THE UNDERVALUED PLANT RISK ASSESSMENT

Plant Operators, Supervisors and Management do not not always understand the importance, relevance and value of a Plant Risk Assessment. Regardless of the fact that the code of practice requires it to be available in the plant for easy reference it often is not available and in my opinion it is undervalued as a document highlighting critical plant specific safety risks. I have asked many experienced plant operators over the years to tell me what information is contained in the plant risk assessment and they cannot tell me and some do not even where the document is. That is because it is not being read. It is meant to be referenced by the work crew and supervisors when they establish safe methods of work. For example, if you have workers working next to a scissor lift you would want to let them know that the scissor lift movement exposes them to a crush hazard and that is what the plant risk assessment does. It's the manufacturer or supplier's method of informing us (the users) what inherent risks are posed by the use of the plant.  In my experience, the plant risk assessment is an undervalued document often stowed away in a dusty pouch behind the plant operator's seat particularly, when it comes to mobile plant like cranes as well as elevated work platforms and earth moving machinery. There is often confusion out in the field between the plant risk assessment and the Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS or JSEA). I have often been presented with the SWMS when I have asked for the plant risk assessment and got confused looks when I explain the difference between the two documents. The plant risk assessment identifies the potential risks inherent with the item of plant due to its design, operating principles, environmental (noise, vibration, radiant heat etc) and ergonomical hazards. The SWMS on the other hand expands or elaborates on these hazards in the context of the specific activity for which the plant is being used considering its location, orientation and application to name but a few.

Generic plant risk assessments may not be effective in highlighting the hazards of that particular model or unit type and so should be plant make and model specific. 

A further benefit of utilising a plant risk assessment is that plant specific checklists can be developed based on the plant risk assessment in order to verify that any of the safeguards (controls) stipulated in the plant risk assessment are in fact in place and functioning before the item of plant is used. It is also important to note that any modifications to plant would need a review of the plant risk assessment.

I am of the opinion that these plant risk assessments need to be given a lot more attention and promotion as useful documents to be actually used to control plant related hazards and not just dusty old documents shoved in a plastic folder in the cab of the plant.