Gary’s Safety Tips 
G’day, everyone! It’s your safety guy, Gary, and today we’re gonna talk about something that’s absolutely crucial to the success of any construction project – safe work method statements.
Now, I know that some of you might be thinking, “Gary, what’s the big deal? We’ve been working in construction for years and we’ve never had any problems.” And to that, I say, “That’s great, but just because you’ve been lucky so far doesn’t mean you can continue to take unnecessary risks.”
Look, I get it. Construction work can be dangerous. There are a lot of moving parts, heavy machinery, and hazardous materials involved. But if you take the time to implement safe work method statements, you can greatly reduce the risk of accidents and injuries on your job site.
So, what exactly is a safe work method statement? Simply put, it’s a document that outlines the steps involved in a particular task and identifies the hazards associated with that task. It also outlines the controls that will be put in place to mitigate those hazards.
Now, some of you might be thinking, “That sounds like a lot of paperwork. We don’t have time for that.” But here’s the thing – taking the time to create and implement safe work method statements can actually save you time and money in the long run.
Think about it. If someone gets injured on your job site, that’s gonna cost you in terms of lost productivity, workers’ compensation, and potential legal fees. And that’s not even taking into account the human cost of someone getting hurt.
But if you have a comprehensive safe work method statement in place, you can greatly reduce the risk of accidents and injuries. And that means fewer delays, fewer costs, and most importantly, fewer people getting hurt.
So, how do you create a safe work method statement? Well, it starts with identifying the hazards associated with a particular task. This could be anything from working at height to working with hazardous materials.
Once you’ve identified the hazards, you need to determine the controls that will be put in place to mitigate those hazards. This could be anything from providing personal protective equipment to ensuring that all machinery is properly maintained and inspected.
Once you’ve identified the hazards and controls, you need to outline the steps involved in the task. This should include everything from preparing the work area to performing the task itself to cleaning up afterwards.
Finally, you need to make sure that everyone on your job site is aware of the safe work method statement and understands their roles and responsibilities. This means providing training and ensuring that everyone has access to the document when they need it.
Now, I know that some of you might be thinking, “But Gary, this all sounds like common sense. Why do we need a document for this?” And to that, I say, “Because common sense isn’t always common practice.”
Look, I know that we all like to think that we’re invincible. But the truth is, accidents happen. And if we’re not proactive about identifying and mitigating the hazards on our job sites, we’re putting ourselves and our teams at risk.
So, if you’re not already using safe work method statements on your construction projects, I highly encourage you to start. Take the time to identify the hazards associated with your tasks, determine the controls that will be put in place to mitigate those hazards, and outline the steps involved in the task.
And remember, safety should always be your number one priority. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it’s also good for your business. So, let’s all commit to making safety a priority on our job sites. Together, we can make construction safer for everyone involved.
Cheers,
