High Risk Construction Work Safe Work Method Statement Sample

NOTE: Work must be performed in accordance with this SWMS.

This SWMS must be kept and be available for inspection until the high risk construction work to which this SWMS relates is completed.
If the SWMS is revised, all versions should be kept.
If a notifiable incident occurs in relation to the high risk construction work in this SWMS, the SWMS must be kept for at least 2 years from the date of the notifiable incident.
[PCBU Name, contact details] Principal Contractor (PC) [Name, contact details]
Works Manager: Date SWMS provided to
Contact phone: PC:

Work activity: [Job description] Workplace location:

High risk
construction
 Risk of a person falling more than 2  Work on a telecommunication tower  Demolition of load-bearing structure
work: metres (note: in some jurisdictions this is
3 metres)

 Likely to involve disturbing asbestos  Temporary load-bearing support for structural alterations or  Work in or near a confined space
repairs

 Work in or near a shaft or trench  Use of explosives  Work on or near pressurised gas
deeper than 1.5 m or a tunnel mains or piping

 Work on or near chemical, fuel or  Work on or near energised electrical installations or services  Work in an area that may have a
refrigerant lines contaminated or flammable atmosphere

 Tilt-up or precast concrete elements  Work on, in or adjacent to a road, railway, shipping lane or  Work in an area with movement of
other traffic corridor in use by traffic other than pedestrians powered mobile plant

 Work in areas with artificial extremes  Work in or near water or other liquid that involves a risk of  Diving work
of temperature drowning
Person responsible for ensuring compliance with Date SWMS received:
SWMS:
What measures are in place to ensure compliance with Note: How do you intend to monitor SWMS Compliance
the SWMS?
Person responsible for reviewing SWMS control Date SWMS received by reviewer:
measures:
How will the SWMS control measures be reviewed?
Review date: Reviewer’s signature:

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What are the tasks involved? What are the hazards and risks? What are the control measures?
List the work tasks in a logical order. Identify the hazards and risks that may Describe what will be done to control the risk. What will you
cause harm to workers or the public. do to make the activity as safe as possible?
Note: HRCW activities are listed in this column Note: These hazards and risks refer to High Keep it simple and practical – this is what you will need to monitor
Risk construction work as defined in Clause your compliance against.
291

Work in or adjacent to a road, railway, shipping lane or Workers being struck by vehicles in  No loading or unloading will be undertaken
other traffic corridor that is in use by traffic other than adjacent live road or traffic corridor. outside designated loading zone.
pedestrians.  No loading or unloading of trucks unless trained
Vehicles in adjacent road or traffic road traffic controller(s) are in place to direct vehicle
corridor being struck by falling traffic and pedestrians during loading and unloading
 Delivery and removal of Formwork material
material works.
adjacent to live roadway
 All material being loaded onto trucks will be
strapped; no free loads will be transported or loaded
 Only workers directly involved in loading and
unloading will be allowed in the loading and
unloading zone.
 Prior to releasing straps drive to ensure load
has not shifted during
transport.

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Movement of powered mobile plant. Workers being struck by powered  Exclusion zone for mobile plant to be clearly
mobile plant including delivery identified and controlled during vehicle
 Delivery and removal of Formwork material vehicle/crane and forklift/telehandlers loading/unloading operations.
onto and off site used for loading and unloading.  Travel paths for mobile plant will be clearly
identified (signage and barricades as per site
Failure of plant during plan), a supervisor will be present during vehicle
operation. loading/unloading operations.
 All operators (crane/forklift) and dogman are to
hold a current High Risk Work Licence and be
appropriately trained in the task.
 Plant is to be inspected and maintained in
accordance with
manufacture’s requirements.

Falling more than 2 metres Materials and/or person/s falling  Prior to releasing straps driver to ensure load
from truck (dogman/driver) has not shifted during transport.
 Delivery and removal of Formwork material  Loads to be placed on pallets, stillage or pre-slung
 Erecting falsework and timbers above 2 metres prior to arriving on site.
Driver releasing straps from load
 Laying out ply sheets to the top of joists  Platform/ladder to be available to release straps
 Cutting in penetrations for caught on load.
columns/service risers Workers falling during falsework and  False work and formwork will be installed by
 Installation of walls and columns timber bearer and joist installation competent workers in accordance with
 Stripping formwork and false work manufactures design or engineered
recommendations.
Workers fall through column
penetrations/service risers  Where there is a potential to fall less than 2 metres
whilst erecting frames or timbers, an intermediate
work platform may be used that is at least
Workers fall from height

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 installing walls and columns 450mm wide and a continuous deck will be installed
for falls greater than 2 metres.
 Intermediate working platforms for installation of
Workers falling during formwork false work and timber bearer and joist will be a
and falsework stripping. minimum of 450mm wide.
 Handrails (no less than 900mm in height), mid rails
and kick boards will be installed on formwork decks
to prevent workers and objects falling. Handrails are
to be robust construction and installed in
accordance with the specific design.
 Timber joist will be installed on top of bearers from
below and be spaced at 450mm centres, 400mm
gaps.
 Ply sheets will be laid progressively in front of the
worker, and a minimum of 1800mm will be
maintained if no edge protection is in place.
 Catch decks will be installed directly beneath
column penetrations whilst being cut in.
 All penetrations will be fully covered with ply
mechanically fixed (screwed or nailed) and marked
with “Penetration below”.
 Intermediate working platforms for installation of
walls and columns will have handrails (900mm-
1000mm) mid-rails and be a minimum of
450mm wide.

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  False work and formwork will be dismantle by
competent workers in accordance to the
manufactures or engineered design.
 Fall control measures for stripping will be as
installation methods in
reverse sequence.

Temporary load-bearing support for structural Workers exposed to incomplete formwork  A structural inspection and formwork sign off will be
alterations or repairs falling through or off formwork decks. undertaken by a competent person prior to materials
being loaded onto formwork deck.
 Other trades accessing formwork to prepare for  Supervisor will consult with the crane crew prior to
False work and formwork collapse
concrete any materials being loaded onto the formwork
causing injuries.
 Concrete placement decks.
 Stripping of false work and formwork  Formworkers only on incomplete decks.
Structural collapse due to insufficient  Straight to the point supervisor will consult with
concrete strength. other supervisors prior to any workers accessing the
formwork deck.
Structural collapse due to  A structural inspection and formwork sign off will be
overloading incomplete formwork undertaken by a competent structural engineer prior
decks. to pouring concrete.
 Concrete strength results will be verified by a
competent person prior to stripping commencing.

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PLEASE NOTE: THE TRIAL PERIOD FOR THIS DOCUMENT HAS CONCLUDED AND IS NOW BEING REVIEWED. THE CONTROLS ARE INDICATIVE ONLY AND WILL
CHANGE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SITE CONDITIONS.

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