Writing Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS)

This short course is designed for persons that are responsible for daily site supervision, conducting operations and development of documentation on a worksite.

The program takes participants through the basic operational standards , legislative requirements , safety management and construction standards required on high risk construction sites.

State and commonwealth occupational health & safety (OHS) regulations require safe work method statements to be developed for all high risk construction activities. 

The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations prescribe 19 specific activities as high risk construction work , due to the significant potential for serious harm that is often associated with those activities a, proactive risk assessment process is used to assess the hazards and risk associated with undertaking the work before work commences. 

The 19 HRCW activities are construction work:

  • where a person could fall 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
  • 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.

As a result of undertaking this course, you will gain the skills to be able to develop your current safe work method statements and check the quality of sub-contractor documentation as part of your due diligence for the overseeing of activities under your management control.

FREE SWMS and SWMS checklist Template included in every course.  

Course Content 

  • Legislation overview – A thorough understanding of state legislation in regards to high risk activities.
  • Safe Work Method Statement basics – the key steps in developing safe work method statement documents in accordance with the Occupational health and Safety regulations and your companies internal procedures. 
  • Preparing a JSA – understand the information that you need to prepare a good quality SWMS that is easy to read and understand  
  • Using plain English – tips for writing SWMS/JSAs to ensure you communicate correctly to your work groups. 
  • Using the SWMS/JSA checklist – how to incorporate and utilize a SWMS Checklist to ensure you are getting it right every single time.  

Duration 

3 – 4 hours ( half day )

Further Information

Enquire here

Email: admin@systec-pl.com.au

Telephone Contact: (03) 9484 0086

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