Safe Work Method Statement Template For Civil Construction

Civil construction projects involve a lot of high risk activities and procedures, hence why safety plays a vital role in the industry. With the help of Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) you can minimise the risks on a job site and keep your team happy and safe. However, it can be hard to manage your SWMS and safety management if you don’t have the right tools in place.

In this guide we will dive into what you need to know about your Safe Work Method Statement SWMS.

What is SWMS Civil Construction?

A SWMS for a civil construction project document identifies common hazards relating to the job steps and uses risk control measures to minimise the chance of accidents. A SWMS should describe risk controls and methods that are according to local codes and safety legislative requirements.

Some high risk tasks for construction that are included in a Safe Work Method Statement include:

• Falls
• Slips
• Trips
• Hazardous material
• Load bearing risks
• Flammable materials and explosives
• Traffic hazards
• Electrical hazards
• Heavy equipment

What You Should Include In Your SWMS Template For Civil Construction

Before undertaking high risk construction work part of your work process will involve starting your SWMS. You may have one or more persons in your business who have the authority to create SWMS.

A typical construction Safe Work Method Statement should include:

1. Job details

For your field service SWMS document, you will first need to include your job details. This will involve the address of the site, the contact details of your supervisor of the site, and your own business details.

In this first section you will also include the emergency procedures and any additional information about the site such as customer details.

2. Risk control measures

Next in your job management you will identify hazards and control measures that need to be put in place. A typical generic SWMS will include a risk matrix where the likelihood of a risk and its impact can be measured. These are measured from a low to a high likelihood.

3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

You will add a section as a part of your asset management and job steps for any required PPE. These will mitigate the chance of accidents from occurring due to the hazards. Typical equipment that will be listed could be:

• Foot protection
• Hard hats
• High visibility clothing
• Eye protection
• Gloves

4. Safe Work Method Statements sign off

Lastly, you need to identify who has read and applied the SWMS method by getting relevant technicians to sign and date your document. This can be helpful in identifying who was on site and who is practising safe work compliance.

Benefits Of Risk & Method Work Statement For Civil Construction

For civil construction dealing with high risk work can be a regular occurrence on the job site. Some of the benefits of acing your SWMS and being prepared for your safety management include:

1. Minimise high risk construction work risks

You can reduce the chance of accidents from occurring by using control measures. Having the ability to better plan and prepare for your job can make your workplace safer for your team and even more productive.

2. Boost compliance

As a construction business you need to be aware of codes and regulations that apply to your job site. By following your SWMS documents you can ensure that your team are following the correct steps to keep safe and avoid potential liability.

3. Keep customers happy

When handling industrial assets or on a high risk site, your customers may ask for SWMS to be completed. With well documented SWMS you can keep your customers happy while also keeping their site protected.

4. Improve communication

When implemented your SWMS can also boost your communication. By detailing the job steps for your site, you can convey instructions to your contractors, sub-contractors or technicians to ensure everyone is on the same page. This also helps to coordinate your jobs in accordance with your schedule.

Using an SWMS Platform

Using a SWMS platform can help you save time and effort when it comes to your safety management.

As the only all-in-one platform FieldInsight can automate the SWMS process for your whole business. From the first quote to managing safety and customer details, FieldInsight can give you access to:

• Readily accessible data
• Real time status updates
• Health and safety management
• Simple scheduling
• Timesheet management
• Asset management and maintenance
• Routing and field access

With FieldInsight safety is easy to manage.

Stop jumping from software to software to get the job done, with FieldInsight all you need is easily accessible from one place. Find out what FieldInsight can do for you by booking a demo or discovery call today.