SWMS AREN’T JUST FOR HIGH-RISK CONSTRUCTION WORK.

There requires to be more clarity around SWMS documents and their use, and we ‘d like to provide that. Whether you utilize them in high-risk building and construction or somewhere else, they can be one of your most reliable and effective control steps, and when you do SWMSs well, almost whatever else you do will tend to follow.

Let’s rapidly take a look at the following:

What they are.
Why are they central to your WHS or OH&S system.
How they are different from a J.S.A. and S.O.P
. What must an SWMS include?
Who is responsible?
The use of SWMSs in high-risk construction.
When they’re requested elsewhere.
Some industry plan and system options.
WHAT IS A SWMS?
A Safe Work Method Declaration (SWMS) is a file that explains how particular workplace activities are to be carried out. The file identifies:

The actions being fulfilled.
Associated hazards,
The dangers they produce, and
How to manage those risks.
WHY ARE SWMS CENTRAL TO YOUR WHS SYSTEM?
There are two reasons SWMS files are main to your system. To start with, in certain circumstances, they are needed. They are reliable, effective and practical in their execution.

An SWMS is required whenever high-risk building work is performed (as specified by the WHS. Act, which we’ll discuss quickly). This means the Individual Carrying out a Service or Endeavor (the PCBU) must make sure the preparation, following, and retention of these SWMS and their routine and systematic evaluation.

SWMSs are also one of the most effective of all control measures. They are the most typical and influential of administrative controls. When their use ends up being a work-culture centrepiece, they can strongly make it possible for and proof your responsibility of care observance and due diligence compliance.

Permitting yourself a little imaginative imagination, think about how you control risks as being like strapping on a bulletproof vest. Your Safe Work Technique Statements (SWMS) are like those velcro straps that hold the vest easily and effectively in location.

They can be overdone. 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 concentrated than a SWMS. They focus on isolated tasks and processes. An SWMS is different since:

It is broader in its treatment of activities,
It is extremely focused on identifying and monitoring control procedures.
It can cover both particular activities as well as combination and complex activities (which most high-risk building work activities are).
WHAT MUST AN SWMS INCLUDE?
Safe Work Technique Statements (SWMS) are just among different available risk control steps. That stated, they are likewise (perhaps) the centrepiece. When used efficiently, they bring structure and stability to other WHS. and OH&S activities.

Like straps on a bulletproof vest, they assist other controls work and empower the individuals who use them. A safe work technique statement does this by supplying the needed info, instructions, and a means of taping actions in a foreseeable and fuss-free format.

Determine the High-Risk Building Work (HRCW) role – if it is one.
Determine threats and unsafe work practices.
Detail the best control procedures, as well as backup controls.
Describe what goes into the implementation of risk management plans.
Information the person or company doing the work and the person responsible.
At a construction job, detail the primary specialist, worksite address, the date of preparation and when supplied to the principal specialist.
Note the names of workers consulted, the dates and the signatures.
Program any review date and sum up any changes made.
SWMS threat control methods, based on the hierarchy of control, usually look for to:.

Get rid of dangers (maybe by using engineering controls),.
Lower them (for instance, by developing traffic passages),.
Administratively minimise them (e.g. by SWMS) and/or.
Recommend Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
A well-designed SWMS design template is simple to prepare, uncomplicated for pertinent workers to execute, and will allow an effective and reliable review process. That is what our SWMS templates do.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?
When a safe work method declaration is needed, 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 selected. This person is then responsible for collecting, examining, keeping track of and reviewing any SWMS in place.

A PC and PCBU can hand over processes and work activities, BUT the duty for SWMS quality and execution stays with them.

The Principal Professional (or PCBU where there is not a P.C.) is responsible for:.

Preparing SWMS documents prior to work starts,.
Making sure any persons involved fulfil their tasks regularly,.
Identifying and managing dangers and risks as per the document, and.
Reviewing and adjusting the SWMS for continuous effectiveness gradually (Note: workers need to be sought advice from – including professionals and subcontractors).
SAFE WORK TECHNIQUE DECLARATIONS AND HIGH-RISK BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION WORK (HRCW).
Both Australia’s Work Health and wellness Regulations (2011) and the Model WHS Regulations (last updated in 2022) need utilizing SWMS documents for a variety of high-risk building work activities. Specifically, Policy 291 information 19 High-Risk Category activities and an SWMS need to be prepared before any such work is carried out.

You can follow the Policy 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 construction work (HRCW), and they all include hazards and threats with significant capacity for substantial damage. For clearness, we reduce this 19-item list into five danger groupings. They are activities that:.

It may result in falling,.
May develop due to distance (or being close to something/someone),.
Result from using a powered mobile plant, specific devices or materials,.
Are common when handling particular structures and services, and.
Occur in a variety of ecological specifics.
To break this down more particularly, these 5 activity groups involve the following circumstances: an SWMS is needed in such situations:.

When there is a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres or falling into a trench or shaft of excavated depth greater than 1.5 m.
If someone might drown by falling under 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 close-by road users could be harmed.
Whenever asbestos is being interrupted or eliminated.
If tilt-up or precast concrete work is being done.
Wherever explosives are utilized or demolition work is being conducted.
When work takes place on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines, energised electrical services, pressurised gas circulation mains, piping or telecom towers.
If a workspace could have a contaminated or flammable environment, artificial temperature level extremes or a restricted space.
A safe work approach declaration need to be maintained in these recommended situations. The SWMS can be specific to each high-risk building work product or encompass many items in a single SWMS. The most crucial thing to remember is that these threats are identified, and the threats are managed.

If you wish to see the breakdown, follow this Policy 291 link.

WHAT IF YOU’RE REQUESTED FOR A SWMS FOR ANOTHER ACTIVITY?
It’s not uncommon for customers to stipulate separate SWMS that surpass the legal minimums for construction projects – and it doesn’t matter whether the tender process is open, worked out, selective or staged. These extraordinary expectations can consist of requests for safe work approach statements beyond the stipulated high-risk building and construction work activities. We understand from discussions with our clients that this is significantly happening and that there requires to be more clarity around the problem.

These expectations and confusion aren’t helped by SWMS design template providers that do not inform you their extra offerings are not needed or who oversell with needless SWMS files. Both are practices we do refrain from doing.

We always inform our consumers that there are two forms of compliance; what is lawfully required and what your customers expect. Both are very genuine and relevant to win work!

WHEN CLIENTS REQUEST MORE.
Technically, your client can be as impractical as they like. They’re spending for the work, so they can state whatever control determines they want. In theory, they can even demand a SWMS for taking a dump (and no, we’re not talking about rubbish removal). Our list of readily available templates exceeds the initial 19 HRCW activities.

When the marketplace needs additional SWMS or industry control measures change, we generally quickly deal with the requirement. Often we also develop specific solutions for specific clients. At other times we have helped them utilize a generic SWMS design template to meet the need. Eventually, we intend to be as helpful as we can pay for to be.

There have actually likewise been times when we have coached our consumers on challenging the tender requirement, and sometimes, modifications result. Often it is an honest mistake by an overzealous tender writer, and when the proposed procedures are politely questioned, they are withdrawn. Numerous do not comprehend the guidelines and know there are less tiresome techniques of handling dangers to health and safety.

Here, as always, we recommend you talk with us. Call 1800 304 336 to enjoy greater clarity and performance in your purchase journey.

An SWMS is required whenever high-risk building work is performed (as defined by the WHS. Safe Work Technique Statements (SWMS) are simply one of numerous offered risk control procedures. 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 item or incorporate lots of products in a single SWMS. These remarkable expectations can consist of requests for safe work approach declarations beyond the specified high-risk building work activities.
For more information, contact:Occupational Safety SolutionsLevel 3/55 Pyrmont Bridge Rd, Pyrmont NSW 20091800 304 336www.occupational-safety.com.au