Lutheran Schools Association
WORK INSTRUCTION
TITLE:
1.
PLANT, MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT - GENERAL NUMBER: WI 21
PURPOSE
The purpose of this work instruction is to control the risks of working with or using any plant machinery or equipment.
2.
SCOPE
This is a general work instruction and applies to all employees who work with any plant or machinery.
There are separate work instructions for specific plant.
3.
REFERENCES
WHS Regulations 2012
Chapter 5, Part 1, Division 7 General duties of a person conducting a business or undertaking
involving the management or control of plant
Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice
DECD Plant Management Procedure
http://www.decd.sa.gov.au/hrhealthsafety/files/pages/procedures/Plant_Management_Procedure.pdf
Catholic Safety, Health and Welfare South Australia – Education Sector. Plant Management. Policy
Reference No. 15. Version No. 4.
http://cshwsa.org.au/Portals/0/E%20Plant%20Management%20V4.pdf
4.
DEFINITIONS
Alteration – in relation to any plant means to change the design of, add to or take away from the plant
where the change may affect health or safety, but does not include routine maintenance, repairs or
replacements.
Commissioning - performing the necessary adjustments, inspections and tests to ensure plant is in full
working order to specified requirements before it is used.
Ergonomic – means to optimize the functioning of the plant and systems of work associated with the
plant by adapting them to human capacity or need.
Guard/guarding – a device that prevents or reduces access to a danger point or area.
Plant – any machinery, equipment, appliance, implement, appliance and tool and any component or
anything fitted or connected to these. Plant included computers, machinery, vehicles power tools and
amusement devices. Plant that relies exclusively on manual power for its operation and is designed to
be primarily supported by hand, for example a screw driver, is not covered by this definition in the
WHS Regulations.
Supplier – includes a person who supplies plant for use in a workplace, by way of sale, lease,
exchange or hire whether as a principal or agent of another.
5.
ACTION
5.1 Learning Community (LC)
The LC must ensure that;
 Any plant listed under Schedule 5, Part 2 of the WHS Regulations is registered with SafeWork
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WORK INSTRUCTION
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SA or NT WorkSafe and the application to renew the registration is made prior to the expiry
date (5 years after the current date of registration)
A plant register is developed for all plant on site and reviewed annually. It should contain but
not be limited to the following:
o a list of all plant at the LC
o location of plant
o use of plant
o registration/serial/plant number
o copies of all risk assessments
o operators who require training and licensing requirements
o transfer of ownership, modification and/or decommissioning
o leasing arrangements
o maintenance schedules and repair records.
for existing plant, the following procedures are in place or implemented:
o records of risk assessments for each plant item
o new risk assessments carried out (see WI 08) every 5 years or if there is a change in
work practices, the work environment or a revision of legislation
o safe operating procedures (SOPs) prominently displayed, dated, signed and reviewed
following each risk assessment (see below for further information on SOPs)
o service records are reviewed prior to operation of plant but particularly if the plant or
machinery has not been used for a length of time
o records of all maintenance and service conducted on the plant are met.
any proposed acquisition or alteration of plant or the way it is used, meets curriculum or
operational requirements and is undertaken in consultation with appropriate employees or their
representatives. A risk assessment in accordance with WI 08 and WI 09 must be completed
before the acquisition or change is made. The risk assessment should ensure that the plant:
o is designed for the intended task
o is capable of performing the intended task
o can be safely operated by intended staff and/or students who have the necessary skills
and competencies to operate the plant
o is suitable for the environmental conditions and terrain in which it will be used
o can be readily maintained and supported
o does not introduce any other hazardous conditions such as noise, radiation, friction,
vibration, fire, explosion, temperature, gases, dust, hot or cold parts
o meets ergonomic needs relating to installation and use
The risk assessment should also consider any foreseeable abnormal situations, situations of
misuse or fluctuations of operating conditions.
equipment and machines are correctly installed, commissioned and connected by a competent
person
no modifications are made to plant or equipment unless the modifications comply with the
manufacturer’s specifications and relevant Australian Standards
all appropriate documentation such as how it should be correctly used and maintained and any
other relevant health and safety information is available to employees and students (under
WHS Regulations 198 and 199 it is a requirement that the supplier of new and used plant
provide this information to the LC)
machines are fitted with appropriate guarding, extraction equipment and safety cut-off switches
where necessary (eg most wood working plant requires connection to dust extraction). Guards
and warning devices are regularly tested and guarding is only removed by a trained and
competent employee for any maintenance
SOPs must be prominently displayed near the relevant item of plant and implemented through
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WORK INSTRUCTION
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training those workers who will be required to operate/use the plant item. SOPs should include
instructions on:
o how to safely access and operate the plant
o emergency procedures
o who may use an item of plant
o the correct use of guarding and other control measures
o how to carry out inspections, shut-downs, cleaning, repair and maintenance.
space exists for safe use and storage of plant
equipment is regularly serviced and maintained in a safe operating condition
all required personal protective equipment is supplied to employees or students operating the
machines
employees are trained in equipment use including:
o the method of use
o known hazards which might arise in the course of normal work
o hazards which arise from bad practices or misuse
o the need to wear personal protective equipment where and when necessary
o the need to ensure that guarding and extraction equipment is functioning correctly.
5.2 Staff
Staff operating plant, instructing students to operate plant or working on and around plant must
ensure safe work practices are adopted including that:
 operating instructions and SOPs have been read and are understood
 safety guards fitted to equipment and machines are always in place and checked each time
before the plant is operated
 protective clothing and equipment is used where and when required
 students do not use equipment and machinery unless they are supervised, have been trained and
judged to be competent in its safe use.
6.
DOCUMENTATION
WI 08 - Risk Management
WI 09 – Pre-purchase Risk Assessment Procedure
WI 21 – Plant, Machinery and equipment – general.
APPROVED:
ISSUE DATE: 20/04/2016
John Proeve
Executive Director
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