Eliminate risks associated with using plants, reminds QLD safety regulator - 4.3.20

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland released an incident alert after a worker suffered a serious injury when his arm was caught in a hopper. Initial investigation reveals the open hopper contained metal shafts and stainless-steel rods that rotated to mix dough ingredients.

To prevent a similar incident, Queensland’s safety regulator said health and safety risks associated with using plant should be so far as is reasonably practicable eliminated. However, if it’s not reasonably practicable to eliminate the risk, then it should be minimised using the hierarchy of controls. This can be done through isolation and engineering controls. If any risk remains, it should be minimised by implementing administrative controls including providing workers with information, instruction, training, and supervision, using warning signs and labels and providing a system to report faults to ensure maintenance of plant.

The regulator says that from July 2014 to January 2020, they have received 43 notifications relating to incidents involving ‘cutting, slicing, and mincing food preparation machinery’. Of these, 23 involved an injury or illness requiring a person to have immediate treatment as an in-patient in a hospital. WHSQ also received 202 notifications of events that involved plant guarding or lack of it. Of these, 61 involved injury or illness requiring a person to have immediate treatment as an in-patient in hospital

Source: OHS Daily News