Safe Work Method Statements

[AJD Mowing]

Hi all, I have some smws I would like modify as needed with suggestions but want to put them on the private area of the forum. anyone is then free to use them "as is" or when all the fine points are added to them.

Hi Wheelers,
Is this still going ahead?

[PaulG]

I think it would be great if we could all chip in and design/modify SWMS using our collective knowledge.

[Kathryn]

ok thats easy. if everyone wants to help put one together i can run you through the mumbo jumbo so that you can all do them in the future.
how about we use the blank swms on this link http://www.co-wynbuilding.com.au/Bla..._Statement.pdf
and we can run through the stages together.
look forward to hearing from you

[AJD Mowing]

Sounds Good Kathryn
Can you take the lead and for dumb ass people like myself I will follow and just hope I can keep up

[Kathryn]

ok. cool. . im guessing for most of you guys you just want a fairly generic method statement with no unusual hazards like gas pipelines or anything .
how about we do the first page
id put my company name in as contractor and as the task id put mowing of lawn areas with a ride on mower( and whipper snipper?)
the site specific oh&s and environmental boxes are there to help you think about what hazards there could be. tick all that are relevant but remember that they must all then be mentioned and controlled in the 2nd page ( can we do that tomorrow).

if working around buildings then access and egress should be ticked, remember its hazards to you, your machinery, the public and any buildings etc.
i'd probably tick access/ egress, possibly electricity if there are mains coming up out the ground, fatigue, fire ( in dry conditions), manual handling, machine guarding,moving plant/ traffic ( the public or co workers), plant/ equipment operation, noise, public, services (possibility of water mains), subsidence if there is trenches, cliff edges, dropoffs or loose soiled slopes, uv light, young/unskilled labour( your offsider?),
for environmental i might tick air quality( dust/ fumes), hazardous substance ( fuel), habitat ( snakes, wasps, poisonous/prickly plants,

the lsat box is just getting youto think about what you are wearing or providing as safety devices. theform has left room for you to add more ie chainsaw chaps.

get your head around that and we'll do page 2 tomorrow.
these things are pretty easy once youve done a few and are designed to done in a group so that the entire work crew has contributed and is educated. enjoy!

[AJD Mowing]

Good on you Kathryn.. This is good timing for me I got invited last week to join a site that strata use for contractors but I must have a SWMS to join.
I have other work to do tonight but I will keep coming in here and try keep up to speed..
Thanks your a champ!!

[South East Mowing]

Sounds Good Kathryn
Can you take the lead and for dumb ass people like myself I will follow and just hope I can keep up

Took the words right outta my mouth

[Kathryn]

ok. 2nd page. this is the longest part
break your job into steps. for the average ride on job i'm suggesting.
turn up at site/ prepare to start job
whippersnip
mow
blow/ clean up site

take each step andthink about any hazards that could be associated with this step. i'm not going to write the entire swms for you but i'll do the first step
1) arrive at site/ prepare to start task
possible hazards:
traffic
members of public
sun exposure
heat/cold exposure
fauna/flora
loose uneven ground
trips slips falls
that covers us driving up and checking out the job site before we even start taking tools off the trailer. ill let you think up the hazards for the other steps.can be repetitive sun or uv exposure for example should be mentioned in every stage.

so onto the risk score for our first step
page 5 helps us to determine this. with sun or uv exposure as a hazard,without any controls such as sun screen, hat or long sleeves what is the consequence of uv exposure. id say either moderate or significant as skin cancer can kill. you decide.
then look at likelihood. im thinking either likely or possible. now you have your consequence and probabilty. using the colourful table on page 5 you should be ableto get your risk score. it'll be a high or moderate depending on how you scored the hazard.

safety guys dont like anything higher than a low risk rating so we need to list our contrls of this hazard. id suggest putting sunscrren, wide brimed hat and long sleeved clothing in the safety contols box. now work out your probability and consequences again with our controls in place. i get a low score. stick that in the last risk box.
some swms use the terms raw risk and controlled risk for these boxes. some will have another column asking who is responsible for these controls. you might put business owner, leading hand or all.
so thats the first hazard done. easy huh?. if your going to use the electronic copy i linked dont be afraid to expand the boxes. they never make them big enough

if you have any dramas pm me and ill explain it a different way. feedback about whether or not i'm explaining this clearly is welcome.

enjoy

(p.s this first swms will take you a while but they get quicker as you get used to them. if you save them on your computer you can cut and paste in the future to speed things up)

[Kathryn]

i forgot to add when hazards are mentioned in multiple steps, fr example, members of public/ co workers, when it comes to the controls i tend to just write as above, but again, copy and paste is your friend.

[AJD Mowing]

hey Kathryn your inbox is full cant pm you

[Kathryn]

ive emptied it