Guarding on a mast climbing work platform

Purpose
Background
Ways to minimise the risk of injuryRoutine maintenance
Legislative requirements
More information

Purpose

The purpose of this safety alert is to advise installers, owners and operators of mast climbing work platforms (MCWP) of:

• the risks associated with erecting and dismantling MCWPs and
• how to best manage such risks through effective control measures.

Note: The principles in this safety alert also apply to personnel and material hoists.

Background

A worker recently suffered serious injuries to his arm while dismantling a MCWP. The worker’s arm was caught between the moving platform and the mast. In normal operation mode, guards should always be fitted around the mast (see photograph 2). This is to prevent potential shearing or entrapment hazards that can occur as a result of the platform structure moving over the fixed mast.

At the time of the incident, the guards had been temporarily removed in order to provide access to undo a series of bolts to dismantle the mast (see photograph 3 over page).

Note: The operator was complying with the manufacturer’s instructions, which allowed the guards to be removed during the erection and dismantling process.

Ways to minimise the risk of injury

The following systems/procedures need to be followed when operating a MCWP:

• The guards around the platform (see photographs 2 and 3) must meet the Australian Standards requirements under AS 4024.1-2006 - Safety of machinery.
• The guards must be in place during normal operations of the mast climber to ensure that no one can access (e.g. climb ver or reach above) the areas where shearing or entrapment can occur between the moving and stationary parts.
• Safe operating procedures must be in place and followed at all times.
• The MCWP operators should be provided with operating instructions and be properly rained.

Where the MCWP has multiple masts, the platform is to be levelled (by linear control) and the hoist speed is to be the same (synchronised) on all masts. Installers and dismantlers of MCWP must hold at least a basic rigger licence or intermediate scaffolder licence.

If the guards are removed to access the bolts and nuts during erection and dismantling of mast sections, the following precautions should be followed to ensure the mast climber will not move inadvertently:

• The control box on the platform level should be locked by a key. Only designated staff are then authorised to open the control box and move the platform up or down. If possible, the control box should be installed a safe distance away from the mast.
• An effective lockout procedure should be in place to lockout the control or power supply.
• The platform should not move until the operator can ensure that:
  • workers on the platform have a clear view of one another
  • no tools or materials are able to fall from the mast section or platform
  • the required work in the hazard zone is completed and that everyone is away from the hazard zone around the mast(s).

Routine maintenance

A competent person should be engaged to carry out regular inspections of all critical components of the MCWP at least annually or as recommended by the manufacturer. This includes, but not limited to, the inspection of the electric motor, gear box, brakes, emergency brakes and travel limit mechanism of the mast climber.

A record of service and maintenance should be kept in a log book.

Legislative requirements

The Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 sets out the laws about health and safety requirements affecting most workplaces, work activities and specified high risk plant in Queensland. It seeks to protect the health andsafety of everyone at a workplace.

More information

Visit the Workplace Health and Safety Queensland website at: www.worksafe.qld.gov.au or call the WHS Infoline on 1300 369 915.