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Safe Work Method Statement Procedure

The document outlines the purpose and requirements for Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) in relation to high-risk construction work, detailing the necessary components and responsibilities for compliance. It specifies the types of activities that necessitate an SWMS and emphasizes the importance of site-specific adaptations. Additionally, it provides a framework for ensuring safety measures are implemented and maintained throughout the project duration.

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Rudra Tripathi
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38 views3 pages

Safe Work Method Statement Procedure

The document outlines the purpose and requirements for Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) in relation to high-risk construction work, detailing the necessary components and responsibilities for compliance. It specifies the types of activities that necessitate an SWMS and emphasizes the importance of site-specific adaptations. Additionally, it provides a framework for ensuring safety measures are implemented and maintained throughout the project duration.

Uploaded by

Rudra Tripathi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Safe Working Method Statement Instruction Page 1

Owner: Health, Wellbeing and Safety (HR)


Last Review: 5 August 2019

Contents
What are Safe Working Method Statements? .................................................................................... 1
Safe Working Method Statement policy ............................................................................................. 1
What needs to be included in a SWMS?.............................................................................................. 2
Supporting Documents ........................................................................................................................ 2

What are Safe Working Method Statements?

A safe work method statement (SWMS) sets out the high-risk work that will be performed along with relevant
controls, codes or legislation. An SWMS is a statement of the risk control measures identified for the specific
high-risk work task. The SWMS demonstrates that any high-risk hazards that may affect the work being
undertaken have been identified and there are control measures in place to reduce or remove the risk. An
SWMS provides supervisors, workers and other persons at the workplace with information about the
established risk control measures that must be implemented in relation to the high-risk work to be carried out.

The safe work method statement is an overarching safety document that identifies the high-risk activities to
be performed on a worksite, the hazards and risks arising from those activities and the measures to be put in
place to control the risks. An SWMS remains in place for the duration of the project and is only amended or
updated if there is a significant and permanent change in the work environment.

A safe work method statement is not a Safe Operating Procedure but may include Safe Operating Procedures.
A safe work method statement is not a risk assessment or Job Safety Assessment. The risk assessment is
carried out before the SWMS is developed. The Job Safety Assessment interacts with the SWMS in so far as
there may be new risks or hazards present on a particular day (for example poor weather), that were not
otherwise addressed in the SWMS.

Commonly and legally a safe work method statement is used for high risk construction work. The OHS
Regulations 2017 (OHS Regulations) require the University and its contractors to prepare a SWMS before
commencing ‘high risk construction work’, if that work poses a risk to the health or safety of any person
including other persons on site or the public.

Safe Working Method Statement policy

The following construction activities require a safe work method statement:


• where there is a risk of a person falling more than two metres
• on or adjacent to roadways or railways used by road or rail traffic
• in, over or adjacent to water or other liquids where there is a risk of drowning
• at workplaces where there is any movement of powered mobile plant
• structural alterations that require temporary support to prevent collapse
• in an area where there are artificial extremes of temperature
• on or near energised electrical installations or services
• involving a trench or shaft if the excavated depth is more than 1·5 metres
• on or near pressurised gas distribution mains or piping
Safe Working Method Statement Instruction Page 2

• involving demolition
• involving a confined space
• on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines
• involving tilt-up or precast concrete
• on telecommunications towers
• involving diving
• involving removal or likely disturbance of asbestos
• in an area that may have a contaminated or flammable atmosphere
• involving the use of explosives
• involving a tunnel

The responsibility for preparing a safe work method statement is with the contractor before commencing high
risk work. The University’s representative (contract manager or job captain) is responsible for ensuring this is
done.

If the University’s representative becomes aware that there is noncompliance with the safe work method
statement, they must stop the work immediately or as soon as it is safe to do so, and not allow it to resume
until the SWMS is complied with or reviewed and revised as necessary.

A generic, pre-prepared safe work method statement which seeks to address a range of hazards that will
potentially be encountered is not acceptable unless further work is done to make it ‘site-specific’. This can be
done by reviewing and revising it as necessary with regard to its suitability for the specific environment and
circumstances in which the work will be performed. An electronic safe work method statement is acceptable if
it is accessible to all the workers involved.

What needs to be included in a SWMS?

As a minimum, the safe work method statement must:


• identify work that is HRCW,
• state the hazards and risks to health and safety from that work,
• clearly detail the measures selected to control those risks,
• describe how the risk control measures will be implemented, and
• be set out and expressed in a way that is readily accessible and comprehensible to the persons who
use it.

The safe work method statement must also identify the:


• • date and location the HRCW is to be performed
• • person/s responsible for ensuring selected risk controls are installed and maintained
• • names of workers consulted in the document’s preparation.

Supporting Documents

Deakin University OHS Manual:


• Hazard Isolation Standard
• OHS Risk Management Standard
• Other Risk Assessments
• Permit System Standard
• Safe Operating Procedure Register Template
• Safe Operating Procedure Template
• Safe Working Method Statements
Safe Working Method Statement Instruction Page 3

NSW WorkCover : Writing work method statements in plain English

WorkSafe: Safe Work Method Statements


Safe Work Australia: Safe Work Method Statement (Includes Word SWMS Template)
Western Australian Government: OHSE Subbypack

DOCUMENT HISTORY
Name of procedure Safe Work Method Statement (Instruction)
Overarching policy Health Wellbeing and Safety policy
OHS Manual Safe Work Practices
Original Date 5 August 2019
Review History None
Author Michael O’Donoghue

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