An SWMS is a file that sets out the High risk construction work (HRCW) activities to be carried out at a work environment, the dangers emerging from these activities and the procedures to be put in place to control the dangers to health and wellness.

Tuesday, 24th May 2022.

Its primary function is to help workers and supervisors to implement and keep an eye on the control determines developed to make certain the work is carried out safely.

What is ‘high threat construction work’ (HRCW)?

High risk construction work is defined in WHS guidelines as construction work that:.

includes a threat of an individual falling more than 2 metres (3 metres in South Australia); or.

involves demolition of an element of a structure that is load-bearing or otherwise related to the physical stability of the structure; or.

involves, or is likely to include, the disruption of asbestos; or.

involves structural modifications or repair work that require momentary assistance to prevent collapse; or.

is carried out in an area at an office in which there is any motion of powered mobile plant; or.

is carried out in or near a restricted space; or.

is performed in or near:.

a shaft or trench with an excavated depth greater than 1 5 metres; or.

a tunnel; or.

involves using dynamites; or.

is carried out on or near pressurised gas distribution mains or piping; or.

is performed on or near chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines; or.

is performed on or near energised electrical setups or services; or.

is carried out in a location that might have a polluted or combustible atmosphere; or.

includes tilt-up or precast concrete; or.

is carried out on, in or adjacent to a roadway, railway, shipping lane or other traffic corridor that remains in usage by traffic other than pedestrians; or.

is carried out on a telecommunication tower; or.

is carried out in an area at an office in which there is any movement of powered mobile plant; or.

is performed in an area in which there are synthetic extremes of temperature; or.

is performed in or near water or other liquid that involves a risk of drowning; or.

involves diving work.

Keep In Mind: Victorian OHS guidelines have some slight variations of the above definition of HRCW.

How do I set about preparing a SWMS?

A typical technique to developing a SWMS involves the following:.

Gather all appropriate details about the work.

The very first job is to figure out the kinds of HRCW that the work involves and how it is to be carried out.

Learn the hazards.

Evaluation the proposed work and info about each task to identify the threats, i.e., the occasions or things that may trigger harm to employees or other people. Details, such as codes of practice or guidance material, may be readily available in the website of your regional office health and wellness regulator for particular construction jobs.

Speak with the pertinent workers.

In consultation with the employees that will carry out the HRCW, their managers and health and safety representatives (if any) examine the regional health and wellness requirements, and the proposed work.

Consider the views of employees about the hazards, the possible risk control measures and any site-specific matters that might impact the security of the work. If there are other workers that could be affected by the work they must also be sought advice from.

Note: There is a legal commitment to consult afflicted employees and their health and safety agents when determining threats or picking procedures to manage danger, and to take their views into account.

Select the most suitable control steps to remove or decrease risks.

To choose the most proper control steps you need to apply the ‘hierarchy of control’ as detailed in steps 1 to 5 listed below. HIA’s information sheet The Hierarchy of Control explains how the hierarchy of control applies to the requirements for managing office threats and threats.

Initially, you need to look for to eliminate dangers up until now as is fairly practicable (e.g., doing as much work as possible on the ground rather than at height).

If it is not fairly practicable to remove threats, you must carry out any specific control procedures that are obligatory by law in your State or Territory.

Some work environment health and wellness laws prescribe specific control measures that must be obtained managing dangers to health and safety emerging from particular dangers or activities. Examples consist of, but are not limited to, work including asbestos, work at height, work in restricted spaces. Particular requirements are in the workplace health and safety laws available in the website of your regional work environment health and safety regulator.

After carrying out step 2, if a risk stays, the danger must be reduced up until now as is reasonably practicable by carrying out one, or a combination of the following:.

Replacing a procedure or substance with one that is less harmful. For example, wet sweeping instead of dry sweeping of dangerous dusts such as crystalline silica.

Isolating workers and other individuals from the hazard. By setting up barriers between workers and mobile plant.

Using engineering controls. Utilising a raised work platform or a scaffold to lower the threat of falling from height.

If after executing the above control measures a risk to health or safety still stays, reduce that danger, so far as is fairly practicable, by Utilising administrative controls. This includes, security training, work instructions, warning indications and supervision. If a scaffold used to decrease dangers you may need to consist of scaffold tags revealing acceptable optimum loads, signs for incomplete scaffolds. You may also require to explain the training required for those erecting the scaffold and the supervision of scaffold users.

If a danger to health or security still stays after implementing the above, reduce that danger, up until now as is reasonably practicable by supplying personal protective equipment (PPE). This consists of Utilising protective clothing such as safety glasses, construction hats, gloves, respiratory defense, or a combination of appropriate PPE.

In most cases, a combination of control procedures will need to be applied to reduce risks as far as is reasonably practicable.

Writing the SWMS – What info must be consisted of?

A SWMS should:.

recognise the work that is high risk construction work.

specify the dangers associating with the high threat construction work and the dangers to health and safety.

explain the measures to be implemented to manage the dangers, and.

explain how the control procedures are to be executed, kept track of and reviewed.

For an example of how to do this see: How to finish a SWMS when Utilising silica.

The control steps need to be set out and revealed in such a way that is easily accessible and understandable to the persons who will utilise the SWMS. Describe in clear terms how risks to health and safety are to be managed to make it possible for the work to be done safely, and how the control measures are to be implemented.

You can use any type or template to write the SWMS, including paper and electronic formats, offered the above information is included and is easily available.

Can I utilise a generic SWMS?

A generic SWMS can be utilised after it has actually been examined and modified as essential to make sure that it covers all the risks and dangers that exist on the site where the work is to be carried out. A generic SWMS needs to be reviewed/revised prior to beginning the work and prior to starting a brand-new activity or a modification in work location or circumstances.

For more details about SWMS and your commitments go to the website of your local work environment health and wellness authority and search for safe work technique statements.

Safe Work Australia