Spotter Duties For Overhead Dangers SWMS

Product Overview

This SWMS covers spotter duties and controls for plant, loads and materials operating near overhead dangers. It supports planning and management of exclusion zones, communication, visibility, changing conditions and line-contact response risks.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes task-specific risk controls for:

• Plan controls for overhead dangers
• Brief workers and allocate responsibilities
• Set and maintain exclusion zones
• Inspect plant and communication arrangements
• Position the safety observer
• Guide plant into position
• Monitor plant operating near overhead lines
• Manage lifting and load movements
• Monitor changing work conditions
• Respond to overhead line contact
• Secure plant and the work area
• Review the work and close out

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses using safety observers for work near overhead dangers.

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 identify hazards, eliminate or minimise risks so far as reasonably practicable, consult with workers and other duty holders, provide information/training/supervision, and manage risks from plant and overhead electric lines.
• Model Code of Practice: Work near overhead and underground electric lines — guidance for safe approach distances, electricity-supply-authority consultation, safety observers, emergency planning and plant controls.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of plant in the workplace — guidance for plant risk management, exclusion zones, safe-distance controls and emergency planning near electric lines.
• Model Code of Practice: Managing risks associated with plant in construction workplaces / Moving plant on construction sites — guidance for traffic management, pedestrian-plant separation, visibility aids and competent spotters.
• Model Code of Practice: Elevating work platforms — guidance for EWP controls near overhead electric lines and safety-observer duties.
• AS 2550 series Cranes—Safe use; AS 1418 series Cranes, hoists and winches; AS 2359 series Powered industrial trucks; AS/NZS 3000 Electrical installations; AS/NZS 4024 series Safety of machinery; and applicable electricity-network rules and directions. These standards and model Codes are guidance unless adopted or otherwise made applicable in the relevant jurisdiction or contract.

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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