Mobile and operational plant in construction
Between 2013 - 2015, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) inspectors visited construction worksites across Queensland to perform assessments on high risk work involving mobile and operational plant.
Almost 700 audits were conducted on earthmoving equipment, personnel and materials hoists, elevating work platforms (EWPs) and cranes.
The campaign report (PDF, 0.74 MB) details the outcomes of the campaign and identifies a number of areas for improvement across the construction industry including:
- site management and exclusion zones
- familiarisation training
- involving workers in the development of safe work method statements (SWMS) or work plans
- making documentation easier to understand
- ensuring SWMS are specific to the situation and work being performed
- using more higher-order and design controls (e.g. elimination, engineering and isolation)
- positioning and setting up plant on site.
Worksites managing their risks effectively had good planning, consultation and coordination between people performing the work (e.g. plant owners/suppliers, principal contractors, Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking and workers).
The audit tools used by inspectors during the campaign have been modified and are available as checklists when planning or coordinating mobile plant operations on construction sites:
- Earthmoving equipment checklist (DOCX, 0.03 MB)
- Hoists checklist (DOCX, 0.04 MB)
- EWP checklist (DOCX, 0.11 MB)
- Mobile crane checklist (DOCX, 0.04 MB)
- Tower crane checklist (DOCX, 0.04 MB)
- Scaffolding checklist (DOCX, 0.11 MB)
- Excavation and trenching checklist (DOCX, 0.3 MB)
WHSQ inspectors will continue to undertake proactive inspections on mobile plant at construction worksites. The construction industry page has a range of resources, including films, codes of practice and other guidance information to assist principal contractors, managers, supervisors and workers to use mobile and operational plant safely.