There requires to be more clearness around SWMS documents and their usage, and we ‘d like to provide that. Whether you use them in high-risk building and construction or somewhere else, they can be among your most effective and efficient control measures, and when you do SWMSs well, practically everything else you do will tend to follow.
Let’s quickly look at the following:
What they are.
Why are they central to your WHS or OH&S system.
How they are various from a J.S.A. and S.O.P
. What must an SWMS consist of?
Who is accountable?
Using SWMSs in high-risk building and construction.
When they’re requested somewhere else.
Some industry plan and system services.
WHAT IS A SWMS?
A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a document that explains how particular office activities are to be performed. The file determines:
The actions being satisfied.
Associated risks,
The threats they produce, and
How to control those risks.
WHY ARE SWMS CENTRAL TO YOUR WHS SYSTEM?
There are two reasons that SWMS documents are main to your system. In specific instances, they are required. They are efficient, efficient and useful in their application.
An SWMS is needed whenever high-risk building and construction work is performed (as specified by the WHS. Act, which we’ll describe soon). This means the Person Carrying out a Company or Endeavor (the PCBU) should ensure the preparation, following, and retention of these SWMS and their routine and organized review.
SWMSs are likewise one of the most efficient of all control steps. They are the most common and influential of administrative controls. When their use becomes a work-culture centrepiece, they can strongly allow and evidence your responsibility of care observance and due diligence compliance.
Permitting yourself a little innovative creativity, believe about how you control threats as being like strapping on a bulletproof vest. Your Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) are like those velcro straps that hold the vest easily and successfully in place.
But they can be exaggerated. More on that quickly.
HOW IS A SWMS DIFFERENT FROM A J.S.A. OR S.O.P.?
A Job Safety Analysis (J.S.A.) and a Safe Operating Procedure (S.O.P.) are more focused than a SWMS. They concentrate on isolated tasks and procedures. An SWMS is various due to the fact that:
It is more comprehensive in its treatment of activities,
It is highly concentrated on identifying and keeping track of control steps.
It can cover both particular activities as well as combination and complex activities (which most high-risk building and construction work activities are).
WHAT MUST AN SWMS INCLUDE?
Safe Work Approach Statements (SWMS) are just one of different available threat control procedures. When utilized successfully, they bring structure and stability to other WHS.
Like straps on a bulletproof vest, they assist other controls work and empower the people who utilize them. They bring physical integrity to what would otherwise be a loose-fitting and ineffective strategy. A safe work method declaration does this by offering the needed information, directions, and a way of recording actions in a foreseeable and fuss-free format. They will:.
Recognize the High-Risk Building Work (HRCW) function – if it is one.
Determine risks and hazardous work practices.
Detail the best control procedures, as well as backup controls.
Explain what enters into the execution of risk management plans.
Information the person or service doing the work and the individual responsible.
At a building task, information the primary specialist, worksite address, the date of preparation and when provided to the principal contractor.
Note the names of employees consulted, the dates and the signatures.
Program any review date and sum up any changes made.
SWMS danger control methods, as per the hierarchy of control, usually seek to:.
Remove hazards (perhaps by using engineering controls),.
Minimize them (for example, by developing traffic passages),.
Administratively minimise them (e.g. by SWMS) and/or.
Suggest Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
A well-designed SWMS template is simple to prepare, simple for pertinent workers to execute, and will make it possible for an effective and reliable review process. That is what our SWMS templates do.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?
When a safe work approach statement is required, the PCBU must prepare it; where there is more than one PBCU, or the work costs $250,000 or more, a Principal Contractor (PC) is appointed. This person is then responsible for gathering, assessing, keeping track of and examining any SWMS in place.
A PC and PCBU can hand over processes and work activities, BUT the duty for SWMS quality and implementation remains with them.
The Principal Specialist (or PCBU where there is not a P.C.) is responsible for:.
Preparing SWMS documents prior to work starts,.
Guaranteeing anybodies included satisfy their tasks consistently,.
Determining and managing hazards and dangers as per the file, and.
Evaluating and changing the SWMS for continuous effectiveness in time (Note: employees should be sought advice from – consisting of specialists and subcontractors).
SAFE WORK METHOD DECLARATIONS AND HIGH-RISK CONSTRUCTION WORK (HRCW).
Both Australia’s Work Health and Safety Laws (2011) and the Design WHS Laws (last updated in 2022) need using SWMS documents for a series of high-risk building work activities. Specifically, Regulation 291 information 19 High-Risk Category activities and an SWMS should be prepared prior to any such work is undertaken.
You can follow the Regulation 291 link to see the specific list, but for ease of understanding, we’ll summarise them as follows.
WHAT ACTIVITIES ARE DEEMED HIGH-RISK BUILDING WORK?
There are 19 activities classified as high-risk building work (HRCW), and they all involve risks and threats with significant capacity for substantial damage. For clarity, we lower this 19-item list into 5 risk groupings. They are activities that:.
It might result in falling,.
May establish due to distance (or being close to something/someone),.
Result from the use of a powered mobile plant, specific devices or products,.
Are common when handling particular structures and services, and.
Occur in a series of ecological specifics.
To break this down more specifically, these 5 activity groups involve the following circumstances: an SWMS is needed in such circumstances:.
When there is a danger of a person falling more than two metres or falling under a trench or shaft of excavated depth greater than 1.5 m.
If someone could drown by falling into a liquid, a structural collapse or as a result of diving work.
Where structural changes are used to prevent a collapse.
Wherever a tunnel is involved.
When powered mobile plant work is being done or the plant is being moved.
If rail traffic or nearby road users could be hurt.
Whenever asbestos is being disrupted or gotten rid of.
If tilt-up or precast concrete work is being done.
Wherever explosives are utilized or demolition work is being carried out.
When work takes place on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines, energised electrical services, pressurised gas distribution mains, piping or telecommunications towers.
If a work area could have a polluted or flammable environment, synthetic temperature level extremes or a confined area.
A safe work method statement need to be retained in these prescribed circumstances. The SWMS can be particular to each high-risk building work product or encompass lots of products in a single SWMS. The most essential thing to keep in mind is that these hazards are determined, and the dangers are managed.
If you want to see the detailed list, follow this Policy 291 link.
WHAT IF YOU’RE ASKED FOR A SWMS FOR ANOTHER ACTIVITY?
It’s not unusual for clients to stipulate separate SWMS that exceed the legal minimums for building jobs – and it doesn’t matter whether the tender procedure is open, worked out, selective or staged. These extraordinary expectations can include requests for safe work approach statements beyond the stated high-risk building work activities. We understand from discussions with our customers that this is progressively taking place which there needs to be more clarity around the issue.
These expectations and confusion aren’t assisted by SWMS template suppliers that don’t tell you their extra offerings are not required or who oversell with needless SWMS documents. Both are practices we do not do.
We constantly tell our consumers that there are two types of compliance; what is lawfully needed and what your clients expect. Both are really real and relevant to win work!
WHEN CLIENTS REQUEST FOR MORE.
Technically, your client can be as impractical as they like. They’re paying for the work, so they can state whatever control determines they desire. In theory, they can even require a SWMS for taking a dump (and no, we’re not speaking about rubbish elimination). Our list of offered templates goes beyond the original 19 HRCW activities.
When the marketplace demands additional SWMS or industry control measures modification, we usually swiftly attend to the need. Sometimes we likewise develop specific solutions for particular clients. At other times we have actually helped them use a generic SWMS template to satisfy the need. Ultimately, we aim to be as useful as we can afford to be.
There have actually likewise been times when we have coached our customers on challenging the tender requirement, and in some cases, changes result. In some cases it is a truthful mistake by an overzealous tender author, and when the proposed steps are pleasantly questioned, they are withdrawn. Many do not understand the regulations and understand there are less laborious methods of handling dangers to health and wellness.
Here, as constantly, we advise you talk with us. Call 1800 304 336 to take pleasure in higher clearness and efficiency in your purchase journey.
An SWMS is needed whenever high-risk building work is performed (as specified by the WHS. Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) are simply one of different available risk control steps. Like straps on a bulletproof vest, they help other controls work and empower the people who use them. The SWMS can be particular to each high-risk building and construction work product or incorporate numerous items in a single SWMS. These amazing expectations can consist of demands for safe work method statements beyond the stated high-risk construction work activities.
For more information, contact:Occupational Safety SolutionsLevel 3/55 Pyrmont Bridge Rd, Pyrmont NSW 20091800 304 336www.occupational-safety.com.au