crystalline silica.
Separating workers and other persons from the risk. 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 risk of falling from height.
If after implementing the above control determines a danger to health or security still stays, reduce that danger, so far as is fairly practicable, by Utilising administrative controls. This includes, security training, work guidelines, warning indications and supervision.
If a risk to health or security still remains after implementing the above, reduce that risk, up until now as is reasonably practicable by providing personal protective equipment (PPE). This consists of Utilising protective clothing such as safety glasses, hard hats, gloves, respiratory defense, or a combination of suitable PPE.
For the most part, a combination of control procedures will require to be applied to reduce dangers as far as is reasonably practicable.

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

determine the work that is high threat construction work.
define the risks associating with the high danger construction work and the risks to health and wellness.
explain the procedures to be executed to manage the risks, and.
describe how the control measures are to be implemented, kept track of and reviewed.
For an example of how to do this see: How to finish a SWMS when using silica.

The control procedures should be set out and expressed in a manner that is easily accessible and comprehensible to the persons who will use the SWMS. Describe in clear terms how risks to health and safety are to be controlled to allow the work to be done securely, and how the control measures are to be carried out.

You can use any form or template to write the SWMS, consisting of paper and electronic formats, offered the above info is included and is easily available.

Can I use a generic SWMS?
A generic SWMS can be used after it has been examined and revised as essential to make sure that it covers all the hazards and risks that are present on the website where the work is to be carried out. A generic SWMS needs to be reviewed/revised prior to beginning the work and prior to beginning a brand-new activity or a change in work place or scenarios.

For more details about SWMS and your responsibilities go to the website of your local work environment health and safety authority and search for safe work approach declarations.
swms

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