OHS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CARTOON

Safe forklift operation

Purpose
Employers
Forklift operators
Seatbelts
Training and licence requirements
More information

Purpose

A worker was fatally injured in a recent forklift incident in Queensland. The purpose of this safety alert is to remind employers and forklift operators of the need to operate forklifts in a safe manner.

Photo 1: Operate forklifts in a safe manner.

Employers

• Only allow workers to operate a forklift if they hold a high risk work licence to do so. Issue the forklift key to an authorised person only.
• Ensure forklift operators are adequately supervised - particularly in the case of trainee forklift operators.
• Ensure training is provided for operators on the specific make and model of forklift. This training can be in the form of a checklist with a skilled operator carrying out the training. The training should include operating the forklift and familiarisation of the work area.
• Ensure forklifts are maintained and serviced in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and all safety features provided by the manufacturer are kept on the unit.
• Ensure safety inspections are carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
• Provide adequate lighting for safe forklift operation.
• Ensure operators and other workers are aware of forklift operating areas. Workplaces should clearly delineate and use exclusion zones such as painted walkways.
• Paint obstacles with high visibility paint.

Forklift operators

• Only drive a forklift when you hold a high risk work licence or are otherwise authorised to perform the high risk work.
• Make sure you read and understand the operating instructions before you operate the forklift.
• Comply with the operating instructions.
• Use the forklift truck only for the purpose for which it was designed.
• Carry out a daily safety inspection of the forklift before you operate the forklift.
• Remain seated while the forklift is moving and do not lean outside of the unit.
• Operate the forklift truck with the load placed fully against the truck carriage or back rest. The mast should be tilted sufficiently backward to safeguard the load.
• Slow down when travelling close to obstacles, other vehicles, or pedestrians.
• When driving, give way to pedestrians. Maintain a clear view ahead and behind (using a correctly adjusted rear view mirror) and give clear indication of your intentions. Maintain a safe distance from other vehicles.
• Drive carefully on wet or slippery surfaces.
• Reduce speed when making a turn.
• Drive in reverse if vision is obscured by a bulky load.
• Slow down on sloping or uneven ground.
• Remove the ignition/starter switch key when you leave the forklift truck. Ensure the controls are in neutral, the power is shut off, the park brakes are applied and the forks fully lowered.
• Wear high visibility clothing.
• Do not carry passengers.

Seatbelts

Seatbelts are provided on most forklifts and should be worn. Seatbelts help to:

1. Stop the operator being thrown out of the seat if the forklift is involved in a collision.
2. Keep the operator's body within the confines of the overhead guard.
3. Prevent the operator being thrown out of the forklift and crushed if the forklift becomes unstable.

Where a forklift is not fitted with a seatbelt the forklift owner should consider retro fitting a seatbelt. The seatbelt should be fitted in accordance with the forklift manufacturer's instructions.

Training and licence requirements

NOHSC 7019 (1992) - Operation of Load shifting and Other Specified Equipment provides guidelines which cover the minimum competencies required for safe use and operation of the specified industrial equipment.

All users, trainees and operators of industrial equipment covered by this national standard are required to:

• hold a relevant certificate of competency unless they are undergoing supervised and/or accredited training; and
• have the necessary health and fitness required to safely operate the relevant type of industrial equipment.

In summary:

• A training plan must be established for the trainee.
• Formal training, covering all the elements of the unit of competency, including both theory and practical, must be provided by an approved person.
• The trainee’s informal learning is logged in the log book.
• The trainee undertakes the theory assessment if not completed prior to the log book.
• The trainee undertakes the practical assessment.
• If competent, the trainee makes application for a licence.

More information

Further information is on forklift safety is available at www.worksafe.qld.gov.au or by calling the Workplace Health and Safety Infoline 1300 369 915.

In particular:

Fire hazard of static electricity when handling flammable liquids

-Purpose
-BackgroundHazards and risks
-Recommended control measures
-Further information

Purpose

The purpose of this safety alert is to:

• Inform people about the danger of igniting flammable liquids by static electricity.
• Provide guidance on how to control static electricity when filling containers with flammable liquid at service stations.

Recreational Diving - Equipment to minimise the risk of missing diver emergencies

-Background
-Recommendations
-Further Information
-References

Background

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is issuing a safety alert following instances where certificated divers have surfaced and drifted for extended periods before being located and rescued.

Divers drifting at the surface are at risk from drowning, dehydration, hypothermia and injuries such as stings and bites caused by marine animals.

Insulation - installing ceiling insulation and your health and safety

-Purpose
-The risks
-Prior to installation
-To stay safe do the following before the installation work start:
-Before you enter the roof cavity to start the installation
-During installation
-While installing the insulation
-After installation
-Where can I get more information

Purpose

Queensland insulation installers are required to take specific electrical safety measures as prescribed under the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002, to protect themselves and Queensland householders.

Non-compliance is a breach of electrical safety obligations – significant penalties apply.

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.

Safe use of nailing tools (nail guns)

Purpose
Background
Hazards
RiskControl or prevention measures
Legislative requirements
More information

Purpose

This safety alert highlights the hazards when using nailing tools, such as nail guns, and provides examples of their correct and safe usage.

The information provided is designed to help people meet their obligations under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 in relation to the risks associated with the use of nail guns.

Background

Nail guns have often replaced hammers as tools of choice amongst builders.

There are many types of portable hand-held nail guns used throughout industry and, to a much lesser degree, in home handyman applications. They are powered by either:

• electromagnetism
• compressed air—pneumatic
• highly flammable gases—such as butane or propane
• powder actuated—requiring an explosive charge.

Since their introduction, the compressed air/pneumatic type (shown below) has become the most commonly used form.

Investigations have identified that occurrences of serious nail gun incidents are increasing, not only within Queensland, but throughout Australia and other countries.

The main cause for many of these incidents, are associated with the use of contact trip actuation (also known as bump-fire, bounce-fire or simultaneous discharge) type nail guns.

These type of nail guns are significantly prone to unintentional firing when users accidentally make contact with the gun’s muzzle (i.e. safety yoke/work contacting element) while handling the equipment (e.g. while moving from one location to another) with their finger engaged on the tool’s trigger mechanism.

The contact trip actuation method of operation allows nails to be driven/fired by holding the trigger in the firing position, then bringing the muzzle into contact with any surface that provides enough resistance to counteract the spring compression forces of the muzzle assembly.

Principally, due to repetitive strain considerations and easier application for use, many designers have adopted relatively low intensity spring compression units within the muzzle assemblies, therefore providing little protection against unintentional discharge.

Today, nail gun penetration injuries have increased throughout the industry to dangerously high levels. Reports clearly show that a significant number of these incidents are a direct result of the gun’s muzzle being unintentionally struck into a part of the body (or nearby structure) while the user has hold of the tool’s trigger switch. These incidents resulted in people being left partially or permanently disabled,blinded, and in some cases fatally injured.

Hazards

• Users and other people can accidentally place themselves into positions where they are directly exposed to the projectile path of a nail gun.
• As it currently stands, the safety of nail gun operations are mainly dependent upon the skill, knowledge and aptitude of the user.
• The nail gun is effectively a firearm which can release steel projectiles in excess of 130 mm in length.
• Contact trip actuation (bump-fire, bounce-fire or simultaneous discharge) type nail guns are much more prone to unintentional firing through accidental contact with the machine’s muzzle when handling the equipment from one position to another.

Risk

There is risk of steel projectiles penetrating into the human body: via direct contact with the muzzle of a loaded gun, deflection of a projectile when skewing off a hard surface or penetration through a soft material. The power generated within a nail gun is sufficient to drive a nail through human bone, thereby highlighting the vulnerability of other organs in the human body..

Control or prevention measures

Bump-fire nail guns (including those fitted with switchable levers that allow the gun to be used in another mode) must not be used:

• where the user is required to climb ladders or other elevated areas with a loaded gun
• in restricted and tight spaced areas where the gun’s actuation muzzle is at high risk of being bumped
• where other people are likely to come within the firing path of the nail gun or there is a foreseeable risk of them being struck by a flying nail (e.g. by ricochet or deflection).

Nail guns should be maintained to ensure correct operation of the actuation mechanism. If any problems occur, the tools should be repaired by a competent person (i.e. an authorised agent) or be replaced.

A safer design of operation is found within sequential actuation type nail guns, which allow for only one single driving operation via trigger, after the muzzle of the tool has been applied to the driving location.

All workers who use nail guns should be trained in their safe use. Training should address the safe operation of the nail gun, personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements and any other specific directions as stated in the manufacturer’s manual. Additional information on safe usage may also be available from training organisations, industry associations or manufacturers.

Due to the increasing number of serious nail gun penetration injuries taking place throughout the building and construction industry, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland considers that bump-fire type nail guns should only be used within this industry under the strictest of controls. Nail guns with safer actuation mechanisms are preferred.

Where certain high volume production and manufacturing jobs exist, the use of bump-fire type nail guns may be needed to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries (e.g. strains and sprains). If this is the case, the application for these guns should only be allowed in designated exclusion zones, with specially laid out work areas and jigs to hold the work pieces in place. This will reduce the need for the user’s hands and legs to be near the job while the nailing operation takes place, and helps ensure that other persons are less likely to be nearby.

Employers allowing workers to operate bump-fire type nail guns need to ensure that the operational conditions are supported with evidence to demonstrate that appropriate risk assessments, control/safety measures and training have all been implemented to minimise the dangers involved.

Safety measures that should be implemented include:

• establishing an appropriate exclusion zone around the nailing operation
• placing signage to alert people that a nailing tool is in use
• re-assigning workers not directly involved in the nailing work away from the area where the nailing operation is taking place (where possible)
• ensuring users and other workers (located in or near that exclusion zone) wear appropriate eye and hearing protection and any additional PPE as specified within the user’s manual, and comply with all worksite rules.

Legislative requirements

The Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (the Act) 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 and safety of everyone at a workplace.

In particular, Sections 32, 32a and b of the Act list obligations of designers, manufacturers and suppliers of plant.

More information

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

CONFINED SPACE - Explosive conditions: grinding, cutting and welding (including pre-heating) from the inside or outside of confined spaces

Purpose
Background
Contributing factors
Action required
Further information

Purpose

The purpose of this safety alert is to provide practical guidance to minimise health and safety risks associated with the danger of grinding, cutting and welding in, on and around confined spaces and compartments such as tanks, containers, vessels and other enclosed structures, which have contained flammable or combustible liquids.

Background

A co-owner of an aluminium fabrication and repair workshop was fatally injured by an explosion while using welding equipment on a boat. Other incidents have occurred in which workers have conducted hot work on fuel tanks and containers causing explosions that have led to fatalities and serious injuries.

Contributing factors

Vapours
Flammable liquid vapours (e.g. petrol, ethanol and solvents) can cause an explosion when confined, for instance in a container, vessel or void, and ignited. Combustible liquids (e.g. diesel fuel and oils) can behave like flammable liquids when they are heated, by generating vapours that, when confined, can also cause an explosion when ignited.

Ignition sources
Activities such as grinding, hot cutting and welding, or even hot surfaces caused by these activities, are potential ignition sources for a flammable atmosphere. These activities can provide enough energy to ignite a mixture of flammable vapour.

The blast wave and fireball produced by such an explosion can cause significant property destruction and personal injury or death.

Action required

The following control measures will need to be taken to reduce the likelihood of injury from grinding, cutting, and welding (including pre-heating) while working on the inside or outside of a confined or enclosed space, compartment or vessel where flammable vapours may exist:

• Analyse the hazards: identify the scope of work, potential hazards (e.g. flammable atmospheres or generation of toxic fumes) and risk control measures.
• Monitor the atmosphere: perform atmospheric testing for flammable or combustible gases, oxygen deficiency and for toxic gases before and during the activity, even in areas where a flammable atmosphere is not anticipated.
• Test the area: check for hidden voids or compartments that may share the same airspace. This may be a hidden source of flammable vapours. If tests demonstrate that flammable or combustible gases are present, these must be eliminated by cleaning, ventilating and/or inerting the space before hot work activities can begin.
• Check there is no unidentified source of flammable liquids or residues that, when heated, can create an explosive atmosphere.
• Use written permits: ensure that safe work practices are followed, including all hot work permitting procedures in areas where flammable vapours may be present. This involves identifying the work to be conducted and the necessary precautions to be taken.
• Welding processes may generate toxic materials (e.g. ozone and metal fume) that may require additional risk control measures to ventilation, such as respiratory protection, particularly when conducted inside enclosed areas.
• If there is a possibility of fire, always have a fire watcher with appropriate fire fighting equipment on hand.

Getting the job done safely should always be your first consideration.

All hazards should be thoroughly assessed before anyone carries out the work. Evaluate the job requirements thoroughly and implement appropriate safety precautions. This process will reduce the risk of an incident and fatality.

Photograph 1: Explosive conditions: grinding, cutting and welding (including pre-heating) from the inside or outside of confined spaces

Hose whip on concrete pumps

Purpose
Background
Contributing factors
Action required
Further information

Purpose

The purpose of this alert is to highlight the hazards and risks to workers caused by hose whip on concrete pumps.

'Hose whip' describes the uncontrolled and rapid motion of the flexible rubber hose on the end of a concrete placement boom or other concrete delivery line.

The following information is provided to assist employers, self-employed people, principal contractors, clients and project managers to meet their obligations under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995.

Background

A Queensland worker was fatally injured after being knocked over by a hose, which started to whip at the end of a mobile concrete placement boom. The worker fell and struck his head on a fixed steel structure. During the incident, two workers (one of whom was fatally injured) had been attempting to hold the hose horizontally.

Contributing factors

Persons can either be injured as a result of being struck directly by the whipping hose itself or being knocked over and hitting the ground or an object.

A hose whip can occur during the concrete pumping operation itself or when the line is being cleaned out. In either case, hose whip can be especially violent when air enters the line and becomes pressurised by the pumping process.

Action required

The likelihood of hose whip can be greatly reduced by the selection of suitable plant and safe systems of work. While the risk of hose whip can be reduced, additional precautions need to be taken to reduce the likelihood of injury.

To minimise the likelihood of injury from hose whip the following safety precautions are to be addressed:

• Only pump concrete that is a pumpable mix as specified by the concrete supplier. Other mixes of concrete can block the line and cause hose whip.
• Do not let the concrete solidify in the line because this will cause blockages. The concrete needs to remain in its plastic state.

Example 1: line hand gently guiding hose and signalling to pump operator.	Example 2: line hand and worker operating concrete vibrator.

• Use well trained, competent operators to pump concrete (see examples 1 and 2).
• Start the pump up slowly to reduce the likelihood of hose whip.
• Never attach metal fittings to the free end of the rubber delivery hose (see example 3).
• Persons not involved in the concrete pour should be excluded from the delivery hose area.
• Never try to stretch the delivery hose if it doesn’t reach the pouring location (see example 4).

Example 3: do not use metal fittings on end of delivery hose.	Example 4: workers stretching hose for additional reach. This is unsafe work practice.

• Workers should always wear appropriate personal protective equipment, including hard hats.
• Good housekeeping needs to be maintained around the work area to reduce the likelihood of tripping.
• The delivery hose on a boom pump should hang close to vertical and only be guided by the line hand. If the boom is not long enough to reach the concrete pour area, a larger boom should be used or the concrete pump should be moved closer to the job.
• Do not let more hose hang from the boom than that allowed by the boom manufacturer (see example 5). Normally a maximum of five metres of 125 mm diameter hose can be suspended from the hose (in some cases this can be less).

Example 5: too much hose hanging from boom.	Example 6: end of delivery hose is folded over using wire to prevent concrete falling out.

• Do not allow concrete to drop out of the hose when pumping is stopped, as this can allow air to enter the system. The hose can be folded over to prevent concrete dropping out (see example 6).
• Always ensure the line hand has an adequate sized area to stand on (the width of the working surface should be 450 mm or greater). The line hand should not stand on block walls or next to unprotected edges (see examples 7 and 8).

Example 7: pouring concrete into column form. Good access is provided.	Example 8: poor access for line hand. Access is too narrow and edge protection is not provided.

• Monitor the level of concrete in the hopper to avoid air getting sucked into the pump system. Ensure a separate person to the line hand is in position to view the hopper. This will normally be the pump operator.
• Make sure safe work procedures are adopted for clearing blockages.
• Preferably clean out the concrete line with water instead of air.
• When there are no other options but to clean the pump line out with air, secure the end of the steel line and have an exclusion zone. All reducers and the rubber hose must be removed from the end of the delivery line. A ball catcher should be fitted to the end of the steel pipe. This will contain the blow out plug (i.e. sponge) as it is ejected from the line.

Further information

Further information is available in the Concrete Pumping Code of Practice 2005 or by calling Workplace Health and Safety Infoline on 1300 369 915.