An incident at a quarry that resulted in an employee being impaled has prompted WorkSafe to issue a safety alert to remember to isolate, de-energise, lockout and tagout plant before performing maintenance tasks. Serious injuries can result when plant accidentally activates, or when stored energy is released.
Whilst the employee was removing screens from the output conveyor of a mobile screening plant, another quarry employee started the plant, causing the man to be ejected from the plant and impaled by a 60cm long tool. The employee suffered significant injuries and was taken to hospital in an air ambulance.
To manage the risk of employees being injured by energised or live plant, employers should:
- install limit switches, interlocks and or other higher order controls that prevent plant from starting when people are on or in the plant doing maintenance activities
- provide an isolation procedure that has a provision for the physical lock out, tag out and de-energisation of plant during maintenance activities
- ensure that all employees who interact with the plant are aware of maintenance activities being undertaken
- ensure a thorough and accurate risk assessment is developed in consultation with impacted employees, for activities which requires de-energisation, and maintenance on plant.
More information about managing the risks associated with plant can be found on our OHS Reps page Plant, including links to the relevant WorkSafe pages.
Read more: Isolate, de-energise, lockout and tagout plant before maintenance | WorkSafe Victoria
