There needs to be more clarity around SWMS documents and their use, and we want to provide that. Whether you utilize them in high-risk construction or somewhere else, they can be among your most efficient and efficient control steps, and when you do SWMSs well, practically everything else you do will tend to follow.

Let’s quickly 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 consist of?
Who is accountable?
The use of SWMSs in high-risk building.
When they’re requested somewhere else.
Some industry plan and system options.
WHAT IS A SWMS?
A Safe Work Method Declaration (SWMS) is a file that describes how specific workplace activities are to be carried out. The file determines:

The actions being fulfilled.
Associated threats,
The risks they produce, and
How to manage those dangers.
WHY ARE SWMS CENTRAL TO YOUR WHS SYSTEM?
There are 2 reasons that SWMS files are main to your system. In specific circumstances, they are needed. They are efficient, efficient and practical in their application.

An SWMS is needed whenever high-risk building work is performed (as defined by the WHS. Act, which we’ll discuss quickly). This means the Individual Performing a Business or Endeavor (the PCBU) need to ensure the preparation, following, and retention of these SWMS and their routine and methodical review.

SWMSs are likewise one of the most effective of all control procedures. They are the most typical and prominent of administrative controls. When their use ends up being a work-culture centrepiece, they can strongly allow and proof your duty of care observance and due diligence compliance.

Permitting yourself a little innovative imagination, believe about how you manage threats as being like strapping on a bulletproof vest. Your Safe Work Approach Statements (SWMS) are like those velcro straps that hold the vest comfortably and successfully in place.

But they can be overdone. More on that quickly.

HOW IS A SWMS VARIOUS FROM A J.S.A. OR S.O.P.?
A Job Security Analysis (J.S.A.) and a Safe Operating Treatment (S.O.P.) are more concentrated than a SWMS. They concentrate on separated tasks and procedures. An SWMS is various because:

It is wider in its treatment of activities,
It is extremely concentrated on recognizing and keeping an eye on control procedures.
It can cover both specific activities in addition to combination and complex activities (which most high-risk building work activities are).
WHAT MUST AN SWMS INCLUDE?
Safe Work Approach Statements (SWMS) are just one of numerous available danger control steps. That stated, they are likewise (arguably) the centrepiece. When used successfully, 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 utilize them. A safe work approach declaration does this by offering the needed information, guidelines, and a means of tape-recording actions in a predictable and fuss-free format.

Recognize the High-Risk Construction Work (HRCW) role – if it is one.
Determine hazards and hazardous work practices.
Detail the very best control steps, along with backup controls.
Describe what enters into the application of threat management strategies.
Information the individual or service doing the work and the person responsible.
At a construction task, information the primary professional, 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 summarise any changes made.
SWMS risk control strategies, as per the hierarchy of control, typically seek to:.

Eliminate dangers (maybe by utilizing engineering controls),.
Lower them (for example, by creating traffic passages),.
Administratively minimise them (e.g. by SWMS) and/or.
Recommend Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
A properly designed SWMS design template is easy to prepare, simple for appropriate employees to execute, and will allow an effective and effective evaluation process. That is what our SWMS design 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 Professional (PC) is selected. This person is then responsible for gathering, examining, keeping an eye on and reviewing any SWMS in place.

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

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

Preparing SWMS files before work starts,.
Making sure any persons involved satisfy their tasks consistently,.
Recognizing and controlling dangers and threats as per the document, and.
Reviewing and changing the SWMS for ongoing efficiency over time (Note: employees need to be sought advice from – consisting of specialists and subcontractors).
SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENTS AND HIGH-RISK CONSTRUCTION WORK (HRCW).
Both Australia’s Work Health and Safety Laws (2011) and the Design WHS Regulations (last upgraded in 2022) require utilizing SWMS files for a variety of high-risk construction work activities. Particularly, Regulation 291 information 19 High-Risk Category activities and an SWMS should be prepared before any such work is carried out.

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 categorized as high-risk building and construction work (HRCW), and they all involve dangers and dangers with considerable capacity for significant damage. For clarity, we decrease this 19-item list into five hazard groupings. They are activities that:.

It may result in falling,.
Might establish due to proximity (or being close to something/someone),.
Result from the use of a powered mobile plant, specific devices or materials,.
Are common when handling specific structures and services, and.
Happen in a series of ecological specifics.
To break this down more particularly, these 5 activity groups include the following situations: an SWMS is needed in such circumstances:.

When there is a danger of a person falling more than 2 metres or falling under a trench or shaft of excavated depth greater than 1.5 m.
If somebody could drown by falling under a liquid, a structural collapse or as a result of diving work.
Where structural modifications are used to prevent a collapse.
Wherever a tunnel is included.
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 disturbed or gotten rid of.
If tilt-up or precast concrete work is being done.
Wherever dynamites are used or demolition work is being performed.
When work takes place on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines, energised electrical services, pressurised gas distribution mains, piping or telecom towers.
If a workspace might have a contaminated or combustible environment, synthetic temperature extremes or a restricted space.
A safe work approach statement should be kept in these recommended circumstances. The SWMS can be specific to each high-risk building work product or incorporate lots of items in a single SWMS. The most important thing to remember is that these hazards are identified, and the threats are controlled.

If you want to see the breakdown, follow this Regulation 291 link.

WHAT IF YOU’RE ASKED FOR A SWMS FOR ANOTHER ACTIVITY?
It’s not unusual for clients to specify different SWMS that surpass the legal minimums for building and construction tasks – and it doesn’t matter whether the tender procedure is open, negotiated, selective or staged. These remarkable expectations can consist of requests for safe work approach statements beyond the stated high-risk construction work activities. We understand from conversations with our consumers that this is increasingly happening and that there needs to be more clearness around the problem.

These expectations and confusion aren’t helped 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 refrain from doing.

We always tell our customers that there are 2 forms of compliance; what is lawfully required and what your clients expect. Both are really real and pertinent to win work!

WHEN CUSTOMERS ASK FOR MORE.
They’re paying for the work, so they can state whatever control measures they desire. In theory, they can even require a SWMS for taking a dump (and no, we’re not talking about rubbish removal).

When the market needs extra SWMS or industry control determines change, we normally promptly address the requirement. At other times we have actually helped them utilize a generic SWMS design template to meet the need.

There have also been times when we have actually coached our consumers on challenging the tender requirement, and often, changes result. Often it is a sincere mistake by an overzealous tender author, and when the proposed steps are nicely questioned, they are withdrawn. Lots of do not understand the policies and understand there are less laborious techniques of managing risks to health and safety.

Here, as always, we suggest you talk with us. Call 1800 304 336 to delight in higher clearness and efficiency in your purchase journey.

An SWMS is required whenever high-risk building work is performed (as specified by the WHS. Safe Work Approach Statements (SWMS) are simply one of different offered danger control measures. Like straps on a bulletproof vest, they assist other controls work and empower the individuals who utilize them. The SWMS can be particular to each high-risk building and construction work item or include numerous items in a single SWMS. These extraordinary expectations can include requests for safe work approach declarations beyond the stipulated high-risk building and construction work activities.
For more information, contact:Occupational Safety SolutionsLevel 3/55 Pyrmont Bridge Rd, Pyrmont NSW 20091800 304 336www.occupational-safety.com.au