When plant work is high risk construction work
Work in areas in which there is movement of powered mobile plant is high risk construction work under the model WHS Regulations and requires a SWMS. This trigger applies where the plant is moving in a work area, rather than to every item of plant in every workplace.
Mechanical and plant work also carries hazards such as entanglement, crushing, and rollover that require documented risk controls even outside a construction context. A mechanical and plant SWMS should identify the specific equipment, the tasks it performs, the environment it operates in, and the controls for contact with people, structures, and services.
Plant hazards and controls
Common plant hazards include entanglement in moving parts, crushing between plant and fixed structures, rollover on uneven ground, and contact with overhead or underground services. Controls start with guarding on moving parts, exclusion zones around operating plant, and keeping pedestrians and other workers separate from plant in motion.
For cranes and lifting equipment, the SWMS should address lift planning, load charts, and the role of the dogman or rigger. For mobile plant, it should cover visibility, reversing alarms, and the condition of the operating surface. Each control should be matched to a specific task step.
Pre-start checks and operator competency
Plant should be inspected before each shift, with pre-start checks recorded. Defects should be reported and the plant taken out of service if a safety-critical fault is found. The SWMS should describe the pre-start process and what happens when a defect is identified.
Operators must be competent for the plant they use. For some plant, a formal high risk work licence is required, while other plant requires verification of competency. The SWMS should list the competencies needed, how they are verified, and how records are kept.
Maintenance and emergency response
Maintenance and inspection of plant should follow the manufacturer's instructions and any registration requirements. The SWMS should address how maintenance is scheduled, how defects are tracked, and how the plant is returned to service after repair.
Emergency response should cover plant failure, rollover, and contact with services, including how workers are alerted and how the area is made safe. The PCBU must review and adapt the SWMS for the specific plant and site before it is used.