Safe System of Work Plan (SSWP)

What is SSWP?

SSW is the formal procedure based on a systematic examination of work in order to identify the hazards and minimize the risk associated with them.

When is a SSWP Required?

A SSW is needed when hazards can not be physically eliminated and some element of risk remains. You should apply these principles to routine work as well as to more special cases(activities) such as :

Cleaning and maintenance operations etc.
Making changes to work layouts, materials used or working methods etc.
Employees working away from base or working alone etc.
Breakdowns or emergencies etc.
Controlling activities of contractors on your premises etc.
Loading , Unloading and movement of vehicles etc.

What is the importance of SSWP? ( Refer www.hsa.ie)

The Safe System of Work Plan (SSWP) complements the Safety Statement required under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, although it does not replace the requirement for such a Safety Statement.

The SSWP will help users to complete construction work activity in a safe manner. Completing and using the SSWP will also help you to meet some of the legal obligations placed on you by health and safety legislation.

What are the Primary objectives of the SSWP?

( Refer www.hsa.ie)

The primary objective of the SSWP is to identify the major hazards associated with your work activities and to ensure that appropriate controls are in place before work commences.

The SSWP achieves many other objectives, including:

Links the implementation of the Safety Statement directly to the work activity.
Focusing on safety for a particular task. The SSWP is completed at the start of each activity, and can be reviewed at any time during the work.
Increasing awareness.
It encourages the users to consider a range of options to deal with the risks. The users will become familiar with the various controls available.
Communicating through the use of pictograms so that the meaning can be understood by persons who possess little or no English.
Being user friendly: just tick the hazards and controls.

The Safe System of Work Plan (SSWP) should be used as a final check to ensure that the identified controls for a specific construction work activity are available and in place. However safety starts long before any specific construction activity takes place.

Hazard identification, risk assessment, the elimination and control of identified hazards must take place through all stages of construction from the planning stage, through the design process, the tendering process and on to the construction stage so that each specific construction activity will have had safety built in.

Helps to reducing the risk ensure that all the steps necessary for safe working.
Help to reduce human error.
Helps to reducing the likelihood of accidents occurring.
Defend in prosecutions.
Ensure safe practices.
Proactively strengthen your safety systems.
Fulfill Legal Requirements

The SSWP is a three-part process:

Part 1: Planning the activity
Part 2: Hazard Identification, and Control Identifier
Part 3: Sign off

PART 1

This part will be completed by the person planning the activity. Normally this will be carried out by the supervisor/foreman and/or self-employed person prior to work starting. Where a site safety officer is employed they should be involved in the process.

• Identify who the employer/self-employed person is, e.g. Acme Pipe Laying Ltd

• Name of the Supervisor for the activity, e.g. A. McSample

• Identify the number of workers in the team, e.g. 3

• Identify the specific location of the activity, e.g. gridline x to gridline y

• Describe the specific activity, e.g. pipelaying

• When the work is to start, the date, e.g. Tuesday, 1st June

• What skills are required, e.g. 360 excavator driver, banksman, pipelayer, flag man

• Plant and Equipment required, e.g. Fiat Hitachi EX200, Sling, Shackle

• Hazardous Materials, if used, e.g. Acme Bondex XXX, R45

• Contact Names & Tel No. in the event of an emergency, e.g. Site Foreman, Safety Officer

• Name of the First Aider, and the location of the nearest First Aid Box

• Are Permits to Work required? Tick type

• Is a Method Statement required? Tick if required

• The final section of this part: list requirements that are identified in the Construction Regulations and other Legislation as mandatory.

Note: For sites where more than 20 persons are normally employed at any one time, a site safety representative should be appointed.

PART 2

This part of the SSWP form deals with hazard identification, risk assessment, and risk control. Normally this will be carried out by the supervisor/foreman and/or self-employed person prior to work starting. Where a site safety officer is employed they should be involved in the process.

The Hazards should first be identified by ticking the square boxes in the “Select Hazard” column.

The appropriate Controls to eliminate the hazard or reduce the risk should be identified by ticking the square boxes in the “Select Control” column.

When controls are in place tick the round box. This must be done in conjunction with the workers at the specific work location prior to the work taking place.

Similarly, the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Fire Equipment required, should be selected by ticking the square boxes when acquired by ticking the round box. in the PPE/ Fire sections, and when acquired by ticking the round box.

Part 2 of the form may also contain several blank hazard triangles, each labelled with the word “identify”, and several blank control boxes, each labelled with the word “other”. As the list of hazards depicted is not exhaustive, where other hazards are identified, these can be written into the blank hazard triangles. Similarly, as the list of controls depicted is not exhaustive, where other controls are identified, these can be written into the blank control boxes.

NOTE: The list of Hazards and Controls depicted in each form is not exhaustive.

PART 3

This part deals with the signing off of the SSWP. The purpose of signing off is to identify the person who has prepared the SSWP, and also to confirm that the completed SSWP has been brought to the attention of all those to whom the SSWP applies.

Note 1: The completed SSWP must remain at the specific location of the work with the persons carrying out the work activity.

Note 2: A new SSWP must be completed when (1) a new hazard is identified, (2) the task changes, or (3) the environment changes.

Optional: A record sheet is available inside the back cover.

Why SSWP should be recorded/written down?

Written SSWP ensure consistency of methods, as procedure.
Written SSWP provides precise reference for training.
It establish a standard (can be checked and verified during Audit ).
It provide a written record for incident investigations/ regulatory inspections ( e.g. enforcement and Insurance agencies)
It helps in easy understanding and remove complexity.
It serves as a clear setting of standard of work .
It can be used in contract/ Tender bid
For legal purpose and legal requirement -legal reasons as standards to be followed by the organization.
It helps in active/ reactive monitoring of H&S against standard
It is considered as proof / record against any objection or claim.
It serves as a reliable process for communication where work is too complex.
It serves the purpose for continual improvement, so that necessary changes can be made.