Plant hazardchecklist S o m e o f t h e

q u e s t i o n s y o us h o u l d a s k t o h e l pi d e n t i f y h a z a r d sa r i s i n g f r o m p l a n t

WorkSafe Victoria is a division of the Victorian WorkCover AuthorityVWA 556/03/11.05

110797 VWA PlantHazard Cvr 21/11/05 10:28 AM Page 1

Introduction

HAZARD CHECKL IST P a g e 1

This checklist provides a typical range of questions that can beasked to help with the identifi cation of hazards associated withplant. It may be used as a starting point, with certain questionsadded or deleted to make the checklist appropriate to the plantand associated systems of work being examined.

If “yes” is the answer to a question in the checklist, the plant,parts of the plant and/or the situation associated with the hazard,should be identifi ed on the checklist.

The following are examples of hazards identifi ed and recordedin checklists:

• someone’s fi ngers may get caught between the two rollers of the paper processing machine

• the pipe containing high pressure fl uids in the stamping machine may burst

• the boom of the mobile crane may touch the overhead powerlines

• people may trip over the electric power lead for the bench grinder

When completing the checklist, consider the hazards that may affect:

• plant operators

• anyone working, or in the vicinity of, the plant

• others who could be affected, such as visitors, contractors, etc.

HAZARD CHECKL ISTP a g e 2

If “yes” is theanswer to a

question in thechecklist, the

plant, parts ofthe plant

and/or thesituation

associated withthe hazardshould be

written in thespace provided.

Can anyone ’s ha i r, c loth ing , g loves,neckt ie , j ewel lery, c leaning brushes,rags or other mater ia l s becomeentangled with moving parts of theplant , or mater ia l s in mot ion?

A E N T A N G L E M E N T

B C R U S H I N GCan anyone be crushed due to :

a . mater ia l fa l l ing off the p lant?

b. uncontro l led or unexpected movement of the p lant or i t s load?

c . lack of capac i ty for the p lant to be s lowed , s topped or immobi l i sed?

d . the p lant t ipp ing or ro l l ing over?

e . parts of the p lant co l laps ing?

f . coming in contact with moving parts of the p lant dur ing test ing , inspect ion , operat ion , maintenance , c leaning or repa i r?

g . be ing thrown off or under the p lant?

h . be ing t rapped between the p lant and mater ia l s or f ixed st ructures?

i . other factors not ment ioned?

C C U T T I N G , S T A B B I N G A N D P U N C T U R I N G

HAZARD CHECKL IST P a g e 3

If “yes” is theanswer to aquestion in thechecklist, theplant, parts ofthe plantand/or thesituationassociated withthe hazardshould bewritten in thespace provided.

Can anyone be cut , s tabbed or punctureddue to :

a . coming in contact with sharp or f ly ing ob jects?

b. coming in contact with moving parts of the p lant dur ing test ing , inspect ion , operat ion , maintenance , c leaning or repa i r of the p lant?

c . the p lant , parts of the p lant or work p ieces d is integrat ing?

d . work p ieces be ing e jected?

e . the mobi l i ty of the p lant?

f . uncontro l led or unexpected movement of the p lant?

g . other factors not ment ioned?

Can anyone ’s body parts be shearedbetween two parts of the p lant ,or between a part of the p lant and awork p iece or s t ructure?

Can anyone be burnt due to contact withmoving parts or surfaces of the p lant , ormater ia l handled by the p lant?

D S H E A R I N G

E F R I C T I O N

HAZARD CHECKL ISTP a g e 4

If “yes” is theanswer to a

question in thechecklist, the

plant, parts ofthe plant

and/or thesituation

associated withthe hazardshould be

written in thespace provided.

Can anyone be s t ruck by moving ob jectsdue to :

a . uncontro l led or unexpected movement of the p lant or mater ia l handled by the p lant?

F S T R I K I N G

b. the p lant , parts of the p lant or work p ieces d is integrat ing?

c . work p ieces be ing e jected?

d . mobi l i ty of the p lant?

e . other factors not ment ioned?

Can anyone come into contactwith f lu ids under h igh pressure ,due to p lant fa i lure or misuseof the p lant?

G H I G H P R E S S U R E F L U I D

HAZARD CHECKL IST P a g e 5

If “yes” is theanswer to aquestion in thechecklist, theplant, parts ofthe plantand/or thesituationassociated withthe hazardshould bewritten in thespace provided.

Can anyone be in jured by e lect r ica lshock or burnt due to :

a . the p lant contact ing l ive e lect r ica l conductors?

H . E L E C T R I C A L

b. the p lant work ing in c lose prox imity to e lect r ica l conductors?

c . over load of e lect r ica l c i rcu i ts?

d . damaged or poor ly mainta ined e lect r ica l leads and cab les?

e . damaged e lect r ica l switches?

f . water near e lect r ica l equipment?

g . lack of i so lat ion procedures?

h . other factors not ment ioned?

Can anyone be in jured by exp los ion ofgases, vapours, l iqu ids, dusts or othersubstances, t r iggered by the operat ionof the p lant or by mater ia l handled bythe p lant?

I E X P L O S I O N

HAZARD CHECKL ISTP a g e 6

If “yes” is theanswer to a

question in thechecklist, the

plant, parts ofthe plant

and/or thesituation

associated withthe hazardshould be

written in thespace provided.

Can anyone us ing the p lant , or inthe v ic in i ty of the p lant , s l ip , t r ipor fa l l due to :

a . uneven or s l ippery work surfaces?

J S L I P P I N G , T R I P P I N G A N D F A L L I N G

b. poor housekeeping , eg . swarf in the v ic in i ty of the p lant , sp i l lage not c leaned up?

c . obstac les be ing p laced in the v ic in i ty of the p lant?

d . other factors not ment ioned?

Can anyone fa l l f rom a he ight due to : a . lack of a proper work p lat form?

b. lack of proper s ta i rs or ladders?

c . lack of guardra i l s or other su i tab le edge protect ion?

d . unprotected holes, penetrat ions or gaps?

e . poor f loor or walk ing surfaces, such as the lack of a s l ip-res is tant surface?

f . s teep walk ing surfaces?

g . co l lapse of the support ing st ructure?

h . other factors not ment ioned?

HAZARD CHECKL IST P a g e 7

If “yes” is theanswer to aquestion in thechecklist, theplant, parts ofthe plantand/or thesituationassociated withthe hazardshould bewritten in thespace provided.

Can anyone be in jured due to :

a . poor ly des igned seat ing?

K E R G O N O M I C

b. repet i t ive body movement?

c . constra ined body posture or the need for excess ive ef fort?

d . des ign def ic iency caus ing menta l or psychologica l s t ress?

e . inadequate or poor ly p laced l ight ing?

f . lack of cons iderat ion g iven to human er ror or human behav iour?

h . other factors not ment ioned?

(For more informat ion on hazards assoc iated with manual handl ing , refer to the WorkSafe publ icat ion Manual Handl ing – Code of Pract ice No . 25 , 2000)

g . mismatch of the p lant with human t ra i ts and natura l l imitat ions?

Can anyone be suffocated due to lack ofoxygen , or atmospher ic contaminat ion?

L S U F F O C A T I O N

Can anyone come into contact withobjects at h igh temperatures?

M H I G H T E M P E R A T U R E O R F I R E

Can anyone be in jured by f i re?

HAZARD CHECKL ISTP a g e 8

If “yes” is theanswer to a

question in thechecklist, the

plant, parts ofthe plant

and/or thesituation

associated withthe hazardshould be

written in thespace provided.

Can anyone suffer i l l -hea l th due toexposure to h igh or low temperatures?

N T E M P E R A T U R E [ T H E R M A L C O M F O R T ]

Can anyone be in jured or sufferi l l -hea l th f rom exposure to :

a . chemica ls?

(For more informat ion on hazards assoc iated with chemica ls , refer to the Code of Pract ice for Storage & Handl ing of Dangerous Goods and the WorkSafe publ icat ion Hazardous Substances – Code of Pract ice No . 24 , 2000)

O O T H E R H A Z A R D S

b. tox ic gases or vapours?

c . fumes?

d . dust?

e . no ise?

(For more informat ion on hazards assoc iated with noise , refer to the WorkSafe webs i te or WorkCover Adv isory Serv ice )

f . v ibrat ion?

g . rad iat ion?

h . other factors not ment ioned?

W O R K S A F E V I C T O R I A C O N T A C T S

W o r k S a f e V i c t o r i aWorkSafe Victoria offers a complete range of healthand safety services:• emergency response• advice, information and education• inspections• licensing and certifi cation• publicationsFor further assistance and information, contact any

of the WorkSafe Victoria offi ces listed below.

H e a d O f f i c eVictorian WorkCover Authority222 Exhibition StreetMelbourne Victoria 3000GPO Box 4306Melbourne Victoria 3001Phone 9641 1555Fax 9641 1222

W o r k C o v e r A d v i s o r y S e r v i c e222 Exhibition StreetMelbourne Victoria 3000Phone 9641 1444Fax 9641 1353Toll-free 1800 136 089

L o c a l O f f i c e sBallarat 5338 4444

Bendigo 5443 8866

Dandenong 8792 9000

Geelong 5226 1200

Melbourne 9941 0558

Mildura 5021 4001

Mulgrave 9565 9444

Preston 9485 4555

Shepparton 5831 8260

Traralgon 5174 8900

Wangaratta 5721 8588

Warrnambool 5564 3200

P u b l i c a t i o n sPhone 9641 1444

Email publications@workcover.vic.gov.au

W e b s i t ewww.workcover.vic.gov.au

E m a i linfo@workcover.vic.gov.au

Plant hazardchecklist S o m e o f t h e

q u e s t i o n s y o us h o u l d a s k t o h e l pi d e n t i f y h a z a r d sa r i s i n g f r o m p l a n t

WorkSafe Victoria is a division of the Victorian WorkCover AuthorityVWA 556/03/11.05

110797 VWA PlantHazard Cvr 21/11/05 10:28 AM Page 1