Excavation Safe Work Method Statement Template (SWMS)
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What is an Excavation Safe Work Method Statement?
An Excavation Safe Work Method Statement is a document that improves the excavation operations of a company, because it helps them standardise the control measures and best practices aligned with the standards and regulations they follow. Every type of work or activity related to excavation should follow the proper safety procedures as written in an Excavation Safe Work Method Statement to keep everyone safe, and to mitigate the risks and hazards in this high-risk activity.
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How does an Excavation Safe Work Method Statement improve excavation safety?
Excavation and trenching are some of the more dangerous activities to take place on construction and industrial sites. Every excavation involves a number of hazards and risks such as service strikes and open trenches, and these hazards need to be managed and mitigated in order to keep people safe and projects moving forward. As a 'high risk construction activity', your excavation process requires a safe work method statement.
A safe work method statement for excavation improves excavation operations in a number of ways. Firstly, it enables a company to document its actual process, which requires thinking through and establishing the best and most feasible control measures. Secondly, it standardises how every worker approaches the activity of excavating, keeping everyone on the same safety page and reducing the chance of avoidable errors.
If you're working on excavations, trenches, or any earthmoving works, then you need to establish an Excavation Safe Work Method Statement. It's not a question if you should or shouldn't, because it is standard practice. Here are major signs where you need one that is reliable and effective:
- If your excavations are deeper than written in the regulations you follow, you're working in unstable soils or near buildings or critical infrastructure, or in areas that are risky for flooding, landslides, or hazardous gases
- If your excavation works are near underground utilities or services like water pipes, electrical cables, gas lines, or telecom lines.
- If there had already been instances of accidents or near misses
What are the general contents of an Excavation SWMS?
There isn't a singular or universal structure of an Excavation Safe Work Method Statement, and countries/regions actually design their structure based on the regulations and standards (Safe Work Australia, OSHA, HSE, WorkSafe NZ, etc) they follow, however, there are core elements and general components:
- General details about the project, description of the excavation work, job site location, etc.
- Risk and hazard identification – which includes identifying the hazards in place, their individual risk assessment, and control measures to be placed. This section should be as detailed as possible. No risk or hazard should be overlooked.
- Control measures and safety procedures for protective systems, PPE, safe access, etc.
- List of plans, equipment, and materials including their inspection and maintenance procedures
- Response plans for emergency, first aid, and incidents – especially those related to excavations, like collapse, floods, gas leaks, etc.
Remember, compliance with safety regulations should reflect any well-structured Excavation Safety Work Method Statements because every project deserves a solid foundation, and every worker should feel safe.
Who needs reliable safety documentation?
Any professional or businesses who are in the construction, infrastructure, or industrial projects need a proper and reliable Excavation Safe Work Method Statement because they mainly do works related to excavation, trenching, and earthworks. There are businesses, contractors and subcontractors who specifically provide services related to those, as well as project managers/engineers whose roles are to oversee excavation safety. Aside from professionals and workers providing direct excavation services, workers who work on underground utilities like telecoms, electricity, water, and gas also benefit greatly from an Excavation Safe Work Methods Statement because the document provides essential safety guidelines and instructions for managing underground services.
Investing a reliable Excavation Safe Work Method Statement is more than just 'part of the job' or compliance, it's about keeping all jobs safe and efficient. Safety shouldn't be left to chance – there should be proper procedures in place for team members and workers to use, so they can follow safety instructions with confidence (not blindly) especially knowing the excavation operations are following the industry best practices.
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This SWMS for ecavation was generated with Dashpivot
This Safe Work Method Statement makes managing SWMS documents much easier in many ways:
- Access, edit and submit SWMS from any device - mobile, tablet or computer.
- Store your SWMS and safety records securely online, where they can be searched and found in seconds
- Electronic signatures for fast and bulletproof signoffs
- Built-in version and audit control and real-time safety insights
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