Plant and equipment
Overview
Plant is a general name for machinery, tools, appliances and equipment.
Types of plant commonly found at UTS include lifts, cranes, hoists, power tools, hand-held tools, hand trolleys and workshop equipment.
Risk management
It is a legislative requirement to:
Step 1: Identify the hazard
Identify hazards related to plant and equipment.
Step 2: Assess risk
Assess the risk of these hazards causing harm. Risk assessments can be documented using the General Risk Assessment template (MS Word 97-2003 format; 76 Kb), or via the Online risk register
Step 3: Controlling the risk
Take appropriate action to control (eliminate or minimise) the risks, suggested health and safety risk control measures for plant and equipment include:
Ensure that all plant with moving parts is appropriately guarded.
Provide training, information, instruction and supervision
there is further information on the accreditation programs for laboratories and workshops.Regularly inspect and maintain all equipment to the manufacturers specification.
Safe work method statement
Document a safe work method statement for the use of high risk plant and equipment. These should be include emergency procedures (where relevant). A safe work method statement pro-forma (Microsoft Word 97-2003 format, 52 Kb) is available.
Resources
Safe Work Australia (Australian Government)
- Plant machinery and equipment (opens an external site)
WorkSafe (Department of Commerce, Western Australia)
- Plant and machinery (opens an external site)
Provides information on plant safety and safe work practices for the use of a range of equipment.
CCH Australia
- Plant Safety - Managing Plant Hazards in the Workplace
ISBN 1 86264 938 3
