From 1 January 2012 the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) has effect in the ACT, replacing the Work Safety Act 2008. Click here for further information on the WHS Act.
Introduction
The requirement for a Safe Work Method Statement [SWMS] in the ACT is based on the adoption of the National Code of Practice for Construction Work under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
The Code of Practice for the Prevention of Falls in Housing Construction and the Code of Practice for the Prevention of Falls at Workplaces, also require an SWMS to be developed for work at heights over 2 metres.
A SWMS documents a process for identifying and controlling health and safety hazards and risks.
An SWMS should be prepared before work begins, if anyone’s health and safety is at risk because of the work. An SWMS can also be used for any other work activities if it is felt that it would be of use.
An SWMS is similar to a Job Safety Analysis (JSA).
What is a Safe Work Method Statement?
A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a document that:
An SWMS must be site specific. While a generic SWMS might be used as a starting point, each SWMS must address the issues that are specific to the site where the work activity will be carried out. Generic SWMS invariably fail to address issues that are unique to the site in question. They can lead to accidents which could easily have been avoided by considering the particular aspects of the site in question.
Most important of all, the work should then be done in accordance with the SWMS. The workers conducting the activity should be:
One SWMS can be prepared to cover a variety of tasks, if it takes into account the changing nature of the work environment. Alternatively, a separate SWMS can be prepared for each type of hazardous work. In deciding this, consider situations where different types of hazardous work impact on each other {e.g. moving powered mobile plant close to where formwork is being constructed).
What is hazardous work?
To determine whether work is hazardous, you will need to conduct a risk assessment. There are many different models for doing this.
WorkSafe ACT’s simple guide to risk assessment.
You can also refer to the relevant Australian Standard – AS
Some work activities will obviously be hazardous work, such as:
Preparing SWMS
Preparing an SWMS is part of the planning of the work. The SWMS is designed to help a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) work through the hazards and risks involved in the work, and to choose effective control measures.
Workers, Heath Safey Representatives, and Health and Safety Committees (if applicable) must be consulted in the preparation of the SWMS, so far as is reasonably practicable.
It is important that you use the Hierarchy of Control to determine the most appropriate control (or controls) to reduce the risks associated with an activity or task. Remember, as you go down the Hierarchy of Control, the controls diminish in effectiveness. It is always better (though not always possible) to choose controls form as high up the list as possible.
WorkSafe ACT’s guidance on the Hierarchy of Controls
ACT work health and safety legislation does not require that any specific format or form be used for an SWMS. Nonetheless, WorkSafe ACT and the Master Builders Association of the ACT are developing a template for an SWMS that has been endorsed by those two organisations. The template will be downloadable from this page once it is finalised.
NOTE: Principal contractors may require you to use their version of an SWMS. There is no legal obligation for them to use the WorkSafe ACT endorsed form.
Consultation
It is essential that a SWMS be developed in consultation with those who are required to implement it or carry it out. This means that:
Remember, the most important aspect of Safe Work Method Statements is that they actually be used and that workers who are required to carry out the task[s] covered by the SWMS are given the appropriate instruction, training and supervision to ensure that they can carry them out correctly and safely.
Example of an SWMS
If you have never completed an SWMS before, or if you would like to see an example to work from, click on the following link for an example of a blank SWMS.
Download a sample blank SWMS.
When should an SWMS be reviewed?
An SWMS should be reviewed [and revised if necessary] if either of the following circumstances occur: