So, you’ve completed our Road Safety Audit or Safe System Assessment course and you’re ready to do your first audit/assessment. But how do you make sure you’re safe out there? It’s far more than just a hi-vis vest.
First – you must get in the practice of doing a job safety analysis (JSA) and Safe Work Methods Statement (SWMS) before you start. This will uncover risks and risk mitigation measures. Each site is unique, so just one generic SWMS won’t cut it – risks must be thought through for each site.
The SWMS will also help with that all important question – can this be done safely without Temporary Traffic Management?
Here are a small sample of risks that have appeared in some of our past RSA/SSA SWMS:
Driving long distances to site (fatigue)
Doing roadside inspections near traffic
Measuring road/roadside features
Wildlife – especially snakes
Extreme weather events including bushfires and floods
Heat exposure and sun hazards
Personal safety threat from other people
Covid 19 (although thankfully the risk rating for this one is less than it was in 2021!)
… and the list goes on
Remember, each is unique, and the mitigation of site risks may be different depending on the circumstances.
Be safe when you’re making others safe.