Safe Work Method Statement Worksheet

Use of Master Builders Generic Safe Work Method Statements

Disclaimer:
The Master Builders Association of Victoria expressly disclaim all and any liability to any person in respect of anything, and of
consequence of anything done or omitted to be done by any or such person in reliance, whether wholly or partially on this generic
safe work method statement.
Rules for the use of Master Builders generic SWMS
1. This generic SWMS is provided as a sample. It is not to be used by a builder or subcontractor for the purpose of managing
safety on their projects. It can be used as a template to enable builders and subcontractors to produce their own SWMS.
Master Builders have carbon copy pads available for sale to enable builders/subcontractors to produce their own SWMS.
2. Employers intending to use this SWMS as a template for their own SWMS must ensure they consult with their employees,
including their Health and Safety Representatives, prior to its introduction.
3. Builders and subcontractors must ensure that their SWMS is relevant to the project at hand. Generic SWMS should not be
used unless precautions have been taken to ensure that the document adequately addresses the hazards and risks relevant
to each particular project.
4. Builders and subcontractors intending to use this sample SWMS as a template for their own generic SWMS, without making
any changes to the detail, must ensure that they adhere to and implement all of the relevant risk controls.
5. The range of generic SWMS provided by Master Builders are not sufficiently broad enough to cover all hazards or risks
encountered by builders and subcontractors. It does not cover the full list of requirements for which SWMS are specifically
required under the OHS Construction Regulations. It is important that the builder or subcontractor undertake their own hazard
identification and risk control process relevant for each particular task.
It is highly recommended that persons who are responsible for preparing and reviewing SWMS undertake training so as to
understand the process of identifying and controlling risks in the workplace.

Remember: Each SWMS should be site specific. Include all workers in the development of the SWMS.
All workers should sign off to verify that they understand all the requirements of this Safe Work Method Statement.

Safe Work Method Statement Worksheet

Company Name

Site Name

Safe Work Method Statement

No ______ Page

Contractor

Activity

Demolition using mobile plant

(e.g. excavator, loader, bobcat)

of

Permit to Work Requirement

Yes

No

Tasks

Hazards and Risks

Risk control measures

Who is responsible?

List the tasks required to perform

the activity in the sequence they
are carried out.

What can harm you - Hazards?

What can happen - Risks?

List the control measures required to eliminate or reduce the risk of injury
and detail how the control measures will be put in place.

Write the name of the person

responsible (supervisor or
above) to implement the control
measures identified.

Demolition and removal of

materials using plant

A poorly planned job can introduce

many hazards and risks as detailed
below.

Prior to the commencement of any demolition work, a demolition

work plan for the job should be prepared. Some of the issues to be
considered when developing a demolition plan include:
obtaining the as-built details of the component members (if
available)
identifying the type of structural system involved
conducting a search for engineering details specifying size, type
and configuration of reinforcement and the strength of materials (if
available) and the located documents referenced
assessing the current load-carrying capacity of the structure
verifying the composition or quality of structural components
assessing whether the proposed methods and sequence of
demolition can be executed
without causing unpremeditated collapse of the whole or part of the
structure, and
identifying any other details of the structure regarding strength,
construction or contents which will influence the selection of
demolition methods/procedures.
Ensure all demolition workers are competent and are trained in the
safe operating procedures for the equipment they use.

Remember: Each SWMS should be site specific. Include all workers in the development of the SWMS.
All workers should sign off to verify that they understand all the requirements of this Safe Work Method Statement.

Safe Work Method Statement Worksheet

Electrocution from contact with live
wires. Severe burns, possible fatality.
Gas services- Explosion

Dust Respiratory diseases, Eye

injuries.
The risk posed from biological hazards
should also be investigated and can
include the old internal plumbing and
waste systems, damp areas with fungi
or moulds, animals and birds and their
droppings. Diseases from these sources
can be fatal.
Previously Unidentified Asbestos- Lung
cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Overhead materials falling onto workers
or being struck by mobile plant

Structural Collapse -Severe injuries

possible fatality

Make sure you have located all electric power lines and cables, gas
lines, telecommunication lines, water, waste and sewerage pipes.
Don't rely on original site plans or drawings; obtain expert help from a
suitably qualified person or the local utilities supply and distribution
companies.
Use dial before you dig. Ensure all power to the building is
Disconnected/ Isolated. Certificate of electrical safety to be issued by
electrician. Obtain Safe to Proceed certification from licensed
plumber.
Ensure the structure has been cleared of asbestos, synthetic mineral
fibres, lead, PCBs or other potentially hazardous dusts and chemicals
prior to the use of plant to demolish the structure.
Do Not touch any suspicious materials. Isolate the area immediately,
display suitable signage. Seek evaluation from a Hygienist, if positive
result refer to SWMS for asbestos removal

Exclusion zones should be established where necessary to protect

the safety of people who are working on or in the vicinity of the
demolition work. No person should be in any area near the
mechanical demolition where there is a possibility of being struck by
flying debris. Areas in which shears are operating should be kept
clear of workers, because of the risk of smaller pieces of metal (for
example, bolts) flying off when sheared.
The sequence in which a building is demolished can significantly
impact on its structural stability and is critical to the safety of the
workers and the general public. Demolition should be planned to be
systematic and sequential. That is, a structure should generally be
demolished in the reverse order to which it was constructed.
When in doubt, or if dealing with an unusual structure or structures
incorporating pre-stressed concrete reinforced members, get expert
advice from a specialist such as experienced demolition rigger or a
structural engineer.

Remember: Each SWMS should be site specific. Include all workers in the development of the SWMS.
All workers should sign off to verify that they understand all the requirements of this Safe Work Method Statement.

Safe Work Method Statement Worksheet

When implementing safe propping procedures seek structural
engineers approval in writing.
No wall, chimney or other structure or part of a structure to be left
unattended or unsupported in a condition that it may collapse.
Injuries to members of the public

Adequate public safety must be maintained in public places and

areas adjoining the workplace as the work progresses (e.g. roads,
walkways). Where demolition work is adjacent to a public place and
there is a risk of falling debris, a method of protection should be
selected and:
erected before the commencement of demolition work
kept in position at all times during the progress of the work, and
regularly inspected and maintained.

Select equipment

Plant /operator to site

Induct Personnel into task /

site
Access and work on
suspended floors

Wrong choice of equipment leads to

overloading / poor performance/
equipment damage / personal injury

Mechanical faults
Operator not trained /certified

People unaware of task and hazards

Personal injury / equipment damage
Inadvertent structural collapse

Control measures to isolate the work from the public may include
installing hoarding such as security fencing, containment sheets and
mesh, an overhead protective structure, road closures and specified
exclusion zones.
Ensure correct type & capacity of equipment. Correct attachment(s)
for tasks and in good condition. Ensure open cab excavators are
fitted with a falling objects protective structure (FOPS) to minimise
the risk of being struck by a falling object.
Reversing beepers & flashing beacons to be fitted.
All plant attachments should be pinned and secured as per
manufacturers requirements.
Complete plant checklist or review maintenance records for plant to
check currency / no faults /daily operational checks to be done.
Operator to hold certification for equipment operated:
LB: Loader backhoe, LL: Loader, LE: Excavator,
LS: Skid Steer Loader (bobcat).
All persons to be holders of a Construction Induction card and
inducted into the site. Ensure work area clearly identified.
Suspended floors and their supporting members should not be
loaded by workers, plant, falling or accumulated debris/materials to
the extent that there is excessive deflection, permanent deformation
or danger of collapse.

Remember: Each SWMS should be site specific. Include all workers in the development of the SWMS.
All workers should sign off to verify that they understand all the requirements of this Safe Work Method Statement.

Safe Work Method Statement Worksheet

If water is used, the increased weight of the watered debris should be
taken into account.
Ensure that a competent person (for example, a structural engineer)
verifies and documents:
(a) the type, size, weight and usage of any specified plant
(b) that the floor is capable of sustaining the static and live loads of
the plant (including attachments) and demolished materials, without
excessive deformation or collapse, either:
without additional support from below, or
with specified propping to be applied from below so that the loads
carried do not exceed their manufacturers specified rating
(c) it is moved between suspended floor slabs by:
appropriate hoist equipment, or
a fabricated ramp.
When using powered mobile plant on suspended floors:
select the smallest and lightest possible for the task
effective communication to be maintained between the equipment
operator and the demolition supervisor while the equipment is
operating
debris to be progressively removed from each floor
buffers to be used to prevent the plant from falling over the edge
where plant is used to push/tip materials into a nominated areas, and
guarding, hoarding and/or exclusion zones to be used to protect
persons against the risk of being struck by falling debris and
materials.

Demolition of walls or
columns

Inadvertent structural collapse

Falls risks

Load shifting equipment should, as far as practicable, be located on a

beam. Skid steer loaders using a breaker may not be appropriate to
be used on suspended floors with their limited reach.
When demolishing vertical features such as columns or walls, the
columns or walls should not be so high as to create a risk of debris
falling onto the plant or operator.

Remember: Each SWMS should be site specific. Include all workers in the development of the SWMS.
All workers should sign off to verify that they understand all the requirements of this Safe Work Method Statement.

Safe Work Method Statement Worksheet

When mobile plant (for example, an excavator with hydraulic rock
breaker) is used to demolish walls, at least 900 mm of the wall being
demolished should be left intact above the floor level to provide a
protective barrier at the perimeter of the building and around all lift
wells, stair wells, light wells and any other places where persons or
objects could fall. The remaining wall can later be safely demolished
from the floor below. All remaining sections of walls should be
identified and highlighted as buffers for edge protection.
Guarding, hoarding and/or the exclusion zones should be used to
protect workers and/or the public against the risk of being struck by
falling debris and materials.

Pre- and post-tensioned

concrete

Demolition of basements or
cellars

Demolition of masonry or
brick arches

The high level of potential energy stored

in the tendons poses a risk to health and
safety and can cause damage to
property
Inadvertent structural collapse of
structure under demolition and adjoining
structures

Falling objects
Inadvertent structural collapse

Walls should not be laterally loaded by accumulated rubble or debris,

to the extent that they are in danger of collapse.
Wires or strands must be removed prior to demolition. Suitable
control measures should be implemented, such as using steel plates
or other restraint measures, at locations adjacent to pedestrian areas
or where concrete cover is reduced.
Frequent inspections should be made to identify whether there has
been any unplanned movement. If unplanned movement is detected,
appropriate action should be taken to avoid any uncontrolled
collapse.
If a basement or cellar adjoins another property, any adjoining walls
should be inspected by a competent person to determine whether
they are strong enough to withstand the resultant ground pressure. If
they are not, the proposed methods of strengthening them should be
subject to an assessment by a competent person (for example, a
structural engineer).
Masonry and brick arches should be demolished in a sequence that
allows for the removal of as much of the dead load material as
possible without interfering with the stability of the main arch
rings. The spandrel infilling should only be removed down to the
springing line as the load carrying capacity of many old arches relies
on the filling between the spandrels. In multi-span
arches, lateral restraints should be provided at the springing level
before individual spans are removed.

Remember: Each SWMS should be site specific. Include all workers in the development of the SWMS.
All workers should sign off to verify that they understand all the requirements of this Safe Work Method Statement.

Safe Work Method Statement Worksheet

Demolition of precast panel
walls

Inadvertent structural collapse

An inspection of the fixings to the rest of the structural elements,

jointing between elements, and the lifting points or fittings should be
undertaken to establish their nature and condition before any
demolition of the structure begins.
Where possible, the panels should be removed by a crane in the
reverse sequence to that used for their erection. Wherever panels act
as bracing, sufficient temporary bracing should be provided to the
structure, to maintain its stability during and after removal of the
panels.
The original lifting points or fittings should not be reused to lift and/or
support a panel during its removal if they have deteriorated and
corroded.

Removal of debris

Falling objects
Inadvertent structural collapse

Before removing any individual panel, it should be fully supported,

both vertically and horizontally, above its centre of mass, so as to
prevent any sudden rotational movement during its detachment from
the supporting structure.
Debris to be removed using excavator grab arm or bobcat. Manual
removal of minor debris is only allowed to commence when plant
ceases operation. Riggers gloves to be worn.
Debris should be progressively removed to prevent any build up that
could affect the integrity of a suspended floor, affect workplace
access and egress, become a fire hazard, or cause any other safety
hazard.
Demolished materials should not be allowed to fall freely unless they
are confined within a chute (or similar enclosure), shaft and/or
exclusion zone.
If demolished materials are dropped through internal floor openings in
multi-storey buildings, such as lift shafts and/or debris drop zones,
the following should apply:
at the working level, each opening should be protected by an
adequate vehicle buffer. Vehicle buffers should be high enough to
prevent the mobile plant from riding over them and solid enough to
stop the fully loaded mobile plant, and

Remember: Each SWMS should be site specific. Include all workers in the development of the SWMS.
All workers should sign off to verify that they understand all the requirements of this Safe Work Method Statement.

Safe Work Method Statement Worksheet

at all levels below the working level, access to the area through or
onto which material is falling should be prevented, either by sealing
off the opening with guarding from floor to ceiling, or by erecting signs
and barricades to prevent persons coming near the openings.

Maintenance / refuelling

Struck by plant fire personal injury

equipment damage
Fuel spillage

Plant left unattended

between tasks or end of
work

Unauthorised operator uses plant

Unplanned movement of plant

Debris chutes should be designed and constructed to prevent the

spillage of material and dust while debris is passing through the
chute. Vertical chutes should be fully enclosed with a cover or barrier
at the top to prevent a person falling into the chute. Debris chutes
should be adequately secured to the building or structure and to
ensure that debris falls freely and does not become jammed in shafts
or chutes.
Overhead demolition should cease during removal of the debris bins.
Signs which warn of the risk from falling or ejected material should be
placed at the discharge end of every chute.
Maintenance / refuelling to be done in designated area away from
active compaction activity.
Plant to be shut down before maintenance inspections carried out.
Danger tag on controls of plant before maintenance work starts tag
removed when work complete.
Engine switched off for refuelling fire extinguisher to be at hand
(foam / dry chemical)
Refuelling to be min 20m from site amenities.
Fuel to stored in approved containers labelled as to contents
Spill kit material on hand to soak up spills, Containers to be fitted with
pour spouts or use pump to refuel
Equipment to be switched off and keys removed from ignition when
plant not attended.
Attachments to be left on ground level. No loads to be left suspended
from machine while unattended.
Access doors locked / protective panels to be installed if fitted when
left overnight in secured site fenced area. If plant no longer required
have it removed to hirer asap.

Remember: Each SWMS should be site specific. Include all workers in the development of the SWMS.
All workers should sign off to verify that they understand all the requirements of this Safe Work Method Statement.