Transcript Slide 1

WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY QUEENSLAND
Elevating Work Platform Campaign
2013-2014
Name:
Position:
Contact:
Stuart Davis
Principal Adviser (Construction Engineering)
3247 9484
Elevating Work Platform Campaign
Commencing
August/September
2013
Re-visit 2014
Elevating Work Platforms
Some points of note with EWP’s
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Increasing trend of incidents,
Greater use in construction industry,
More complex units,
Plant being used for more diverse jobs,
Operator skill level at times lacking,
No WHSQ campaign in recent history.
EWP - Audit Issues
What will WHSQ look at?
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Ground support,
EWP condition,
EWP use,
Fall arrest harness issues,
Training and competency,
Plant interaction with other workers.
EWP – Ground Support
Ground support, inspector will look for:
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Wheels sinking in ground,
Drop offs (steps) in work zone,
Pit covers,
Working near excavations/trenches,
Some situations inspector may require
verification from Geotech Engineer
Boom lift in Sydney - 2013
Ground Support Example
Inspector notes:
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Boom lift EWP working under bridge,
Evidence of wheels sinking,
Natural ground, no engineer certification,
Prohibition notice,
Prepare ground for EWP loads – point
loading to be less than that allowed by
engineer
EWP – Condition (1)
What will WHSQ look for?
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Obvious damage & neglect,
Daily operator pre-start checks – simple
3 month periodical inspections
Annual inspection safety inspections
Major (10 year) inspection,
EWP – Condition (2)
What will WHSQ look for?
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Obvious damage or rust – Unit prohibited
Generally Improvement Notice for annual
safety inspection.
Prohibition notice obvious unsafe condition
EWP – Major inspection
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Major inspections specified in AS 2550.10
Can be enhanced inspection where gradual
& comprehensive
But most owners don’t do this
Default to 10 year interval with strip down
Preferable by manufacturer or Engineer
But not covered by Regulation like mobile
cranes – Inspector needs evidence of poor
condition to enforce
JLG 33 HD – Knuckle Boom – levelling system failure
Serious incident – Seized pin
EWP – Training & Competency (1)
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Training/skill questions (HRWL, Yellow card,
familiarisation training, etc)
Inspector to observe operation – some
cases directions may be given to PCBU,
Operators operating EWP boom length 11 m
or more – no HRWL – stop work (applies
even with “lock off system”),
EWP – Training & Competency (2)
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WHSQ will be encouraging documented
familiarisation training
Working with industry to develop preferred
set of pro-forma checklists
Generally will not receive enforcement
action unless clear example that operator is
incompetent
EWP – Use (1)
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Capacity platform not being exceeded,
Platform not being used to push vertical or
horizontal,
Where small steel work lifted – to be on
engineer designed racks,
Large surface areas (i.e. aircon ducts) - wind
loading verification,
Confined areas ( too tight, crush hazards)
SIDE LOAD
ENGINEERING or
MANUFACTURER
CERTIFICATION
REQUIRED
EWP – Use (2)
Work suitability issues •
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Not being used to lift suspended loads,
Being loaded on tilt tray safely – always
winch unit onto tilt-tray,
No standing on mid or top rails
No dropping loads onto basket
Proper precautions if using to access area
(i.e. onto roofs)
EWP – Use (3)
Work suitability issues •
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Not being used close to excavations,
Not being used as a crane (with suspended
load),
Fall Arrest Lanyard Type
• Standard industry practice to use 1.8 or 2.0 m lanyards.
• At low heights and in small platforms with top anchor
points, occupant could hit ground under certain heights
(i.e. 3 to 4 m)
• Recommend shorter lanyards in some situations (i.e. 1.2
m lanyards for certain applications).
• What about inertia reels (fall arrest blocks)? –
– Normally have to be above head height to operate.
– More prone to contamination and wear
– But if acts on horizontal could be used.
Small EWP platform with top anchored lanyard attachment
point – 1.2 m lanyard is reasonable
Larger EWP platform with bottom anchored lanyard
attachment point – 1.8 m lanyard is reasonable
Lanyard on Scissor Lift EWPs?
• Lanyards not recommended on scissor lifts. Why?
– If scissor lifts fails fall vertically down or onto its side –
fall arrest harness will not arrest fall.
– Some argue that harnesses are good to contain users
on platform, but guardrail does this.
– Lanyards & harnesses could encourage persons to
climb onto mid rail or out of unit.
No harnesses – standing on mid rail – unsafe.
What to expect
Inspectors will follow Departmental policy.
• Technical guidance to be provided to
inspectors
Enforcement types:
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Agreed action (able to rectify while onsite)
Improvement notice
Prohibition notice
Infringement notices
WHSQ documentation
• Audit tools will be made progressively
available to industry
• Campaign reports on the audits will be
produced by WHSQ