Prevention of Slips, Trips and Falls SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers planning and controlling work practices that may lead to slips, trips and falls. It supports planning and risk management for access routes, work zones, lighting, weather, spills, leads, stored materials, access equipment and housekeeping.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Plan work activities and access routes
• Conduct worker pre-start arrangements
• Inspect access routes and walking surfaces
• Establish and control work zones
• Manage lighting, weather and surface conditions
• Control spills and contamination
• Manage leads and hoses across work areas
• Store materials to keep walkways clear
• Use stairs and ramps safely
• Use portable access equipment
• Perform work at heights
• Maintain housekeeping and close out defects

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses managing work areas where slips, trips or falls may occur.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

The template includes references relevant to the documented work, including:

• Applicable Commonwealth, state or territory WHS/OHS legislation and regulations, including duties to eliminate or minimise risks so far as is reasonably practicable, provide safe access and egress, maintain workplace floors and surfaces, and manage fall risks.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities — guidance on safe workplace layout, floor condition, lighting, accessways and housekeeping. Model Codes are guidance and only have legal effect where adopted or approved in the relevant jurisdiction.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces — guidance on managing falls from one level to another using the hierarchy of controls. Model Codes are guidance and only have legal effect where adopted or approved in the relevant jurisdiction.
• Safe Work Australia guidance: Slips and trips at the workplace — guidance on identifying hazards including spills, uneven surfaces, loose mats, trailing leads, poor lighting and obstructed walkways.
• AS 1657 Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders — Design, construction and installation.
• AS/NZS 1891 series Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices.
• AS/NZS 1892 series Portable ladders.
• AS 4586 Slip resistance classification of new pedestrian surface materials.
• AS/NZS 2210.3 Personal protective equipment — Safety footwear.

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Standard SWMS Features (Click to Expand)

• Task-specific job steps, hazards and control measures
• Initial and residual risk ratings
• Assigned responsible persons for each job step
• Plant, equipment and PPE requirements where applicable
• Permits, qualifications and high-risk construction work details where applicable
• Worker consultation, sign-off and review sections