Reviewing and updating Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) is crucial for maintaining workplace safety and ensuring that work is carried out in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Here are some key reasons why this process is important:
Ensures Compliance with Legal Requirements
- Legislation, regulations, and industry standards can change over time. Regularly reviewing and updating SWMS ensures that your organisation remains compliant with the latest laws and guidelines related to work health and safety.
Reflects Changes in Work Practices
- Work processes or equipment used in a task may change at times. New tools, techniques, or materials might be introduced that could alter risks. Updating the SWMS to reflect these changes ensures that the document remains accurate and relevant.
Addresses New Risks
- New risks or hazards can emerge, particularly if the work environment changes (e.g., construction sites, factories). A review ensures that these risks are identified and mitigated by revising safety protocols in the SWMS.
Improves Safety Outcomes
- Regularly reviewing SWMS ensures that safety measures remain effective. If certain hazards have not been addressed effectively, the review process allows for the introduction of additional controls, protective measures, or procedures.
Ensures Effectiveness of Control Measures
- Sometimes, control measures in place may not be as effective as initially thought. Reviewing the SWMS gives an opportunity to evaluate the success of existing controls and improve or replace them if necessary.
Adaptation to New Technology or Equipment
- With advances in technology or the introduction of new equipment, existing SWMS may need to be updated to account for different operating conditions or safety considerations that new tools may present.
Ensures Worker Training and Understanding
- Workers may need to be re-educated or retrained on updated procedures. A review of SWMS ensures that the document remains relevant for the specific tasks being performed, improving workers’ understanding and compliance.
Promotes a Safety Culture
- Continuously reviewing and updating SWMS demonstrates a commitment to safety and shows employees that safety is a top priority. This promotes a safety-conscious work culture and can encourage workers to take an active role in their own safety as well as others around them.
Responds to Incident Feedback
- After incidents or near misses, it’s essential to review and update SWMS to reflect lessons learned and prevent similar events from occurring in the future. The review process ensures that the SWMS is dynamic and responsive to the evolving risk landscape.
Increases Efficiency
- An up-to-date SWMS can streamline the work process by clearly identifying hazards and outlining the most effective safety procedures. This reduces confusion and improves workflow, contributing to both safety and productivity.
Risk Mitigation
- As risks evolve or new hazards are identified, SWMS should be updated to include the necessary risk control strategies. This helps prevent accidents and injuries by ensuring that all foreseeable risks are covered.
In summary, reviewing and updating SWMS is essential for maintaining a safe and compliant workplace. It ensures that safety protocols evolve with changes in work practices, technology, and regulations, ultimately reducing risk and promoting a culture of safety.
With Sherm Software, SWMS are available in the Documentation module for workers to access anytime with Sherm’s Mobile App. Retraining of new or updated SWMS for workers is made easy with the Training and Competency module and can be scheduled for workers to complete anytime with Sherm’s Mobile App or Web App. Notifications are sent when training has been completed so employers can ensure relevant SWMS have been read and understood.
