Mate, do it for me

The principal contractor, builder and subcontractors should consult with each other to help determine who is in the best position to prepare the SWMS.

Managers, contractors, leading hands and other workers should all be involved in the process of developing a SWMS. Consulting workers is useful so they fully understand the detail of the SWMS and what the requirements are to implement and maintain risk controls. Sharing the information, and using the knowledge and experience of all relevant workers will help make sure the work is performed in accordance with the SWMS to help minimize risk.

If there is a Health and Safety Representative at the workplace, they need to also be consulted when developing a SWMS.

A generic SWMS template that is used at different workplaces may not meet the requirements of the WHS laws unless it has been reviewed initially in order to take into account any and all hazards/risks at the specific workplace and be amended where necessary.

One SWMS can be prepared so that it covers a variety of tasks, as long as it takes into account the changing nature of the work environment. As an alternative, a separate SWMS can be prepared for each high risk construction work activity. In this case, try to consider situations where different activities will impact each other, for example using powered mobile plant during the construction of a tunnel.