There requires to be more clarity around SWMS documents and their usage, and we ‘d like to offer that. Whether you use them in high-risk construction or elsewhere, they can be one of your most efficient and effective control measures, and when you do SWMSs well, nearly 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 various from a J.S.A. and S.O.P
. What must an SWMS include?
Who is accountable?
Making use of SWMSs in high-risk building.
When they’re asked for somewhere else.
Some market plan and system options.
WHAT IS A SWMS?
A Safe Work Technique Declaration (SWMS) is a document that explains how particular workplace activities are to be performed. The document identifies:

The actions being fulfilled.
Associated dangers,
The dangers they produce, and
How to control those dangers.
WHY ARE SWMS CENTRAL TO YOUR WHS SYSTEM?
There are two reasons SWMS files are central to your system. First of all, in specific circumstances, they are needed. They are efficient, effective and practical in their application.

An SWMS is required whenever high-risk building work is performed (as specified by the WHS. Act, which we’ll describe soon). This means the Individual Performing a Company or Endeavor (the PCBU) need to ensure the preparation, following, and retention of these SWMS and their regular and methodical evaluation.

SWMSs are also among the most effective of all control steps. They are the most common and prominent of administrative controls. When their use ends up being a work-culture centrepiece, they can powerfully allow and proof your task of care observance and due diligence compliance.

Enabling yourself a little creative imagination, believe about how you control risks 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 effectively in place.

But they can be exaggerated. 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 focused than a SWMS. They concentrate on separated tasks and processes. An SWMS is different since:

It is wider in its treatment of activities,
It is highly concentrated on recognizing and keeping track of control steps.
It can cover both particular activities along with combination and complex activities (which most high-risk construction work activities are).
WHAT MUST AN SWMS INCLUDE?
Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) are just one of various readily available threat control steps. When used efficiently, 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 technique. A safe work method declaration does this by providing the required information, guidelines, and a means of recording actions in a foreseeable and fuss-free format. They will:.

Identify the High-Risk Building Work (HRCW) function – if it is one.
Determine risks and hazardous work practices.
Information the best control measures, in addition to backup controls.
Explain what goes into the application of danger management strategies.
Information the person or service doing the work and the individual responsible.
At a building project, detail the principal contractor, worksite address, the date of preparation and when provided to the principal specialist.
List the names of workers spoken with, the dates and the signatures.
Show any review date and sum up any modifications made.
SWMS threat control strategies, based on the hierarchy of control, generally look for to:.

Get rid of risks (maybe by using engineering controls),.
Reduce them (for example, by developing traffic corridors),.
Administratively reduce them (e.g. by SWMS) and/or.
Suggest Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
A well-designed SWMS template is easy to prepare, straightforward for relevant employees to execute, and will enable an effective and effective evaluation process. That is what our SWMS design templates do.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?
When a safe work technique statement 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 appointed. This person is then responsible for gathering, assessing, monitoring and reviewing any SWMS in place.

A PC and PCBU can entrust procedures and work activities, BUT the obligation 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 documents before work starts,.
Guaranteeing any persons involved satisfy their responsibilities regularly,.
Identifying and managing threats and risks based on the file, and.
Evaluating and adjusting the SWMS for continuous efficiency gradually (Note: workers must be consulted – including specialists and subcontractors).
SAFE WORK TECHNIQUE STATEMENTS AND HIGH-RISK BUILDING WORK (HRCW).
Both Australia’s Work Health and Safety Regulations (2011) and the Design WHS Regulations (last upgraded in 2022) need using SWMS files for a variety of high-risk construction work activities. Specifically, Guideline 291 details 19 High-Risk Classification activities and an SWMS need to be prepared prior to any such work is carried out.

You can follow the Policy 291 link to see the particular 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 work (HRCW), and they all include hazards and dangers with substantial potential for considerable harm. For clearness, we reduce this 19-item list into five threat groupings. They are activities that:.

It may lead to falling,.
Might develop due to proximity (or being close to something/someone),.
Arise from using a powered mobile plant, specific devices or products,.
Prevail when handling specific structures and services, and.
Occur in a variety of environmental specifics.
To break this down more particularly, these five activity groups involve the following situations: an SWMS is needed in such circumstances:.

When there is a threat of a person falling more than two metres or falling into a trench or shaft of excavated depth greater than 1.5 m.
If someone could drown by falling under a liquid, a structural collapse or as a result of diving work.
Where structural changes are utilized 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 neighboring road users could be harmed.
Whenever asbestos is being interrupted or gotten rid of.
If tilt-up or precast concrete work is being done.
Wherever explosives are used or demolition work is being performed.
When work occurs on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines, energised electrical services, pressurised gas distribution mains, piping or telecommunications towers.
If a work area might have a polluted or flammable environment, artificial temperature extremes or a restricted space.
A safe work approach statement must be kept in these recommended situations. The SWMS can be particular to each high-risk construction work product or include numerous items in a single SWMS. The most essential thing to keep in mind is that these dangers are determined, and the dangers are controlled.

If you wish to see the breakdown, follow this Guideline 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 and construction jobs – and it doesn’t matter whether the tender procedure is open, worked out, selective or staged. These remarkable expectations can include ask for safe work approach declarations beyond the stipulated high-risk building work activities. We understand from discussions with our customers that this is progressively occurring which there requires to be more clarity around the concern.

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

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

WHEN CUSTOMERS ASK FOR MORE.
Technically, your customer can be as impractical as they like. They’re spending for the work, so they can state whatever control determines they desire. Theoretically, they can even require a SWMS for taking a dump (and no, we’re not speaking about rubbish elimination). Our list of readily available templates goes beyond the initial 19 HRCW activities.

When the market demands extra SWMS or industry control measures change, we normally swiftly resolve the need. At other times we have actually assisted them utilize a generic SWMS template to fulfill the demand.

There have actually likewise been times when we have actually coached our clients on challenging the tender requirement, and in some cases, changes result. Sometimes it is a sincere mistake by an overzealous tender author, and when the proposed steps are nicely questioned, they are withdrawn. Many do not understand the policies and understand there are less tiresome methods of managing dangers to health and wellness.

Here, as constantly, we advise you talk with us. Call 1800 304 336 to enjoy greater clearness and efficiency in your purchase journey.

An SWMS is needed whenever high-risk building work is carried out (as specified by the WHS. Safe Work Approach Statements (SWMS) are just one of various readily available threat control steps. Like straps on a bulletproof vest, they assist other controls work and empower the people 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 remarkable expectations can include requests for safe work technique declarations beyond the stipulated 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