SWDS
A Safe Working Design Study (SWDS) is a structured technique using guidewords to identify potentially unsafe working hazards and issues in order to deliver a design that is safe for operational staff to maintain and operate. The SWDS should be conducted during the design phase when the design has been adequately developed.
In advance of the SWDS study the designer should complete a safe working design register. The register would typically address:
- Equipment Overview (Location/Area, Description, Reference and Rating)
- Equipment Access/Egress Requirement (Maintenance Work Classification, Routine Maintenance Frequency and Proposed Access & Egress Technique)
- Special Requirements (Identification, Isolation, Maintenance Utilities, Training, O&M Manuals)
- Hazards (Hazardous Materials/Waste, Working Environment, Lifting Operations, Confined Space)
- Residual Risk
Once the register has been drafted the SWDS study reviews each line of the register to systematically examine each piece of equipment. When a possible hazard or operability issue is identified, a probable cause should be identified and then the consequences of the hazard examined, and any remedial action recommended.
Prior to the SWDS the Chair and lead designer should:
- Designer to prepare a SWDS register
- Team members
- Suitable venue
- Distribute the documentation pack, including Safe Working Design register
The chair should be suitably competent including training, qualifications and experience.
At the SWDS meeting register should be completed at the meeting. This should include the wording of any actions, the actionee and return date. Any action sheets should be issued straight after the meeting. The chair should review the closeout action comments and check the evidence to ensure closure, where possible. Any actions unable to be closed out during the design, should be transferred to the CDM Risk Register.
Once all of the action sheets have been completed, to the satisfaction of the chair, then a closeout report shall be prepared. The report will include all relevant documentation, or references to the drawings used, including revision status.
