Employers are responsible for making sure all employees are properly instructed so they can perform their work safely. Everyone must have knowledge of and understanding of the work they do. The knowledge and understanding can come from formal and informal training, and from experience gained from:
• operating and maintenance manuals
• design specifications of equipment
• personal instruction
• hands-on competency-based training.
Employee and contractor training should be acknowledged by the trainee and recorded in a training register. For many high risk activities, manuals, plans and formal training are not always available. In such cases documented Standard Work Instructions (SWIs) may need to be established. (Alternative names for SWIs are Safe Operating Procedures and Standard Operating Procedures, etc.) An SWI is a documented step-by-step procedure for doing a job correctly and safely.
SWIs should be developed for any jobs which may be considered hazardous, have potential to cause serious injury or frequently cause injury. Such jobs could include:
• changing tyres or wheels on vehicles, particularly wheels with split rims
• using chain saws for clearing or felling trees
• erecting and dismantling drill rigs
• changing bits/hammers/rods, particularly on large drill rigs
• using radioactive sources or hydrofluoric acid.
SWIs must be developed jointly by people who know the job and those who perform the job and, if necessary, by formal risk assessment. The SWIs must be:
• carefully planned so that all hazards and risks are covered
• well and clearly documented
• properly understood by those performing the task
• readily available on the job site
• properly implemented
• reviewed periodically and amended as necessary.
The following steps are a guide to developing SWIs:
• define the work to be covered by the SWI
• identify work hazards and assess risks from those hazards
• identify means of controlling the hazards and eliminating risk
• determine the sequence of events and procedures to be followed
• identify special tools or aids that may be required
• evaluate personal protective equipment needs
• test the SWI and, if necessary review it before introduction to employees.
When the SWI is to be introduced, all relevant employees must be trained so that they can do the job competently in accordance with the SWI. Actual work practices must be periodically audited to check that they are in accordance with the established SWI. Many accidents happen when standard procedures are ignored.