What is a Safe Work Method Statement?
A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a document that:
- lists the types of high risk construction work being done
- states the health and safety hazards and risks arising from that work
- describes how the risks will be controlled, and
- describes how the risk control measures will be put in place.
The work must be done in accordance with the SWMS.
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 high risk work.
In this case, consider situations where different types of high risk work impact on each other (eg moving powered mobile plant during the construction of a tunnel).
When an SWMS is being used for a site where there are multiple hazards, the SWMS needs to deal with the specific hazards and risks on the site.
For this reason, a generic SWMS is unlikely to meet the new requirements, unless it has first been reviewed in light of the hazards and risks on the specific site and amended as necessary.
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