SWMS for Working at Heights: A Guide to Safety

One of the most prevalent high-risk jobs in a variety of industries, including construction, maintenance, mining, logistics, and even facilities management, is working at heights. Activities carried out above ground level carry a high risk, regardless of whether they require scaffolding, ladders, elevated platforms, or roof access. Indeed, one of the top causes of occupational fatalities and severe injuries globally continues to be falls from a height.

Therefore, it is your responsibility as an individual running a business or project to protect employees and workplaces from the dangers of operating at heights. But how can you ensure that?

In Australia, how contractors and employers handle these risks is governed by stringent laws and regulations. The Safe Work Method Statement, also known as a SWMS, is one of the most efficient and legally mandated instruments for ensuring safe work practices. In this guide, we will explore and help you understand SWMS specifically for working at heights.

What is Working at Heights?

Tasks carried out at elevated heights, specifically more than 2 meters, where there is a risk of falling, are referred to as "working from heights" in Australian safety standards. This can involve working on roofs, elevated platforms, ladders, scaffolding, or any other location where a fall could cause harm.

The following are a few risks associated with operating at heights:

• Slips and trips, falls,
• Weather,
• Falling items,
• Structural failure, and
• Insufficient training.

Managing these risks properly is part of broader workplace safety practices often guided by construction safety consultants.

How to control the risk according to WHS?

WHS regulations require you to:

1. Work on a solid structure or on the ground

Avoid working at heights unless absolutely necessary. The safest course of action is always to work from the ground or sturdy construction. A structurally sound space with a level surface that can sustain the weight of items and people is called a solid construction.

2. Offer protection from the risk of falls.

You must offer sufficient protection against the risk of falls if you are unable to work from the ground or solid construction. This involves putting the control measure hierarchy listed below into practice:

• You must use a fall-prevention device whenever it is reasonably possible.
• A work-positioning system or harness-based system is only appropriate in situations where using a fall-prevention device is not reasonably feasible.
• If the other two options are not possible to apply, A fall-arrest system can be used properly to reduce the impact of the fall.

What is SWMS?

The document, called a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS), outlines high-risk construction work tasks, the risks involved, and the controls that must be implemented. Its goal is to guarantee competent risk management and that employees are aware of their duties prior to beginning work.

The Work Health and Safety (WHS) regulations in Australia specify 18 categories of high-risk building activities for which SWMS are required. Among these is "work that involves a risk of a person falling more than 2 meters." Working at heights is, therefore, a crucial area for safety documentation.

Businesses often rely on professional SWMS writing development services to ensure their documentation meets Australian WHS standards.

What is the goal of a SWMS for working at heights?

A document known as a Working at Heights SWMS lists the risks and safeguards related to activities involving heights. The implementation, monitoring, and review procedures for the control measures are also listed in the SWMS. Workers, supervisors, and anybody else present at work must have access to a site-specific SWMS so they can comprehend the risks, hazards, and safety measures that need to be implemented.

Companies that regularly perform high-risk construction work often use SWMS management services to prepare job-specific documentation.

What are the advantages of maintaining a SWMS for working at heights?

If you are wondering why your business in Sydney needs SWMS if the daily activities involve working at heights-

• Lowering Risk: SWMS contributes to lowering the probability of accidents by precisely recording risks and preventative measures.
• Staying Compliant: Before beginning high-risk projects, employers and contractors are legally obligated to create and adhere to a SWMS, which helps your company stay compliant.
• Finding Accountability: When properly documented, a SWMS makes everyone responsible for adhering to established safety protocols.
• Clearing Communication Methods: A SWMS is a communication tool, not merely a formality. It enables managers to communicate expectations to employees, subcontractors, and site visitors.

To understand how SWMS documents should be structured, you can also read our article on must-have elements for every SWMS in Australia.

How to Use a Working at Heights SWMS?

Working at Heights SWMS templates are available, but they need to be customised for your company by expert safety management consultants after consulting with employees. Complete the SWMS by entering the information on the front page, such as:

• Details of the company,
• Details of the task, location, and PPE
• All the possible risks associated with the task
• Risk assessment of each identified hazard
• Any applicable licenses, norms of conduct, and high-risk construction projects, and
• Roles and responsibilities of assigned supervisors, workers, and safety officers.
• The process of how the SWMS will be communicated and updated.

Other elements that must be considered include, but are not restricted to, making sure that:

1. All applicable legal criteria have been fulfilled.
2. Risks unique to the workplace are recognised and controlled, and
3. Employees are consulted throughout the evaluation and modification process.

What best practices should be followed for developing SWMS?

To utilise the compliance properly, you must follow the steps mentioned below while creating the SWMS-

1. Engage employees: The people carrying out the work should help write the SWMS. Their real-world experience guarantees precision.
2. Keep it clear and simple: Steer away from jargon and keep it straightforward. For all employees to comprehend, use simple terminology.
3. Make use of tables and checklists: The SWMS is easier to understand when presented visually.
4. Review regularly: Review the SWMS document whenever new machinery, procedures, or risks are added.
5. Make it accessible: Before work starts, the SWMS should be evaluated and made available on-site.

How Frequently Does a Working at Heights SWMS Need to be Reviewed?

To make sure safety controls continue to be effective, SWMS should be assessed following:

• The environment or task shifts,
• The task incorporates new procedures or systems, and/or
• Responds to safety alerts or events.

Workers should examine SWMS informally before each job if task or environmental conditions don't change, and at least once a year, businesses should conduct a "formal" (documented) review.

What are the common mistakes you should avoid while developing SWMS at your business?

Even though you decide to practice maintaining a SWMS at your company, some common mistakes can still make it ineffective, and you must avoid these-

1. Inadequate Hazard Identification: Incomplete control measures may result from a failure to identify all potential dangers. Engage employees in risk identification and carry out comprehensive hazard assessments.
2. Generic SWMS: Ineffective risk management may arise from the use of generic SWMS that are not customised to particular jobs or site conditions. Make SWMS specific to each job's particular risks.
3. Failure to Update: Safety may be jeopardised if the SWMS is not updated in response to occurrences or changes. Review and update SWMS frequently to consider new developments and procedures.
4. Absence of Employee Involvement: Lack of support and comprehension may result from not incorporating employees in the creation and application of SWMS. Involve employees in the procedure to enhance safety results.

Conclusion

The idea of using safety equipment when working at heights has existed since ancient times. However, with the evolution of time and technology, maintaining safety, especially for tasks that involve high risk, has become more essential. Now that you know about SWMS for one of such risky jobs of working at heights, you must start developing it for your worksite. As a business owner, creating and maintaining SWMS might seem overwhelming, and that’s why you need reliable safety management consultants as your partner for compliance management.

Don’t look further and book a free consultation at Solving Safety On Site.