Site management plans
Some construction sites require an OHS management plan.
An OHS management plan is required when construction work is undertaken and the cost of the work exceeds $250,000 (clause 226 of the
Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001).
The principal contractor must ensure that an OHS management plan is prepared for each site where the value of the work exceeds $250,000 before construction commences.
The plan must be maintained and kept up-to-date during the course of the work.
Clause 226 of the
OHS Regulation 2001 contains details on the content of the safety management plan. There is also an obligation outlined in Chapter 2 (clauses 9-16) of the Regulation for all employers to undertake risk management.
You can use any reasonable plan that is site specific, appropriate for the scope of the work and follows the basic principles of identification, assessment, control and review.
Clause 226(3) of the
OHS Regulation 2001 states that the plan must include:
- statement of responsibilities listing names, positions and responsibilities of all persons who will have specific OHS responsibilities on the site
- details of arrangements for ensuring compliance with OHS induction training
- details of arrangements for managing OHS incidents
- any site safety rules and details for ensuring all persons at the place of work are informed of the rules
- safe work method statements for all work activities assessed as having risk.
Safe work method statements
Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) must be provided, when under Clause 227(1) of the OHS Regulation 2001:
- construction work is undertaken and the cost of the work exceeds $250,000, or
- high risk construction work is undertaken and the cost of the work does not exceed $250,000, or
- demolition work or asbestos removal work for which a licence is required under Chapter 10 to carry on the business of that work is undertaken (regardless of the cost of the work). (Clause 317of the OHS Regulation 2001 outlines definitions of licensed work).
Clause 227(2) of the OHS Regulation 2001 outlines the requirement for subcontractors to provide safe work method statements to the principal contractor before commencing work.
Clause 227(3) of the OHS Regulation 2001 outlines the requirement for principal contractors to ensure subcontractors comply with the provided SWMS, and where they do not comply, take action to ensure compliance or direct work to stop until they can comply.
Where there are no subcontractors, the principal contractor must:
- undertake a risk assessment and prepare a written SWMS for the work and
- maintain and keep up to date the statement and
- ensure the work is carried out in accordance with the statement and
- if a risk to the health or safety of a person arises because of non-compliance with the statement, ensure that work is stopped immediately and not resumed until the statement is complied with (unless an immediate cessation of work is likely to increase the risk to health and safety, in which event the principal contractor must stop the work as soon as it is safe to do so).
Call 13 10 50 for more information about safe construction sites.