Pre-written Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) rant!

K

kgott

#11
After being asked by a client to modify our Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)* template, I was googling for examples and was surprised by the number of companies selling pre-written SWMS.

They've taken what can be a great tool for hazard identification and risk control and turned it into another useless piece of paperwork that tarnishes the whole idea of workplace health and safety.

Not only do they contribute nothing to making a job safer, they reinforce the view among workers and management that safety is just ticking boxes and not a genuine effort to reduce workplace incidents.

I don't know if it is laziness or ignorance that would lead someone to purchase these and be satisfied that they've fulfilled their safety obligations.

Sorry for the rant, just had to get that off my chest!

*for those who don't know, similar to a JSA or task-based risk assessment.
I agree with what you've said. In my early years and mid years in safety I wrote most of them myself.

Some of our bigger clients require them to be prepared by hand and not permitted to prepared electronically.

Some of our O&G clients require us to use their templates and their software. In one case I have seen, it works reasonably well as the JHA is written and this then opens up into an application for a work permit and then an isolation permit if its required.

At the end, the person prints it all out and it has be reviewed and signed by the supervisor for work concerned.

The bottom line is that nothing beats going out and asking people to list the risks the for job and the controls to test their knowledge of the approved way of doing the job.

But, as typical of safety, most of the responsibility for achieving injury free experience lies with the people on the bottom of the organisation who exercise the least amount of influence over safety performance. (20% company and 80% workers) according to Heinrich.

Compare this with the way the 80 -20 rule is applied in quality. See the head-on smash coming down the tunnel between safety and quality??
 
Elsmar Forum Sponsor
#12
Hello !

I continue my discovery and my understanding of "SWMS" practice (SWMS "similar" to a JSA or task-based risk assessment...). regarding SWMS Knott for example said "Some of our bigger clients require them [SWMS]...", "Some of our O&G* clients require...", John said "Method Statement is a contractual term. The Engineer has the right to require the Contractor to submit their Method Statement before starting".
* what means "O&G" ?

Perhaps I understand that SWMS is a specific process in case of intervention of an "outside company" (a contractor) at a "user company" (client) asking the contractor to perform certain works or provide certain services at home ? That's the situation (contractor intervention in client site) ? Please can you tell if it's rignt ?

Bye.
 
F

Frankie11

#13
Hi Henria,

O&G = Oil and Gas industry.

In Australia, it is a legal requirement that you prepare a SWMS before carrying out high-risk construction work. So any company that engages in such work needs to make sure both their employees and contractors are doing this.

SWMS should be created prior to a high-risk task being carried out to ensure all hazards are identified, risks controlled etc. Then, before starting the work, the supervisor would hold a meeting with the work crew to go over the SWMS so that everyone knows what their roles and responsibilities are and what risk control measures they should be using.

From job to job there will be different hazards, certain control measures may not be suitable etc. which is why SWMS should be specific to the job and not bought from some website.
 
#14
Thanks Frankie !

In France, I think it fits to our regulation focused on the risks araising from the co-activity of several companies working in the same place. In this case the regulation is particularly interested on original risks of interference between the activities and facilities of different companies engaged in an certain join operation.

The main idea is that each compagny manage its own risks as usual (risks of its profession and its activity), but additional all companies in co-activity must together identify risks of interference and decide together how to control these possible interferences (also decide which companies are in charge such different preventive actions decided). This identification and decisions are recorded in a legal document called "Prevention Plan". This document is specific to each operation, valid during operation time and shared by all companies engaged in the operation.

This requirement of common "Prevention Plan" / interferent risks between activities of several companies operating in the same place is the "safety coordination of external companies* interventions at a user company" legal process. It also applies to bulding contruction op?rations.

* work or services providers contractors.

Bye.
 
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