SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENT SWMS 011 Working at Heights Issue Date: 26/08/2022 Page 1 of 10 WORKING AT HEIGHTS SWMS DetailsOrganisational Company Name: Approval Date: Company Address: Next Review Date: Director / Manager Name: Contact Number: Type of SWMS: Generic (multiple projects, jobs, or work requests) ☐ Site specific (complete section below) ☐ SpecificSite Details Principle Contractor: n/a ☐ Contact Number: n/a ☐ Site Manager or Supervisor Name: n/a ☐ Other PCBU’s: n/a ☐ Site Address: n/a ☐ n/a ☐ DetailsSWMS What high risk work activities are covered by this SWMS? Work on, in or adjacent to a traffic corridor in use by traffic other than pedestrians Work in an area with movement of powered mobile plant. Work on or near energised electrical installations or services. Work involving a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres What is the scope of the works? Scope of work includes the physical work of installing, maintaining, repairing, altering, removing, or adding to Plumbing works. Who else was consulted/involved in preparing this SWMS? Workers / employees Principle Contractor ☐ WHS Team ☐ Additional compliance measures: Pre start Hazard Risk Assessment ☐ Toolbox Talk Workplace Safety Inspection ☐
SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENT SWMS 011 Working at Heights Issue Date: 26/08/2022 Page 2 of 10 offSign Person responsible for ensuring compliance with SWMS: Responsible persons signature: Contact Number: Date: /Training Licencing Requirements Construction industry general induction (White Card) Senior First Aid Training ☐ Forklift Licence ☐ Traffic Control Ticket ☐ Asbestos Awareness ☐ Working with Asbestos of a Minor nature ☐ (Other): ☐ (Other): ☐ (Other): ☐ ProtectivePersonal Equipment Safety boots Eye protection Respiratory equipment Safety Helmet ☐ Hearing protection Barricading and signage ☐ Communication equipment ☐ Long sleeve long pants ☐ White night suits required on night shift ☐ (Other): ☐ (Other): ☐ (Other): ☐ (Other): ☐ (Other): ☐ (Other): ☐ Chemicals PVC Cement ☐ Diesel Fuel ☐ Petrol Fuel ☐ Silicone Spray ☐ Multi Purpose Grease ☐ Silicone ☐ MAPP Gas / LPG ☐ Oxygen / Acetylene ☐ Multi Use Lubricant Spray (WD 40) ☐ Nitrogen ☐ Refrigerants ☐ (Other): ☐
SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENT SWMS 011 Working at Heights Issue Date: 26/08/2022 Page 3 of 10 Legislation Jurisdictions / Safety Legislation Regulator and Contact Number Codes of Practice NSW •Act: Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) •Regulation: Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 (NSW) •Regulator: Safework NSW 13 10 50 Note: To have legal effect in a jurisdiction a model Code of Practice must be approved as a code of practice in that jurisdiction. To find if a model Code of Practice has been approved in a particular jurisdiction, check with the relevant work health and safety regulator. • Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace • First Aid in the Workplace • Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces • Confined Spaces Construction Work • Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Standards AS/NZS 1067: Sunglasses and fashion spectacles, AS/NZS 1270: Acoustics Hearing protectors, AS/NZS 1337.4 6 Series: Personal eye protection, AS/NZS 1715: Selection use and maintenance of respiratory protection devices, AS/NZS 2161.1-10: Occupational protective gloves, AS/NZS 2210.1-9 Series: Occupational protective footwear, AS/NZS 1800: Occupational protective helmets Selection, care and use, AS/NZS 4501.1: Occupational protective clothing General recommendations on selection, care, use and maintenance of protective clothing
This method of control involves designing and/or adding physical safety features to plant or equipment.
Elimination
PPE
This control measure involves eliminating or removing the risk in its entirety
Engineering
This control involves separating the hazard or hazardous work practice from employee’s other work areas. This may involve sectioning off the area by erecting barriers or by moving either the hazardous work practice or the „other‟ employees and their work practices.
This form of control involves substituting a safer process or material for the hazardous process/material found.
Risk Level Matrix
Isolation
PPE is not a particularly effective control method and should only be used: When all other control measures are impractical; or In conjunction with other more effective, control measures. Risk
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Admin This type of control is most effective when used in conjunction with measures mentioned above or as an interim control whilst more effective control measures are developed and implemented.
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Substitution
Analysis Consequence Likelihood Consequence C1 C2 C3 C4 Likelihood L1 1 1 2 3 L1 Highly Likely C1 Catastrophic L2 1 2 3 3 L2 Likely C2 Major L3 2 3 4 4 L3 Unlikely C3 Moderate L4 3 4 4 4 L4 Rare C4 Minor EXTREME RISK HIGH RISK MEDIUM RISK LOW RISK
SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENT SWMS 011 Working at Heights Issue Date: 26/08/2022 Page 4 of 10 Hierarchy of Controls Definitions
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Ensure the ladder: Is an industrial rated ladder and in good working order Is on firm, stable and level ground Is the correct height for the task to avoid reaching or stretching Is not too close or too far from the support structure. The ratio must be 4:1. For example, the distance between the ladder base and the supporting structure should be approximately one metre out for every four metres of working ladder height Is secured against slipping or sliding, and/or there is another person holding the base of the ladder Has all the locking devices on the ladder secured into position Is extended a minimum of 1m past the access point, where accessing the roof or platform from a ladder Ensure materials or tools are not carried while climbing the ladder. Tools should be carried in a tool belt or side pouch. Ladders are not to be used: in access areas or next to doors unless steps are implemented to manage the risks of pedestrians entering through the door or past ladder on scaffolding or an elevating work platform to get extra height in very wet or windy conditions next to traffic areas unless the working area is barricaded.
SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENT SWMS 011 Working at Heights Issue Date: 26/08/2022 Page 5 of 10 General Planning # Job Step / Process / Activity Identify Hazards Risk Level (R) and the Residual Rating (RR) Identify Controls / Action Required ResponsiblePersonL C R RR 1 Establishment of Site and Amenities • Non Compliance with site safety rules L2 C2 HR LR •
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Location of Amenities are to be pre determined and setup away from populated areas, schools and high traffic areas.
Workers 2 Use of ladder • Fall from ladder • Falling object L2
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All staff are to wear PPE (hard hat, visibility vest and safety boots, safety glasses and gloves). C2
Exclusion zone set up around the site set up area. Ensure all vehicles are parked legally (not in No Stopping and not over driveways or in a location which is obstructing traffic.
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Operator of a boom type EWP must hold a High Risk Work Licence where the EWP has the capacity to reach over 11 metres
• Workers 5 Use of Elevated Work Platform (EWP) • Fall from EWP • Overturning of EWP • Ejected from EWP L2 C2 HR LR •
Where the fall height exceeds two metres edge, protection is to be provided Always observe the maximum plank spans of the plank manufacturer
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All workers in a boom type EWP must wear their harness and have it connected to the EWP anchor point EWP should be located close to the work area to prevent the worker from needing to reach from the EWP to undertake the work Where outriggers are used, the outrigger pads must be sufficient to provide the needed stability for EWP Ensure the EWP is operated on consolidated level ground
SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENT SWMS 011 Working at Heights Issue Date: 26/08/2022 Page 6 of 10 3 Use of step ladders and platform ladders • Fall from ladder • Falling object L2 C2 HR LR • Workers must not: • stand on or above the second tread below the top plate of a step ladder • over reach from the ladder • use the ladder near open floor, penetration or beside any railing • use tools that require a high degree of leverage force which, if released, may cause the worker to over balance and fall from the ladder • face away from the ladder when going up or down, or when working from the ladder. Workers 4 Use of trestles • Fall from ladder • Falling object L2 C2 HR LR • Work must only be performed between the trestles the minimum width of the working platform should not be less than 450mm (2 planks) •
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Workers must not stand on the handrails of the EWP
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Work must be performed from within the EWP
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A risk assessment and control measures need to be in place prior to a worker exiting an extended EWP (Refer to AS2550.10 Crane, hoists winches Safe use. Part 10: Mobile elevating work platforms, Section 5.9)
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SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENT SWMS 011 Working at Heights Issue Date: 26/08/2022 Page 7 of 10 6 Use of guard rails for roofing work • Falls while installing fall systemprotection • Providing preventprotectioninsufficienttofall L2 C2 HR LR • Guard rail system should include: • toe boards or mesh infill to prevent falling objects, unless a 2 metre ‘no go’ zone has been established • a clear gap between rails not exceeding 450mm • the clear gap between the midrail and toe board not to exceed 275mm • no gap between the roof edge, including the gutter, and a guardrail located outside the roof line exceeding 100mm • a clear distance between the roof cladding and bottom rail of not less than 150mm and no greater than 275mm • an effective guardrail height above the roof surface of not less than 900mm (for roofs with a pitch over 10 degrees the effective height must be measured from a point 300 mm inside the roof edge) • infill panels where the pitch of the roof exceeds 26 degrees Workers 7 Construct scaffold Mobile and fixed • Manual handling • Falling from heights • Falling objects • Sharps edges • Structural collapse L2 C2 HR LR • Safe means of access and egress to and from the scaffold • Where distribution lines or services are closer than 4 metres, seek advice and approval from the essential energy before proceeding • As erection work proceeds, install edge protection and fully deck at every working bay (during construction) • All scaffold components to be installed as you go to maintain structural integrity • Buddy lifting and handballing techniques should be used. Job rotation applied to vary the work stresses • Maintain 4 metre exclusion zone for those not involved in scaffold erection • Hard hats, gloves, safety glasses and safety footwear should be worn by all involved • Install toe boards on working decks to minimise the risk of items falling • Scaffold must be at least 4 metres away from overhead distribution lines or service supply cables • Where the fall height is over 4m, written confirmation is to be supplied by a licensed person, identifying the scaffolding is complete and safe to use • Workers
SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENT SWMS 011 Working at Heights Issue Date: 26/08/2022 Page 8 of 10 8 Working within 4 meters of powerlinesoverhead • Electric shock L2 C2 HR LR • Materials not to be carried up access ladder. Use ropes and buddy system to handball up materials • Remain on scaffold deck at all times, no trestles or climbing rails for additional height or reach • No alterations to scaffold unless the worker holds a High Risk Work Licence where the fall height exceeds 4 metres, or for heights less than 4 metres is a competent person Workers 9 Use of positioningworksystems • Electrocution L2 C2 HR LR • Only full body harnesses are to be used • The anchor point should be determined by a competent person to ensure: • Anchorages are to be a minimum of 12 kilonewtons • Each anchor point should be located so that the lanyard can be readily attached to prevent the worker being exposed to falling • Set and maintain the lanyard length to prevent the person from reaching the edge • Workers 10 Use of fall arrest systems • Falling from height L2 C3 HR LR • Unsuitable for fall heights less than 6.5metres • Anchorages are to be a minimum of 15 kilonewtons • Each anchor point should be located so that the lanyard can be readily attached to prevent the worker being exposed to falling • Where a fall arrest system is used an emergency rescue plan must be developed and implemented before work commences Supervisor,Workers 11 emergency rescue plan • Incorrectly fitted harness L3 C3 LR LR • Insert details of the emergency rescue plan • Location of work area • Communication • Rescue equipment • Capabilities of rescuers • First aid • Local emergency services if they are to be relied on for rescue Supervisor,Workers
SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENT SWMS 011 Working at Heights Issue Date: 26/08/2022 Page 9 of 10 SWMS Employee Sign off This SWMS has been developed in consultation and has been read, understood, and signed by all workers undertaking the scope of works: Print Names: Signatures: Dates:
SWMS 011 Working at Heights Issue Date: 26/08/2022 Page 10 of 10 SWMS Employee Sign off This SWMS has been developed in consultation and has been read, understood, and signed by all workers undertaking the scope of works: Print Names: Signatures: Dates: