Employees on Safe Work Methods

A Safe Work Method Statement or SWMS is a document that contains strictly implemented standards concerning how certain tasks can be performed safely and effectively. This document is intended for tasks or activities that are identified as "high-risk" or dangerous. Safe Work Method Statements explains in detail how hazards in the workplace should be managed or controlled. Companies and business owners are encouraged to prepare a Method Statement before allowing their employees carry out high risk tasks.

Work Method Statement is often prepared right after conducting a Job Safety Analysis or JSA. The JSA is responsible for checking the components of every task in the company and identifying the possible hazards and control measures for each part of the task. Besides the actual job or activity, a JSA also inspects the individuals who are assigned to perform the task. The JSA observes how the person performs the tasks that are assigned to him/her. The JSA notes all possible hazards and also put the reasonable risk control measures in place to address any mistakes in the operations. After completing all these, a full risk assessment is necessary.

The information gathered from the JSA will be used to develop your company's Safe Work Method Statement or SWMS. It is necessary to create a Method Statement that employees must abide by before performing any task. Once all safe work methods are stated and outlined in the Method Statement it is automatically understood that everyone in the company-employers and employees-understand the dangers and risks involved before performing a particular task.

You need to include the following details when creating a Safe Work Method Statement:

• The name of the person assigned to the task, his or her qualifications and trainings that persons assigned to a task should be provided with.

• List of equipment that is needed to complete the task. This also identifies the inspections that have been performed or will be performed in the workplace.

• Description of every task that is to be performed. The potential hazards that is associated to a particular phase of the task. 

The Safe Work Method Statements or SWMS is a legal document which companies and employees should regard highly since it can promote safety in the workplace and smooth flow of business operations. It is very important for businesses to be prepared with a safety management system before they allow their employees carry out high-risk tasks. This will reduce the number of accidents in the workplace and also protect a business from legal problems in the future. A Safe Work Method Statement or SWMS should be prepared using plain English. It should be short and concise so that even employees with low literacy levels can understand and remember what was indicated in the document.