Safe Work Method Statements

Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) are essential documents that link an organisation’s risk management process and those who perform the work on site. A SWMS instructs workers on:

• How to perform a task
• The hazards associated with performing that task
• The controls put in place to eliminate or reduce the risks arising from the hazards so far as is practicable.

The SWMS course is for people who play a role in developing SWMS for high risk construction work or reviewing SWMS for compliance. In the commercial construction sector, this includes principal contractor site managers/supervisors, health and safety representatives (HSRs), subcontractor supervisors, leading hands and other employees with supervisory responsibilities. In the housing sector, this includes builders and subcontractors.

Attendees will learn:

• What information needs to be in a SWMS
• How to develop a SWMS that can be adapted for any construction site
• How to make your SWMS site-specific for every job you do
• What to look for when reviewing a SWMS submitted by a subcontractor
• How to manage compliance with a SWMS on site.