Safe Work Method Statement

SWMS number: Risk Register reference: Date: Location: Generic

IMPORTANT NOTE: This SWMS is a site-specific statement that must be prepared before any extreme risk or high risk work is commenced.

Person responsible for ensuring compliance with this SWMS: Person in control of the place of work

Desciption of high-risk job: Working at heights — from elevating work platforms (EWP) — Generic

Steps for filling out this form

1. Discuss with relevant employees, contractors and HSRs what work will be high-risk, the tasks and associated hazards, risks and controls.

2. In the ‘What are the task involved?’ column, list the work tasks in sequence (the order they will be carried out in.

3. In the ‘What are the hazards and risks?’ column, list the hazards and risks for each work task

4. In the ‘How will the hards and risks be controlled?’ column, select the hazard or risk and then work through the control levels 1-4 from top to bottom. Choose a control measure (and how it is to be used) that is as close to level 1 as is reasonable practicable.

Control levels 1. Eliminate any risk to health or safety associated with work.

2. Reduce the risk to health or safety by any one or any combination of the following:

• Substituting a new activity, procedure, plant, process or substance

• Isolating persons from the hazard, such as barricading, fencing or guardrailing

• Using engineering controls such as mechanical or electrical devices.

3. Use administrative controls, such as changing the way the work is done.

4. Provide appropriate personal protective equipment.

5. Brief each team member on this SWMS before commencing work. Ensure team knows that work is to immediately stop if the SWMS is not being followed.

6. Observe work being carried out. If controls are not adequete, stop the work, review the SWMS, adjust as required and re-brief the team.

7. Retain this SWMS for the duration of the high-risk work.

ABN: 86 058 929 428 Postal address: PO Box 21 Cleveland Qld 4163

What are the tasks involved?

What are the hazards and risks?

How will hazards & risks be controlled?(Describe the control measures and how they will be used)

Responsibility for monitoring

REMEMBER: Think about the worksite and each stage of the project including preparation and cleanup.

Mobile elevating platforms are only to be operated by a competent person. For platforms over 11 meters a license is required.

Prior to work commencing

WH&S Regs. (2008) Part 20 Has a risk assessment been completed for the task?AS 2550 Has a management plan been established?

Have the control measures been implemented?

Has the daily pre-operational checklist been completed for all mobile plant?

WH&S Regs Part 20.

All site personnel are to have completed the General Safety induction course (Construction Industry) 30215 Qld as well as a site specific Workplace Health and Safety induction.

Principal contractor andsite supervisor

Selection of elevating work platforms

Death or serious injury if falling from height

All EWP used are to comply with:- AS 1418.10 and to be used in accordance with AS 2550

Before selecting a EWP for a particular application, all relevant information shall be obtained and all relevant operational criteria shall be determined, including rated capacity of the EWP.

Classification of the EWP taking into account the application, including:(i) type of loads to be lifted(ii) mass of loads to be lifted(iii) speed of lifts(iv) frequency of lifts.

Principal contractor andsite supervisor

Placement of elevating work platform

Injury from EWP collapse AS 2550.

A competent person shall ensure that the loads imposed by the EWP can be sustained by the ground or any other means of support.

All aspects of wind loading, both in and out of service, on the EWP standing due to location, shall be taken into account, including the increased wind loads caused by funneling effects between adjacent buildings or structures.

The site shall be checked for the presence of underground services, ducts and the like. Where the check reveals the existence of underground services, precautions shall be taken to ensure the stability of the EWP.

Where an EWP is required to work in the vicinity of an excavation or an embankment, the possibility of slip or collapse of the supporting surface shall be evaluated by a competent person.

Where necessary, the excavation or embankment shall be reinforced.

AS 2550.

Principal contractor, site supervisor and EWP operator

Safe Work Method Statement (Continued)

What are the tasks involved?

What are the hazards and risks?

How will hazards & risks be controlled?(Describe the control measures and how they will be used)

Responsibility for monitoring

Placement of elevating work platform (continued)

Electrocution

Injury from mobile plant and vehicular traffic impact

Before setting the EWP into operational configuration, a check for the presence of overhead conductors and power lines is to be undertaken.

Contact the electrical entity responsible for the lines to confirm voltage insulation and appropriate systems of work.

Determine the exclusion zone as required by Electrical Safety Regs 2002.

Re-route vehicles away from the location.

Use barricades, signs and buffer rails to prevent vehicles coming into contact with the work platform.

Safe use of elevating work platforms

Serious injury from equipment malfunction

To be used in accordance with AS 2550, Plant Code of Practice and Queensland transport guidelines.

Only a competent person is permitted to operate a mechanical elevating work platform.

Pre-operational inspections are to be carried out by the designated person at the beginning of each working shift in accordance with the pre-operational check list.

Where pre-operational inspections reveal a safety malfunction or potential risk, the EWP shall not be put into service.

All malfunctions and hazards shall be reported and properly recorded for assessment by a competent person and acted upon as appropriate.

AS 1418.10

Boom-type elevating work platforms shall have suitable anchorages for the attachment of safety harnesses for each occupant. Each anchorage shall be designed to withstand the forces specified in AS/NZS 1891.

EWPs with boom lengths exceeding 11 meters are to be operated by suitably qualified personnel. NCOP for prevention of falls.

Where there is a risk of falling more than 2 meters, fall arrest equipment compliant with AS/NZS 1891 is to be used.

The inclination of the surface will not exceed the manufacturers recommendations.

Platforms are not to be extended past their limits.

Principal contractor, site supervisor and EWP operator

What are the tasks involved?

What are the hazards and risks?

How will hazards & risks be controlled?(Describe the control measures and how they will be used)

Responsibility for monitoring

Safe use of elevating work platforms (continued)

Electrocution

Injury from falling objects

Environmental loads

Protection of operators

The following requirements apply.

EWP’s rated for low-voltage work shall have cover insulation that complies with the requirements of AS 1418.

They shall be fitted with an insulated basket or an insulated platform thatcomplies with AS 1418

EWPs rated for high-voltage work shall have a boom-insulating insert located between the basket and ground level in accordance with AS 1418.

The insulating insert shall be located as close as practicable to the basket. All exposed metal fittings above the insulating insert shall be protected from direct contact with live conductors or equipment in accordance AS 1418.

Use perimeter containment screening to avoid objects being dropped from the platform.

Consider the effects that environmental loads can have on the work platform. Do not work in unsafe conditions.