Safe Work Method Statement (swms)

Contains

Organisational details
Project details
Risk risk assessment
Qualifications and skill requirements
Workers sign off form
How to use this form

Organisation Details
Organisation Name:
Contact Name		Phone
ACN/ABN
Address
City/Suburb		Postcode

Project

Project Details
Project
Area
Activity
This SWMS has been developed in consultation with: Reviewed by: ________________________ Position: __________________ Date: _ / __ /
Resources / Trades Involved:
Equipment Used:
Maintenance checks:
Materials Used:
Occupational Health Safety or Environmental Legislation:
Training required
Codes or Standards applicable to the works:

Risk ranking chart

To be used in conjunction with the risk assessment table below

Level	Description of Consequence or Impact	Consequence	Likelihood / Probability
Level	Description of Consequence or Impact	Consequence	L Likely	M Moderate	U Unlikely
H (1) (High level of harm)	Potential death, permanent disability or major structural failure/damage. Off site environmental discharge/release not contained and significant long term environmental harm.	H (1) (High)	1	1	2
M (2) (Medium level of harm)	Potential temporary disability or minor structural failure/damage. On site environmental discharge/release contained, minor remediation required, short term environmental harm.	M (2) (Medium)	1	2	3
L (3) (Low level of harm)	Incident that has the potential to cause persons to require first aid. On site environmental discharge/release immediately contained, minor level clean up with no short term environmental harm.	L (3) (Low)	2	3	3
Level	Likelihood / Probability
Likely	Could happen frequently
Moderate	Could happen occasionally
Unlikely	May occur only in exceptional circumstances

Pre-Start Risk Assessment

Job Item		Risk class ranking

Identified Hazards	Control Measures

Name of persons responsible for work

Job Item		Risk class ranking

Identified Hazards	Control Measures

Name of persons responsible for work

Job Item		Risk class ranking

Identified Hazards	Control Measures

Name of persons responsible for work

Job Item		Risk class ranking

Identified Hazards	Control Measures

Name of persons responsible for work

Job Item		Risk class ranking

Identified Hazards	Control Measures

Name of persons responsible for work

Qualifications and skill requirements

Qualifications and experience required to complete the task	Personnel, Duties and Responsibilities (Supervisory staff and others)	Training Required to Complete Work

Sign off form

This SWMS has been developed through consultation with our employees and has been read, understood and signed by all employees undertaking the works:
Print Names:	Signatures:	Dates:

Using the SWMS template

Consult with all workers involved, contractors and health and safety representatives involved with the high risk construction work, the activities involved, and associated hazards, risks and controls.
In the ‘Identified hazards’ column, identify the high risk construction work for the construction work activity that will be undertaken.
Identify the workplace circumstances that may affect the way in the high risk work will be done.

Examples of workplace circumstances that may impact on the hazards and risks include:

information relating to the design of the structure, the workplace (e.g. location, access, transport), and information contained in the WHS Management Plan
information on any ‘essential services’ located on or near the workplace
confirmation that the regulator has been advised of any ‘notifiable work’ (e.g. demolition work involving explosives)
safe work methods and plant to be used.

In the ‘Control measures’ column, select an appropriate control or combination of controls by working through the hierarchy of controls. It is important that you are able to justify why the selected control measure is reasonably practicable for the specific workplace.

Control measures

Eliminate the risks so far as is reasonable practicable
If this is not reasonably practicable, minimise them so far as reasonably practicable by applying the following hierarchy of control measures:

minimise the risk by doing one or more of the following:

substituting the hazard
isolating the hazard
implementing engineering controls

if the risk still remains, minimise the remaining risk by implementing administrative controls
if the risk still remains, minimise the remaining risk by ensuring the provision and use of suitable personal protective equipment (PPE).

SWMS implementation and compliance (information, monitoring and review)

Brief each team member on the SWMS before commencing work. Ensure team knows work is to stop if the SWMS is not followed.

Observe the work being carried out and monitor compliance with the SWMS. Review risk controls regularly:
before a change occurs to the work itself, the system of work or the work location
if a new hazard associated with the work is identified
when new or additional information about the hazard becomes available
when a notifiable incident occurs in relation to the work
when risk controls are inadequate or the SWMS is not being followed.

In all of the above situations stop the work, review the SWMS, adjust as required and re-brief the team.

Keep the SWMS in a readily available location for the duration of the high risk construction work and for at least 2 years after a notifiable incident occurs.