How Is A Safe Work Method Statement Evaluated?

We all know that a Safe Work Method Statements is a written document that is made to ensure workers of safety in the workplace. This document is particularly used in high-risk jobs like in construction. This document typically gives specific instruction about how to safely perform a high-risk task, or to operate a piece of device or equipment. In most countries, it is mandatory to have a work method statement to advice employers and the workers on how to perform their tasks safely.

Employers need to make sure that every single step written in the Safe Work Method Statement is followed and that none of them is missed. If the employers and the workers are following everything that is written on the document, then they are sure that occupational health and safety hazards are prevented. Then again, if they do not follow them, the document will just be useless. To make sure that the document is effective, it needs to be evaluated first. But how is it evaluated?

In evaluating a Safe Work Method Statement, there are certain criteria that are used as a guide in order to ascertain if the document addresses the specific health and safety regulations and requirements for high-risk work activities and other tasks that are to be undertaken by the workers.

There are seven categories in evaluating safe work method statements or SWMS. These include the content, scope of works, competencies and responsibilities, hazardous substances, machinery tools and equipment, and the environment.

CONTENT

The content involves the types of activities, the specific site or designated location, the specific site hazards, the assessed specific risks, the detailed control measures, and the detailed monitoring procedures.

SCOPE OF WORKS

This category involves the start date of the project or activity, the proposed completion date, the scope or type of work that are to be undertaken, and the list of tasks that are to be completed.

COMPETENCIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

In a Safe Work Method Statement, competencies and responsibilities involve the detailed skills and competencies of the workers, the detailed information of the training required for the workers, their prescribed occupation, and the detailed safety responsibilities.

HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES

This category involves the hazardous substances registered and the MSDS or the material safety data sheets.

MACHINERY, PLANT, TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

This category involves the competency and licensing requirements, the servicing and compliance requirements, and the operation erection, and use procedures.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

In a high-risk work, employers should require the use of PPEs. This category involves checking if the workers use their required PPE.

ENVIRONMENT

This category involves the environmental risks, the identified control measures, and the monitoring procedures.

These categories are checked one by one if these are met. It is very important that none of these categories and subcategories is missed when evaluating SWMS. This is to make sure that the Safe Work Method Statement and also this OHS Management Plan is effective. Since the document provides workers the safe work methods and a safety management system, employers must see to it that they follow every single detail written in the document to ensure the workers of a safe working environment.