Safe Work Method Statement
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
Company Name
Site Name
Safe Work Method Statement
No ______ Page
Contractor
Activity
Bricklayer
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.
Entry to site
Unloading equipment
Setting up
Entry to unsafe areas
Movement of site personnel vehicles and
plant and equipment
Fall from vehicle
Manual handling injuries
Report to site office for site induction.
Risk assessment of site conditions
Being struck by equipment
Crush hands
Cuts
Slips, trips and falls
Crush hands, cuts
Slips, trips and falls
The use of PPE equipment such as gloves.
Team lifting
Unload equipment on level clear area
Unload equipment on level clear area
Use PPE equipment
Clear rubble and access to work area.
Avoid difficult terrain
Secure ramps or planks
Training employees in manual handling
Clear and barricade mixing area
Set up waste disposal
Use PPE equipment e.g. gloves, glasses
Train employees in manual handling.
Use PPE equipment, avoid contact
With cement mix, training in hazardous
substances. Wash skin and clothing regularly.
Manual handling injuries
Mixing mortar
Slips, trips
Cuts, mortar splash to eyes
Manual handling injury
Cement dust, dermatitis,
Use of hazardous substances (cement,
bycol, sand)
Training employees in correct lifting and
team lifting
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
Masonry saw and petrol
mixer
Fumes from petrol, burns
Fire / exposition
Mixing and wheeling
mortar and bricks
Slips, trips, crush hands
Manual handling injury
Splashing of mortar into eyes
Contact with wet cement mix
Laying bricks and
blocks (spreading
mortar, picking up
bricks / blocks)
Dermatitis
Cuts from broken glass and bricks
Slips, trips and falls
Cuts, crush injury, eye injuries
Wrist strain, lower back injury, shoulder
strain
Sunburn
Hit by falling objects
Laying bricks and
blocks from a scaffold
(spreading mortar
picking up and laying
bricks and blocks)
Fall from heights
Cuts, crush injury, eye injuries
Sun burn
Falling materials
Training in hazardous substances
Training employees in manual handling
Use and training in PPE equipment
Avoid difficult terrain, clear access to work area,
secure ramps or planks.
Ensure load is distributed evenly
Training in manual handling (wheelbarrow)
Use and training in PPE equipment
Avoid contact to skin, wash skin and clothing
regularly
Ensure glass and windows are protected
Use PPE equipment e.g. gloves
Clear working area of waste materials
Ensure fall protection is in place,
(handrails and barricades)
Use and training of PPE equipment
Training and supervision of material stacking
Training in manual handling
Team lifting and rotate workers
PPE protection - shirts, hats, sunscreen
Hardhats when working under others
Define work areas
Risk assessment of scaffold before start.
Employees trained in working at heights
Use and training of PPE equipment
PPE equipment - shirts, hats, sunscreen
Hardhats when working under others
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
Access to and from the ground
Slips, trips and falls on scaffold
Use of brick saw
Wrist strain, lower back injury, shoulder
strain
Flying blade fragments
Cuts, crush injuries, eye injuries
Slips, trips
Amputation / laceration of fingers / hand,
deafness / blindness
Wet from water spray off saw
Use of brick elevator
Fall from heights
Manual handling
Slips, trips
Cuts, crush injuries, eye injuries
Shoring up free
standing walls
Falling materials
Fire / explosion
Stacking of bricks and mortar
Wall falling over by wind or by on-site
machinery / plant
Crush persons
Cuts, eye injuries from falling materials
Use ladder access points
Ensure working platform is clear of waste materials
Secure ramps and planks
Training in manual handling
Team lifting and rotate workers
Daily maintenance checks on machinery and
blades, monthly services required
Use and training of PPE equipment
Set up on level / clear area
Clearly define and barricade area
Set up waste disposal system
Training in the use of brick saw
Training and use of PPE equipment eye and ear
protection, foot protection
Use PPE equipment – eye and ear protection,
water proof clothing
Training in working at heights
Team lifting in the set up and placement of elevator
System set up and training provided for lifting and
placement of elevator. Ensure set up area is clear
and level. Define and barricade working area.
Training in manual handling
Set up on clear and level area
Training and use of PPE equipment e.g. gloves,
safety glasses. Hard hats when working under
others
Training in hazardous substances (petrol)
Training and supervision on stacking materials
Ensure adequate bracing to structures, define and
barricade working areas, more than (1) person
shoring up. Training and use of PPE equipment
such as hard hats, eye and foot protection, safety
boots.
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
Clean up
Slips, trips
Avoid difficult terrain, clear access to waste
disposal area.
Use PPE equipment such as gloves
Training employees in manual handling
Define area for stacking of materials
Training and supervision on stacking materials
Cuts, crush hands
Manual handling injury
Materials stacking
I have read and understood the content of this Safe Work Method Statement
Worker’s name
Signature
Approved By
Date
Worker’s name
Signature
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
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.