Safe work Method Statement

For Federal Safety Commissioner (FSC) approved companies or builders who require a high level of Safe Work Method
Statements the attached SWMS is a guide only. As some FSC approved companies may require the use of their own SWMS
temple which is structured at a higher level to what is provided on this SWMS.
Use of Master Builders Generic Safe Work Method Statements
Disclaimer:

Rules for the use of Master Builders generic SWMS

1. This generic SWMS is provided as a sample only. It is not to be used by a builder or subcontractor for the purpose of managing
safety on their projects. It can be used as a template to enable builders and subcontractors to produce their own SWMS.
2. Employers intending to use this SWMS as a template for their own SWMS must ensure they consult with their employees, including
their Health and Safety Representatives, prior to its introduction.
3. Builders and subcontractors must ensure that their SWMS is relevant to the project at hand. Generic SWMS should not be used unless
precautions have been taken to ensure that the document adequately addresses the hazards and risks relevant to each particular
project. And the correct risk rating and residual risk rating are inserted.
4. Builders and subcontractors intending to use this sample SWMS as a template for their own generic SWMS, without making any
changes to the detail, must ensure that they adhere to and implement all of the relevant risk controls and residual risk rating.
5. The range of generic SWMS provided by Master Builders are not sufficiently broad enough to cover all hazards or risks encountered
by builders and subcontractors. It does not cover the full list of requirements for which SWMS are specifically required under the OHS
Construction Regulations. It is important that the builder or subcontractor undertake their own hazard identification and risk control
process relevant for each particular task.
It is highly recommended that persons who are responsible for preparing and reviewing SWMS undertake training so as to understand the
process of identifying and controlling risks in the workplace.

Safe Work Method Statement

Contractor Company Name:

Company Address:

ABN:

Company Contact:

Work Activity: Concrete Formwork Suspended Slab

Project:

SWMS No ____ Page 1 of

Date:

Project Address:

SWMS developed by:

SWMS Reviewed by:

Plant required for the task:

Hazardous substances:
Specific training required:
State of knowledge
documentation (safety
legislation; codes of practice;
standards, etc):

Specific PPE:
OHS Act 2004 OHS Regulations 2007
Code of Practice for Manual Handling
AS/NZS3012:2010 Electrical Installations on Construction &
Demo Sites
AS/NZS 1892.5 -2000 Portable Ladders Selection use

Emergency planning:

All personal protective equipment and clothing will comply with

relevant Australian standards
As per Principal Contractors emergency requirements. This
task does not require specific emergency planning.

Person in control of inducting workers into this SWMS:

Engineering Details / Certificates / WorkSafe Approvals:

Training

Construction Induction (CI)

Site specific induction training
SWMS induction to the site
MSDS induction to the site

Certificates

Approvals

Permits

Consequence

Likelihood / Probability

Almost certain

Likely

Possible

Unlikely

Rare

Catastrophe

Extreme

Extreme

High

High

Medium

Major

Extreme

High

High

Medium

Low

Moderate

High

High

Medium

Medium

Low

Significant

High

Medium

Medium

Low

Low

Negligible

Medium

Low

Low

Low

Low

Consequence

Risk Matrix
The higher the consequence and the more the likelihood/probability of it occurring, the greater the urgency
required to attend to the removal or minimisation of that hazard.
The first control strategy to be applied is to eliminate risks by :
1.

Eliminating the use of the hazardous activity, plant, tool or substance if practicable. If this is not practicable, risk
should be reduced as far as practicable by one or a combination of:

2.

Substitution by less hazardous activity, plant, tool or substance

3.

Isolation of the activity, plant, tool or substance to prevent or reduce exposure to the hazard

4.

Engineering controls. eg exhaust ventilation for dusts or vapours.

5.

When these measures have been applied to the highest extent practicable, any remaining risk should be reduced by

Likelihood

Catastrophe

Almost certain

Severe health effects leading to multiple fatalities.

Cessation of activities

The event will occur on a regular basis

Major

Likely

Death/permanent disability. Major damage requiring

corrective action

Not unusual. Has occurred

several times before

Moderate

Possible

Medical treatment for moderate injury.

Moderate disruption

Unusual but possible. Might

occur once in your contract

Negligible

Rare

No treatment. Low level, short term injury. Negligible

disruption.

Heard of something like the

event occurring elsewhere

Significant

Unlikely

First aid treatment, minor injury. Minor disruption of

operations.

The event does occur somewhere from

time to time

an administrative control. This means adoption of procedures or instructions that minimise exposure to the hazard.
Where an administrative control is used it should be documented in a SWMS.
6.

When risk has been reduced as far as practicable by one or a combination of these measures, any remaining risk may be controlled using PPE. Note that where a National Construction Standard
mandated high risk work activity occurs a specific SWMS must be developed and followed.

Item

Procedure Tasks

Hazards and Risks

List the tasks required to perform the activity

in the sequence they are carried out.

What can harm you - Hazards?

What can happen - Risks?

Risk
Rating

Risk control measures

List the control measures required to eliminate or
reduce the risk of injury and detail how the control
measures will be put in place. (Use the Hierarchy of
Control as far as reasonably practicable) Refer to the
Project Risk register as required.

Inadequate training, task

specific injuries due to
inexperience.

Consultation and training

employees.
Job preparation & planning.

Inadequate consultation or
failure to provide
appropriate equipment.

General induction training.

Entry to site

Entry to unsafe areas,

movement of site
personnel vehicles, plant
& equipment.

Report to site office for induction.

Risk assessment / training
employees.

Unloading & moving

equipment

Fall from vehicle, slips &

falls
Manual handling injuries

Park vehicle in clear, level & safe

area.
Training employees in manual
handling.
Team lifting
Training employees in the use of
PPE
equipment such as gloves.

General Planning

Cuts, splinters &

abrasions
Hit by machinery such as
forklift

Ensure driver is suitably trained to

operate machinery.
Plant & equipment to be maintained,
operator to be licensed.
The training & use of P.P.E
equipment
such as high visible vests & hard
hats.

Residual
Risk
Rating
(When
required)

Who is responsible?
Write the name of the
person responsible
(supervisor or above) to
implement the control
measures identified.

Placing sole plates

Initial set-up of ground

frames.

Placing working bearer

& joists.

Manual handling injuries.

Slips, trips & falls on
unstable ground.
Manual handling injuries
when lifting frames.

Training in manual handling & PPE

Ensure area is clear of debris.

Crushing or jammed
fingers & hands.

Ensure frames are correct way up &

pins will lock properly.
Extra care taken in wet and slippery
conditions.
Training in manual handling.
Ensure both ends of bearers are
supported & bearers arent too long.
Team lifting, Job rotation.
Care taken when lifting green or wet
timbers.
Extra care taken in windy conditions.
Inspection for faulty or damaged
planks
Training in working at heights.
Extra care taken in wet conditions.
Ensure joists are placed on the flat
until secured.
Ensure bearers & joists have
enough overlap.
Position body when lifting and
moving materials.
Training in the use of PPE
equipment such as hard hats.
Be aware of persons working above.

Strains, sprains, back &

shoulder injuries,
Hit in the face by planks.

Fall from working bearers

& joists.

Hit by falling objects from

above

Fall from aluminium

ladders.

Training in manual handling and

correct way to lift frames.
Team lifting.

Ensure ground is level and even

when setting up ladders.
Training in the use of ladders.

Placing Form ply deck.

Strains, sprains, back &

shoulder injuries when
lifting ply sheets.

Slip or fall over objects on

the deck.

Hit by objects off deck

Electric shock or
electrocution when cutting
materials.

Damage to ears and eyes.

Training in manual handling and

correct lifting procedures.
Team lifting and job rotation.
Position and balance body properly
when moving or lifting sheets.
Ensure nails are hammered flush on
deck.
Extra care taken in windy conditions
Take care on deck when wet and
oily.
Maintain and sweep deck of saw
dust to eliminate slippery deck.
Ensure all penetrations are covered
or hand rails have been installed.
Installation of perimeter protection.
Lift extension leads off deck.
Remove off cuts and waste
materials, maintain a clear deck.
Secure bulk plywood from blowing
off deck.
Remove ply off cuts.
Test & tagging of electrical
equipment.
Maintain register for electrical
equipment.
Use earth leakage switches on main
supply and
portable generators.
Training in the set up of power
leads.
Training in the use of PPE
equipment such as ear & eye
protection.

 Inhalation of dust and

vapours.

Serious cut and abrasions

from cutting plywood.

Stripping Formwork.

Strains, sprains, back &

shoulder injuries

Slips, trips and falls due to

insufficient lighting.

Fall from frames or

working platform.

Training in the correct PPE

equipment when using hazardous
substances.
Supply MSDS data for site records.
Consider alternative materials or
substances.
Follow safe use of substance
instructions.
Training in the use of power tools.
Training in the use of PPE
equipment.
Training in manual handling and
correct lifting procedures. Refer to
Basic Lifting.
Team lifting and job rotation.
Position body use correct position
when bending to let down jacks.
Job rotation with all employees.
Team lifting when passing down
materials.
Training in the use of PPE
equipment.
Ensure sufficient lighting.
Clear access ways of waste or
materials.
Strip and remove materials
progressively and clean up as you
go.
Training in working at heights.
Care taken when climbing on
bracing or frames.
Extra care taken in wet and slippery
conditions.

 Cuts, abrasions and

puncture wounds.

Hit by falling objects.

Training in the use of PPE

equipment.
Remove nails from material
progressively, clean up and stack.
Control lowering of deck.
Training in the use of PPE
equipment such as hard hats.
Be aware of persons working above.
Be aware of the ware bouts of all
employees.
Ensure barricading to drop areas is
in position.
Ensure employees are aware of
areas
Control lowering of deck.

I have read and understood and will follow the direction within the content of this SWMS.
I have been consulted in the content of this SWMS.
I agree to review of the SWMS and will follow its direction

Workers name

Qualifications (Licences, Tickets, etc)

Signature

Date

Review/Monitoring
Name:
Date:
Sign: