WHS Practice Key Concepts

+ Risk Assessments

Risk Assessment refers to the practice of Identifying potential hazards in advance, and analysing the risks associated with the identified hazard so that they may then be dealt with through Risk Management.

Risks Assessments are based on considering their likelihood and the severity of the consequences.

The Risk Management Process – Safe Work Australia

This may involve processes such as a Script Breakdown Safety Report or Location Report where the producer, the WHS consult together with any crew or other persons involved in the filming.

+ Hierarchy of Controls

Having identified hazards and risks through the Risk Assessment, the PCBU must consider Risk Management - how manage and control the risks.

Hierarchy of Controls sets out the options from most preferable to least preferable, which the PCBU may balance against the cost and practicality of implementing them. These are:

(i) Remove: removing the risk or hazard entirely;

(ii) Replace: substitute with a safer alternative;

(iii) Separate: isolate hazard from person through barriers etc

(iii) Engineer: use equipment eg, ventilation or lifting aids;

(iv) Manage: manage risk by methods such as reducing exposure times, increasing training

(v) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): provision of safety equipment, for example to persons working at height or stunt performers.

Sometimes a combination of these measures will be required. The Control measures taken should be documented and retained for future reference.

+ Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)

A SWMS is a safety planning tool that identifies the hazards and risks of an activity and documents the control measures necessary to manage those risks. The SWMS should describe to workers in clear terms how risks from the work will be effectively controlled to enable the work to be done safely. A SWMS is not intended to be a procedure or a description as to how to perform a specific task —rather it is a tool to help supervisors and workers confirm and monitor the control measures required at the workplace.

A PCBU must prepare a SWMS—or ensure a SWMS has been prepared—for high risk work activities. A SWMS must be prepared before this work starts. The person responsible for carrying out the high risk work is best placed to prepare the SWMS in consultation with workers who will be directly engaged in the work. Consulting workers is important so they understand the detail of the SWMS and what they are required to do to implement and maintain risk controls. Sharing information and using the knowledge and experience of workers will help make sure the work is performed in accordance with the SWMS. If there is a Health and Safety Representative at the workplace they should also be consulted when developing a SWMS.

A SWMS must:

• identify the work that is high risk
• specify hazards relating to the high risk work and the risks to health and safety
• describe the measures to be implemented to control the risks, and
• describe how the control measures are to be implemented, monitored and reviewed.

A SWMS should be short and focus on describing the specific hazards identified for the high risk work to be undertaken and the control measures to be put in place so the work is carried out safely. A SWMS must be easily understood by workers, including those from non-English speaking backgrounds. When adding each piece of information to the SWMS consider the importance and relevance of the information and whether it will add unnecessary length or complexity to the document.

High risk work must be carried out in accordance with the SWMS. The PCBU must put in place arrangements to ensure the SWMS is being complied with, for example workplace visits. If work is not being carried out in accordance with the SWMS then it must stop immediately or as soon as it is safe to do so. In these cases the SWMS should be reviewed and if necessary revised to reflect the safest way to carry out the work that is reasonably practicable. Work must not resume until the work can be carried out in accordance with the SWMS.

A PCBU must also ensure a SWMS is reviewed and as necessary revised if the measures put in place to control risks to health and safety are revised.

The SWMS should be kept at the workplace where the high risk work will be carried out. If this is not possible then a SWMS should be kept at a location where it can be delivered to the workplace quickly. A SWMS can also be kept electronically.

Template SWMSs are included in this Manual, but it is crucial to note that every time, they must be reviewed and revised to ensure that they are relevant and appropriate to the activity they will cover. It is important for a SWMS to reflect the specific circumstances of the workplace in which it will operate—that is the workplace where the high risk work is to be carried out, the work environment and the workers carrying out the work. A generic SWMS used at different workplaces may not meet the requirements of the WHS laws unless it has first been reviewed to take into account the hazards and risks at the specific workplace and amended as necessary.

Download basic template

+ Induction – Safety Briefing

Everyone working on, or visiting a production must be given an induction at each work site they will attend. It must include an orientation and information relevant to the production. Time will be put aside on the first day of employment at each location or site for this induction.

The Induction might cover:

(i) an outline of WHS rules and policies;

(ii) the names and introductions to key contacts and their function/s;

(iii) distribution of written information, eg. site maps, reporting procedures;

(iv) site tour including location access points, facilities and amenities, personal protective equipment, first aid facilities, emergency equipment, assembly points;

(v) material safety data sheets for any relevant hazardous substances; and

(vi) emergency and evacuation procedures and relevant personnel.