Gary’s Safety Tips 
G’day, everyone! It’s Gary, and today we’re going to talk about something that’s crucial to workplace safety: identifying relevant hazards and creating safe work method statements.
Now, I know that some of you might think this is a boring topic, but trust me, it’s anything but. Workplace hazards are no joke, and creating safe work method statements is critical to preventing accidents and keeping your team safe.
So let’s get started. First things first: what are hazards?
Hazards are anything that has the potential to cause harm to people, property, or the environment. Hazards can be physical, chemical, biological, or psychological. They can be found in any workplace, from a construction site to an office.
So, how do you identify hazards in your workplace? The first step is to conduct a thorough risk assessment. This involves looking at all aspects of your workplace and identifying any hazards that could potentially cause harm.
When conducting a risk assessment, you should consider the following:
- The nature of the work being performed
- The people involved in the work, including their experience and training
- The equipment and materials being used
- The environment in which the work is being performed
Once you have identified the hazards in your workplace, the next step is to create a safe work method statement (SWMS). An SWMS is a written document that outlines the steps required to complete a task safely.
Creating an SWMS involves the following steps:
- Identify the task to be performed
- Identify the hazards associated with the task
- Assess the risk of each hazard
- Determine control measures to eliminate or reduce the risk
- Implement the control measures
- Monitor the effectiveness of the control measures
- Review and update the SWMS as required
It’s important to involve your team in the creation of the SWMS. They will have valuable insights into the hazards associated with their tasks and can help identify effective control measures.
Remember, creating an SWMS isn’t a one-time event. It should be a living document that is updated as required. As new hazards are identified or control measures are found to be ineffective, the SWMS should be updated accordingly.
Creating an SWMS might seem like a lot of work, but it’s worth it. By taking the time to identify hazards and develop control measures, you can prevent accidents and keep your team safe.
So, that’s it for today’s topic. Remember, workplace safety should always be a top priority. Identify hazards, create safe work method statements, and keep your team safe.
Until next time!
Cheers,
