Chapter 5.1.1 – Fixed Mobile

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Purpose

The purpose of this policy and procedure is to ensure that risks associated with fixed and mobile plant and equipment within our company are identified and managed.

Scope

This policy and procedure apply to all plant and equipment which are used for company  workplaces including sporting grounds, sites, offices and worksites and central and regional offices.

Responsibilities

Workplace Managers and/or Management WHS Nominees are responsible for:

  • identifying and recording all plant and equipment within the workplace on a Plant and Equipment Register, which is regularly reviewed;
  • consulting with employees in relation to identifying and managing plant and equipment hazards;
  • ensuring that identified plant and equipment hazards are entered on to a Plant and Equipment Risk Management Form;
  • ensuring that identified plant and equipment hazards are entered on to the OHS Risk Register, the risks reviewed and appropriate controls implemented;
  • checking that Safe/Standard Operating procedure (SOP) are readily accessible for each item of plant and equipment;
  • ensuring maintenance and repairs to plant and equipment is recorded on the Plant and Equipment Maintenance Form;
  • complying with legislation relating to plant and equipment.

HSR functions can include:

  • reporting plant and equipment hazards;
  • assisting in the completion of the Plant and Equipment Risk Management Form as requested;
  • participating in the identification and implementation of risk controls;
  • reporting on the use and effectiveness of plant and equipment risk control measures.

Employees are responsible for:

  • reporting plant and equipment hazards;
  • assisting Workplace Managers and/or Management OHS Nominees with the completion of the Plant and Equipment Risk Management Form;
  • participating in the identification and implementation of risk controls;
  • complying with SOP for plant and equipment.

Procedure

Identify Plant and Equipment

The Workplace Manager and/or Management OHS Nominee must identify all plant and equipment within the workplace in consultation with the HSR and employees and record this information on the Plant and Equipment Register. Examples of plant and equipment include:

  • All regulated plant
  • Ladders
  • Table saws
  • Powered hand tools
  • Lifts.

Hazard identification should take place:

  • when new plant and equipment is introduced into the workplace;
  • for all existing plant and equipment;
  • before any changes are made to the system of work for plant and equipment;
  • before the plant and equipment is used in a manner other than what it was designed for;
  • when new information regarding the safety of the plant and equipment becomes available.

Risk Assessment of Plant and Equipment

The Workplace Manager and/or Management WHS Nominee are to ensure that a risk assessment is completed as per the requirements of the Company WHS Risk Management Procedure and documented on the MyHSEQ Plant and Equipment Hazard Identification checklist. This should be completed for each identified hazardous item of plant and equipment in consultation with:

  • HSR
  • Employees
  • Relevant standards, codes of practice or legislation.

When determining the level of risk of a hazard the Workplace Manager and/or Management WHS Nominee should also consider:

  • the systems of work related to the use of the item of plant or equipment;
  • the layout and physical conditions of the workplace;
  • the range of methods by which the work can be completed;
  • the type of hazards involved with the method of use and item of plant or equipment proposed to be used;
  • The competence of persons to undertake the work.

Purchase or acquisition of Plant

The Workplace Manager and/or Management OHS Nominee must ensure that prior to the purchase or acquisition of plant and equipment, that a Company WHS Purchasing Checklist is completed in accordance with the Company Procurement Procedure. This should occur in consultation with:

  • HSR
  • Employees

Controlling Plant and Equipment Risks

Control Measures

The Workplace Manager and/or Management WHS Nominee in consultation with the HSR and employees are to ensure suitable controls, as outlined in the OHS Risk Management Procedure are selected and implemented where plant and equipment risks are identified. This is to be documented on the Plant and Equipment Hazard Identification checklist. Examples of plant and equipment controls (from most to least effective) could include:

  • determining whether the task can be completed by an alternative method e.g. purchasing timber pre-cut to the correct length;
  • installing and maintaining fixed guarding on machinery;
  • training employees in appropriate courses to obtain the required competencies;
  • developing SOP;
  • providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as ear and eye protection.

Where the controls include the development of procedures for the safe operation and/or use of plant and equipment, a Safe Operating Procedure template should be completed and displayed adjacent to all items of static plant and accessible to operators of the portable plant.

Plant and equipment that is identified as being unsafe must be isolated and tagged as per the Isolation and Tag Out Procedure.

Maintenance

A record of inspections and maintenance must be kept for each item of plant and equipment. This includes scheduled maintenance, breakdown maintenance and replacement of parts (e.g. blades and belts) outside the scheduled maintenance program. Maintenance requirements should be determined in accordance with the supplier or manufacturer recommendations. Details recorded for plant and equipment should as a minimum include:

  • plant and equipment name;
  • location;
  • serial or identification number;
  • description of work performed;
  • completion date of repairs/maintenance;
  • who the work was performed by.

If the workplace does not have an existing recording system, the MyHSEQ Plant and Equipment Maintenance Form may be used. When items of plant are being maintained or repaired they must be isolated and tagged as per the Isolation and Tag Out Procedure. The Workplace Manager and/or Management WHS Nominee should ensure that contractors engaged to undertake maintenance are managed as per the Contractor Management Procedure.

The frequency of the maintenance program will depend on:

  • legislative requirements;
  • manufacturer recommendations and requirements;
  • results of the Plant and Equipment Risk Management Form;
  • plant and equipment breakdown/failure rates.

Reviewing Controls

The Workplace Manager and/or Management OHS Nominee are responsible for reviewing the effectiveness of risk controls in consultation with the HSR and employees. The Workplace Manager and/or Management WHS Nominee should review the completed Plant and Equipment Hazard Identification checklist, Risk Register and any other relevant sources of information (e.g. operating manual) to determine if the current controls are appropriate for individual items of plant and equipment. Any changes to the risk controls must be documented on the relevant Plant and Equipment Risk Management Form and the Risk Register.

Plant and Equipment Risk Management Forms are to be reviewed and revised whenever there is evidence to indicate that the controls may no longer be valid, for example:

  1. when the system of work for plant and equipment changes;
  2. if the plant and equipment is used in a manner other than what it was designed for;

when new information regarding the safety of the plant and equipment becomes available.

Licensing Requirements

Work Cover Queensland requires the operator of certain items of plant and equipment to hold a relevant license. Licensing requirements can be found at https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/licensing-and-registrations/work-health-and-safety-licences/what-licence-do-i-need. The Workplace Manager and/or Management WHS Nominee should ensure that all operators of plant and equipment required to be licensed are identified as per the Induction and Training Procedure. A photocopy of the current licence must be collected by the Workplace Manager and/or Management WHS Nominee and retained in the training records.

The licensing requirements for contractors are to be managed as per the Contractor Management Procedure.

Plant Requiring Registration

WorkSafe Queensland requires certain items of plant and equipment to be registered. Examples of plant which must be registered include:

  • air receivers
  • pressure vessels
  • boilers
  • tower cranes
  • self-erecting tower controls
  • lifts
  • building maintenance units
  • amusement structures
  • concrete placing units.

The Workplace Manager and/or Management WHS Nominee should contact the Company WHS Safety Advisor (SA) on [contact details] for further information.

Our company Risk Register

The Workplace Manager and/or Management WHS Nominee are to ensure that the Risk Register is kept up to date and is reviewed when plant and equipment hazards are identified, assessed, controlled and reviewed.

Communication of any changes to the hazards associated with plant and equipment is to occur as per the Consultation and Communication Procedure.

Documentation

  • SOP
  • Risk Assessment
  • SWMS
  • Consultation and Communication Procedure
  • Contractor Management Procedure
  • Electrical Equipment Procedure
  • Induction and Training Procedure
  • Isolation and Tag Out Procedure
  • WHS Risk Management Procedure
  • WHS Risk Register
  • Plant and Equipment Register
  • Plant and Equipment Hazard checklist
  • Plant and Equipment Maintenance Form
  • Procurement Procedure
  • WHS Purchasing Checklist

Definitions

Danger – Do not operate’ Tag - A signed and dated label that is attached to energy isolation points of equipment, plant, pipes or lines by the person responsible for undertaking repairs, maintenance, service alteration or cleaning, to indicate isolation is in place and that plant, equipment, etc. must not be operated. It must only be removed by the person whose name is on the tag.

Designated Work Group (DWG) – Group or team of staff working for our company.

Hazard - Anything with the potential to cause harm, injury, illness or loss.

Health and Safety Representative (HSR)- An elected employee responsible for representing employees within a DWG on matters relating to OHS.

Safety Advisor (SA)– A position nominated by the Workplace Manager to oversee the operational aspects of implementing health, safety and wellbeing initiatives, policies and procedures.

‘Out of Service’ Tag - A signed and dated label that is placed on a machine or piece of equipment to identify the equipment as being inoperable or requiring maintenance or repair.

Plant and equipment - All machinery, tools, appliances and equipment. Plant and equipment cover a diverse range of items from office equipment to industrial machinery. Examples of plant and equipment include tractors, lifts, amusement structures, forklifts, printing presses, hand tools, ladders and computers.

Regulated Plant – Plant that processes material by way of a mechanical action that:

  • Cuts, drills, punches or grinds the material; or Presses, forms, hammers, joins or moulds the material; or
  • Combines, mixes, sorts, packages, assembles, knits or
  • weaves the material.
  • Plant that lifts or moves people or materials (other than a ship, boat, aircraft) or a vehicle designed to be used primarily as a means of transport on public roads or rail, if that vehicle is being used in a workplace other than a public road or rail;
  • Pressure equipment;
  • Tractors;
  • Earthmoving machinery;
  • Lasers;
  • Scaffolds;
  • Temporary access equipment;
  • Explosive-powered tools;
  • Turbines; and
  • Amusement structures.

Risk - A description of the likelihood and consequence of a hazard causing injury or illness.

Workplace Manager - The Manager or Principal responsible for the site, central office, regional office or other Council operated workplace.