Construction Safe Work Method Statement SWMS
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~10,000 employees
~500 employees
~25,000 employees
~20 employees
~50 employees
~1,500 employees
~20 employees
What is a Safe Work Method Statement for Construction Works?
Safe work method statements are a staple document in the construction industry, and are used to document specific high risk construction activities, define the hazards associated with those activities, and then create control measures to mitigate and reduce the likelihood and consequence of any or all hazards.
The SWMS provides the company and workers with a better understanding of the procedures and workflows required to conduct work safely.
To put it in simple terms, it's not just about compliance, because the standards and regulations are there to protect your team β it's to keep everyone safe and get your jobs run smoothly. Know the risks, do the right steps, and get the jobs done.
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What role does a SWMS play in construction risk management?
Most construction companies have a number of different SWMS documents for specific trades or activities including excavation, carpentry and plumbing. These activities have their own set of hazards and control measures which are better grouped on a single function-specific document.
For some companies who have very general construction works, it can make sense to have a general safe work method statement for construction works. It outlines the general risks and procedures associated with ensuring the construction site is as safe as possible.
When you have a generic formatting for construction works in your SWMS, it makes it so much easier to keep procedures consistent all throughout. But remember, update and adjust your SWMS whenever new risks and hazards pop up. A SWMS is a live document, so ensure they're aligned with what hazards show and what your workers need.
What are the key items in a Construction Works Safe Work Method Statement?
Each Construction Works SWMS completely differ from one another, because it depends on the nature of the construction work, the risks involved (there are many factors involved too), and the control measures to be used.
There also isn't a universal structure that mandates the exact template of a Construction Works SWMS. It depends on your company policies and preferences, however, depending on the local regulations and standards you follow, there are required sections you need to include such as:
- Hazard identification/Risk assessment/control measures section that lays out the unique hazards and risks on site, with the respective suggested control measures
- PPE requirements for the construction work; the requirements may vary depending on each type of construction work, so it's key to check to avoid workers from using PPEs not required for this or that type of work.
- What the roles and responsibilities of each worker, supervisor, manager, safety personnel, and more in ensuring safety during the construction work
- Emergency procedures, evacuation plans, first aid actions, etc.
- List of all the trainings and skills needed for the workers to do this job accurately, safely, and in top-notch quality
- List of equipment, tools, and materials needed for the job and the related safety concerns they hold.
Remember, the SWMS is a live document that should be updated every now and then to meet standards and to align with the hazards present.
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This SWMS was generated with Dashpivot
This smart SWMS comes from a dedicated SWMS tool, meaning you can:
- Access, view and sign off on your safe work method statement directly from the construction site using a mobile or tablet, or back at the office on computer.
- Edit, modify, and update the contents of the SWMS to better suit your needs and construction projects.
- Collaborate on a single cloud-based SWMS document, so everyone is always working off the same latest version.
- Download, print or send your current safe work method statement for construction as a formatted PDF document with your company logo and brand.

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