Safe Work Method Statement

There are a lot of jobs out there that are putting the lives of the workers at risk. In accomplishing their tasks, they are exposed to different dangers. Construction workers face the risks of falling and tripping while carrying out their tasks. Miners face the risk of being buried alive in digging and mining. Demolition workers face the risks of being hit by falling objects when they begin the demolition activities. These are just some of the risks that different workers face for them to do what they are required by their job.

Because of these risks and hazards, safe work method statements are created. They are documents that are written to ensure workers of a safe workplace and ensure that the workers will be safe, so long as they follow what the document says. Safe workplaces are what attract loyal employee bases. Moreover, if the workplace is safe, the costs involved in high-risk tasks are reduced. A safe workplace doesn't only help promote a positive work environment. It also gives physical benefits. If you want to know what these benefits are, it would be best if you continue reading this article.

REDUCED ACCIDENTS

One of the physical benefits of a safe workplace is the reduced number of accidents that take place in the workplace. Because of an SWMS, necessary control measures are done to prevent as well as reduce accidents that could happen while workers are carrying out their tasks. If the workers are working in a workplace that features a well-maintained equipment, easily accessed operating instructions, functioning electrical systems, and safe surface areas, then they would be free from accidents and the overall pain and suffering will be reduced.

AIR QUALITY

If there are harmful chemicals in the workplace and if the breathing condition in the workplace is unhealthy, there will be a higher chance that workers will have chronic coughs, lung infections, colds, and other medical complications. But with the implementation of safety control measures and safe work methods, the workplace will be free from dangerous pollutants and the air quality of the workplace will improve. Workers will be able to breathe easier in workplaces that are free from chemical pollution, dust, asbestos, smokes, and other allergens.

REDUCED STRAIN

Workplaces that are promoting safety use different strategies to make sure that their workers are kept safe from all the workplace hazards. Safe workplaces will promote correct posture with the right tools and equipment to reduce the strain when they're using them. Furthermore, workers benefit from working with healthy eyes, wrists, knees, and spines while using office furniture that reduces strain. Because of this, employers will notice that there is an increase in employee productivity, that is, if the workplace is optimized for physical comfort.

REDUCED STRESS

If the workplace is unsafe, it could cause unhealthy stress levels to workers who are afraid of threats from their co-workers, persistent problems related to workplace hazards, and more! Because of this, workers who have high stress levels could have an increase in blood pressure. They could also have lower immunity to colds and other viruses and they could suffer from headaches and migraines for several hours. Once the workers know that the management implements an SWMS to ensure them of a safe work environment, their stress levels could be lowered!

These are all the things that workers who are carrying out high risk tasks will benefit from. However, dangers in the workplace don't only refer the dangers that are present when workers are carrying out high risk tasks. They also refer to other dangers like sexual harassment and abuse in the workplace, workplace theft and robbery, and many more! Because of this, aside from implementing an SWMS, employers should make sure that they do the necessary actions to prevent such things from taking place. At the end of the day, if the workplace promotes safety in the workplace, workers will be healthier and more productive.

Employers need to implement a Safe Work Method Statement and safety rules and regulations in order to protect their workers from hazards that are present in carrying out their tasks and the hazards that may be caused by violence, harassment, theft, and more! These are both essential to make sure that the lives of their workers aren't at stake.

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.