Estate Information for Contractors Safety Documentation

Safety Documentation

Safety Documentation

JCU is committed to ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of everyone involved in or affected by its work, study or research activities.

JCU recognises that risk management is an integral part of good governance and management practice and is committed to its application at all management levels within a University-wide framework.

  • Safety documentation required, for example:
    • Construction WHS management plans;
    • SDS chemicals, equipment manuals;
    • Safe work method statements for high risk construction work – specific to work;
    • Job specific risk assessments;
    • A Construction/demolition plan;
    • Permits to work;
    • Copies of licences/certifications;
    • Insurance documents;
    • Specialist design or technical data;
    • Safety in design reviews;
    • Monitoring certificates (e.g. asbestos / mould);
    • Adherence with Australian / relevant standards;

WHS Documentation Review

Prior to commencing work activities the engaged contractor shall supply safety documentation specific to the work being conducted.  The JCU Representative engaging the contractor is responsible for confirming that the safety documentation is complete and applicable to work. Where required, this may be reviewed in consultation with the JCU WHS unit.

The JCU Representative engaging the contractor shall retain specified WHS documentation.  The retention of WHS documentation will be determined during the planning phase e.g. asbestos clearance certificates, mould remediation certificates.

Implementation of Contractors Safety Documentation

Implementation of the contractor’s safety documentation is the responsibility of the contractor.  It is also the responsibility of the contractor to ensure that their safety documentation is readily available for inspection and that all workers and sub-contractors are signed-on and following all WHS requirements. Contractors WHS may be subject to JCU Representative / JCU WHS unit inspection at any time.

The primary purpose of a SWMS is to help supervisors, workers and any other persons at the workplace to understand the requirements that have been established to carry out the high risk construction work in a safe and healthy manner.

The SWMS:

  • sets out the work activities in logical sequences
  • identifies hazards
  • describes control measures.

Both simple and complex activities can be broken down into a series of basic steps that will allow for full analysis of each part of the activity for hazards and potential incidents. The description of the process should not be so broad that it leaves out activities with the potential to cause incidents and prevents proper identification of the hazards nor is it necessary to go into fine detail of the tasks.

The aim of a SWMS is to:

  • describe the activity or task to be undertaken
  • identify the resources, manpower and skills associated with the task
  • assess and select control measures (as appropriate)
  • systematically plan the activity so it can be completed efficiently and effectively.

The SWMS must be able to be easily read by those who need to know what has been planned to manage the risks and implement the control measures and ensure the work is being carried out in accordance with the SWMS.

This includes:

  • the supervisor of the high risk construction work
  • the worker carrying out the high risk construction work
  • the principal contractor (if it is a construction project) or the person who has management and control over the high risk construction work.

JCU Template