SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENTS MBS 7.01 2 CPD Points Copyright and Disclaimer: MyBuildingSite Pty Ltd (MBS) owns the copyright of the content on this website, unless otherwise stated. The courses and information have been provided for the purposes of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) online study only. Whilst every care has been taken, MBS accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any information, nor liability for any loss or damage which may result as a consequence of relying on the information contained on this site. You should seek legal advice before acting on any of this information. MBS accepts no responsibility or liability for material on any website linked to this site. MBS does not endorse the information available at these linked sites. By continuing to use this website you accept the Terms and Conditions of this Copyright and Disclaimer. 1
Safe Work Method Statements Introduction: The Sub-contractors who will carry out the work should prepare the Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS). If there are no Sub-contractors, you, as the head Contractor are obligated to prepare the SWMS. Ultimately, you, as head Contractor are responsible for all SWMS s. This course will assist you to comply with your obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act 2000 and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulation 2001, Chapter 8: CONSTRUCTION WORK. A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is required by legislation for: Any and all construction work valued over $250,000 All HIGH RISK construction work even below $250,000 in value. Any Demolition or removing Asbestos work (not requiring a license) of any value. HIGH RISK construction work includes: Structural work involving temporary support Working at heights above 3.0 metres Working in excavations deeper than 1.5 metres Demolition work not requiring a license Working in tunnels Working with explosives Working close to traffic Working with mobile plant Working close to gas or electrical installations Working over water or near water and there is a risk of drowning 2
SWMS Definition: NSW OHS Regulation 2001 states A Safe Work Method Statement means a statement that: (a) describes how work is to be carried out, and (b) identifies the work activities assessed as having safety risks and (c) identifies the safety risks and (d) describes the control measures that will be applied to the work activities and includes a description of the equipment used in the work, the standards or codes to be complied with, the qualifications of the personnel doing the work and the training required to do the work. Later in this course you will find a sample SWMS document that fulfils these requirements. A Safe Work Method Statement is important when planning and implementing work. It sets out ways or methods for carrying out work, particularly hazardous work. We all know how dangerous building can be. A SWMS is a form of checklist and is used to describe the work proposed. It can also be used to forecast health and safety concerns and program the work ahead. The aims of a SWMS are to: 1. Describe the work 2. Find the workers and the skills to do the work 3. Identify the OHS risks attached to doing the work 4. Select hazard controls appropriate to the work 5. Plan the job so that the work can be completed as safely and efficiently as possible 3
A SWMS should: 1. Be in plain English (more on this later) 2. Be planned and written out before the start of the job. 3. Include consultation with workers and Sub-contractors 4. Include the results of any risks assessments 5. Set out work procedures in the order in which they occur 6. Be read and understood by all site personnel before starting work 7. Be signed as read and understood by all site personnel 8. Be incorporated into Site Induction training 9. Be part of the Builder s Site Safety Plan If your Building business is large enough, organize an OHS committee or an OHS representative to assist you to manage OHS from policy development and programs to evaluating policies and suggesting ways to improve these policies. Plain English in Writing an SWMS: When writing Safe Work Method Statements in plain English you need to: 1. Consider your reader, is English a second language? How well do they read? This can be a delicate issue so be careful. 2. Communicate your message to the reader, using clear and concise language 3. Think about how you present your message in order to keep the reader s attention. Plain English does not mean simple English or using as few words as possible. It does not mean not using technical terms or talking down to your readers. Site personnel are far more likely to act on written rather than verbal instructions. 4
Written instructions result in fewer interruptions to work through misunderstanding or enquiries. Written instructions are easier and less time consuming to produce and are generally viewed positively. Training, safety and work standards can be improved using Plain English, written instructions. Here are a few pointers on how to write Safe Work Method Statements effectively in plain English. These should make it easier to write, read and understand the SWMS. WRITE OUT YOUR JOB PROCEDURE STEP BY STEP Start each job step with an action word. : 1. Deliver timber strip flooring to site. 2. Store indoors under cover 3. Wait seven days until flooring acclimatises 4. Fix the flooring and remove waste on completion. Etc. USE AN ACTIVE INSTRUCTION NOT A PASSIVE INSTRUCTION Active instructions are more direct and are aimed at the person who does the work. : Do not say waste must be removed on completion. It is better to say Remove waste on completion. Do not say Hearing protection must be worn when working with power tools. It is better to say Wear hearing protection when working with power tools. USE A LOGICAL SEQUENCE WHEN WRITING To get the message across, put the main point of the message first. Do not say When you are working with power tools, wear hearing protection. It is better to say Wear hearing protection when working with power tools. 5
On occasions, for clarity, it may be better to use a sub-heading with dot points below. When cutting, laying, cramping and fixing floorboards: Wear protective clothing Use dust masks, hearing and eye protection Avoid firing nails through fingers when fixing SENTENCES SHOULD BE SHORT AND CLEAR Dot points can make it easier to read. Do not be too long winded in your writing. Keep your sentences short with only one or two ideas so that your reader will not lose interest or miss your point. Do not say When compressed air operated nail guns are to be used for the purpose of fixing timber flooring, it is advisable to make certain the compressor is placed as close as possible to the work area and all equipment is to be fitted with noise suppressors. Hearing protection must be worn by all workers at all times It is better to say When using compressed air operated nail guns to fix flooring: Place the compressor as close as possible to the work area Fit the compressor with noise suppressors Wear hearing protection at all times If additional information is necessary for clarity, highlight this information in some way. Secure the feet of access ladders rising off formwork by mechanical fixings. Timber cleats can be nailed or screw fixed to formwork to prevent the feet of ladders from sliding. OR Secure the feet of access ladders etc.. Timber cleats can be nailed or screw fixed etc 6
Stick with the same structure when writing about similar ideas. Do not say When using compressed air operated nail guns to fix flooring: 1. Place the compressor as close as possible to the work area 2. The compressor should be fitted with noise suppressors 3. At all times wear hearing protection It is better to say 1. Place the compressor as close as possible to the work area 2. Fit the compressor with noise suppressors 3. Wear hearing protection at all times BE CAREFUL IN YOUR CHOICE OF WORDS Choose your words carefully and try to be as informal as possible. Do not say Without further delay It is better to say Now Do not say At some future point in time It is better to say In future Do not be too formal but avoid slang, sexist or racist terms, jargon etc. Bricky, chippie, sparky Full as a bull I m out of here Do not use contractions as they are not as strong as the full word. Do not say Don t or can t It is better to say Do not or cannot Do not use acronyms unless you explain what they stand for the first time you use them. Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) Spell out one, two, three etc. up to ten then use numbers 11, 12, 13 etc. It is recommended you use the Macquarie dictionary as it is the most suitable for Australia. 7
AVOID TURNING VERBS INTO NOUNS The document will appear academic and hard to read. Do not say Utilisation of rock saws on this site may only be done after consultation with the Engineer It is better to say Consult the Engineer before using rock saws on this site. TAKE TIME TO PREPARE YOUR LAYOUT Try to make your Statement as open as possible, plenty of white space makes for easier reading. Use sub-headings to break up large blocks of words and do not use a lot of colour as it is harder to read. CHECK THE DOCUMENT Someone who does not know the job should read the SWMS before it is released. If they can understand it, you have succeeded. MAKING SURE SITE PERSONNEL UNDERSTAND THE SWMS If you have workers who may have difficulty reading the SWMS, consider reading it out loud to them, so that they understand it. If writing does not get the message across, consider drawings or diagrams to assist you. Finally, if you need a translator to assist, then you will have to decide how you will get the message out to your site personnel. Now that we have looked at the parameters of writing an SWMS, we need to look at the actual mechanics of the Safe Work Method Statement. 8
The Mechanics of the SWMS: As mentioned in the Introduction, the SWMS is best written by those who will actually do the job. If there are sub-contractors involved in the construction work, they should prepare their SWMS. The SWMS should be specific to the particular building site. Consult your workers as they may see a better, safer way of working. They are also more inclined to adopt the SWMS if they have been involved in its preparation. As above mentioned, someone who does not know the job should check the SWMS after preparation and before release. Periodically, the SWMS needs to be looked at, in order to see if it is still current. As the job progresses, you will need to make sure the site personnel are complying with the SWMS, and that the SWMS is updated with any changes to the work site. Once the SWMS has been provided, ALL site personnel, both employees and subcontractors are obligated to read and sign their relevant SWMS. If it is updated, it will then need to be re-read and re-signed. If employees and/or sub-contractors do NOT comply with their relevant SWMS, you as head contractor are responsible and need to act to ensure compliance. In the following pages I have attempted to illustrate, by means of a sample document, how to set out and complete a fairly typical SWMS. The final document illustrates the basic information required for a SWMS. You may add more information if it assists you to better manage your organization. 9
BUILDER (Name): CONTRACTOR: SITE (Location): SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENT Signed Off by: Date: Page:...1...of...(total number of pages) TASK ON SITE: TASK STEPS POSSIBLE HAZARD SAFETY CONTROL MEASURES 10
BUILDER (Name): CONTRACTOR: SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENT Signed Off by: Date: Page:...of...(total number of pages) TASK ON SITE TASK STEPS POSSIBLE HAZARDS SAFETY CONTROL MEASURES 11
SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENT (EXAMPLE ONLY) BUILDER (Name): ABCD BUILDING SERVICES PTY LTD CONTRACTOR: SMITH S CARPENTRY SERVICES PTY LTD SITE (Location): 123 SYDNEY ROAD NOWRA NSW Signed Off by: John Smith Date: 20 Sept. 2010 Page:..1...of...2...(total number of pages) TASK ON SITE: Stud wall framing Ground floor TASK STEPS POSSIBLE HAZARD SAFETY CONTROL MEASURES Write out the tasks in the order Include everything you can think of List everything, make the job safer. they occur 1. Set out wall locations Poor planning, incompetent workers Train workers to ensure they are capable of work 2. Look for risks on site and identify Unsafe work practices, hazardous Substances, heavy lifting, trip falls, strong sun exposure, noisy machinery Execute Site Induction Wear sun screen protection Wear hearing & eye protection 3. Set up cutting and framing area Power leads, rubbish safe storage Fix leads high off floor, remove rubbish trip hazard 4. Load timbers into area Heavy lifting (20kg?), trip hazard, Long/heavy lengths use two workers, wear gloves, sharps (splinters) steel toe capped boots, build ramp up to work area, 5. Cut timber to length Power saw, dropping timber off work bench, electrocution construct guard rail along edge of work area Keep hands away from blade, support timber to avoid kick back, keep power lead away from saw blade 6. Lay timbers out on floor Sharps, heavy lifting Wear gloves, bend knees not back to lift 7. Fix timbers together Nail gun, noise, stray projectiles Operate gun safely, wear hearing protection, fire nails only toward timber not yourself, advise other workers to keep a safe distance away 8. Cut in & pin wall braces Circular saw kick back, electrocution, Grip saw firmly, avoid cutting power lead, wear noise gloves and boots 9. Raise assembled wall frames Heavy lifting Use enough workers to lift, wear gloves & boots 12
SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENT (EXAMPLE ONLY) BUILDER (Name): ABCD BUILDING SERVICES PTY LTD CONTRACTOR: SMITH S CARPENTRY SERVICES PTY LTD SITE (Location): 123 SYDNEY ROAD NOWRA NSW Signed Off by: John Smith Date: 20 Sept. 2010 Page:..2...of...2...(total number of pages) TASK ON SITE: Stud wall framing Ground floor TASK STEPS POSSIBLE HAZARD SAFETY CONTROL MEASURES 10. Fix bottom plates Nail gun, wall frame falling over Operate gun safely, wear hearing protection, temporary brace wall frames. 11. Plumb wall frames and fix corners Wall leaning over, nail gun, step ladder 12. Hand nail off wall braces Step ladder, striking fingers, stray projectiles 13. Cut out bottom plates at doorways Reciprocating saw kick back, Electrocution, noise Plumb corners, wear gloves & hearing protection Set up step ladder fully, brace if necessary. Use scaffolding if too high for steps. Set up step ladder fully, brace if necessary, start the nail gently before hammering home, wear eye protection Keep hands away from blade, grip saw firmly, avoid cutting power lead, wear hearing and eye protection Operating power tools Electrocution Leads tested and tagged monthly, suspend leads above floor to avoid trip hazard Hazardous materials Illness, injury or death Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), read MSDS before using any hazardous material Operating explosive powered tools Injury or death from stray projectiles, noise Certified Operator, operate gun safely, wear eye and hearing protection, keep others at a safe distance 13
SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENT The following staff and tools are necessary to safely carry out the work detailed on the attached Safe Work Method Statement SITE (Location): TASK ON SITE: SIGNED Off by: Date: DETAILS OF PERSONNEL DETAILS OF EQUIPMENT STAFF To safely do the work PLANT Include any plant required to do the work Detail service and maintenance required by Plant supplier, log any details required by Authorities OCCUPATION Detail staff titles EQUIPMENT Detail small power & hand tools required Detail service and maintenance required. Detail any testing and tagging required. QUALIFICATION Trade license, ticket Details of previous work experience, Technical Qualifications, Certificates PPE Personal Protective Equipment Hearing & Eye protection, steel toe capped boots, hard hats, gloves, dust masks, Sunscreen, Safety harness etc. 14
SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENT (EXAMPLE ONLY) The following staff and tools are necessary to safely carry out the work detailed on the attached Safe Work Method Statement SITE (Location): 123 SYDNEY ROAD NOWRA NSW TASK ON SITE: Stud wall framing Ground floor SIGNED Off by: John Smith Date: 20.09.10 DETAILS OF PERSONNEL DETAILS OF EQUIPMENT STAFF To safely do the work Two (2) John Smith and one Carpenter PLANT Include any plant required to do the work Detail service and maintenance required by Plant supplier, log any details required by Authorities Portable Compressor Check oil level, check drive belt guard. Use ELCB to power supply. OCCUPATION Detail staff titles John Smith, Supervisor, Licensed Builder Assistant Carpenter EQUIPMENT Detail small power & hand tools required Drop saw Detail service and maintenance required. Detail any testing and tagging required. Inspect blade, power lead and trigger, test & tag monthly Framing gun Lubricate before use, check air hose for leaks QUALIFICATION Trade license, ticket Details of previous work experience, Technical Qualifications, Certificates John Smith BL 12345678 Assist. Carpenter Cert III Carpentry PPE Personal Protective Equipment Ear muff, glove goggle, boots Hearing & Eye protection, steel toe capped boots, hard hats, gloves, dust masks, Sunscreen, Safety harness etc. Check for wear and tear 15
SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENT The following Site Staff are aware of the Tasks, Hazards and Safety Control Measures detailed in the attached Safe Work Method Statement and agree to observe all of these Safety Control Measures. SITE (Location): TASK ON SITE: SIGNED Off by: Date: NAME TRADE SIGNED 16
SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENT (EXAMPLE ONLY) The following Site Staff are aware of the Tasks, Hazards and Safety Control Measures detailed in the attached Safe Work Method Statement and agree to observe all of these Safety Control Measures. SITE (Location): 123 SYDNEY ROAD NOWRA NSW TASK ON SITE: Stud wall framing Ground floor. SIGNED Off by: John Smith Date: 20.09.10 NAME TRADE SIGNED John Smith Carpentry Supervisor Fred Nurk Carpenter 17
Assessment: Please return to the Members Area on the website, in order to answer the Short Assessment Here are the Questions (contained within the website) you will need to answer correctly, in order to qualify for your Certificate of Completion, if you want one. QUESTION 1. A SWMS is ONLY required for construction work valued over $250,000. True/False QUESTION 2. High Risk construction work includes Structural work involving temporary support. True/False QUESTION 3. All Site Staff working on the Site are required to read and sign the SWMS. True/False Question 4. A SWMS is best written by those who actually do the work. True/False 18