Guarding Guidelines
Guarding Plant and Equipment in the Construction Materials Industry
DR ELIZABETH GIBSON, General Manager of CMPA outlines the process surrounding the development of a new CMPA publication.
Photo: Tail Drum Guard – Fixed Distance Guard
A Guarding Plant and Equipment Workshop was held in February 2014 with a view to developing a Guideline. A working group was formed which consisted of Nathan Gee – Alex Fraser, Kevin Jones – City Circle, Charles Kerr and John Wrist – Conundrum Holdings, Adrian Bull and Stephen McNair – E. B. Mawson& Sons, Michael Maraspin – Fulton Hogan, Sean Kinder – Kinder and Co. and Stuart Dunoon – Newcombe Sand & Soil.
The CMPA Guarding Guideline that has been developed, together with the CMPA Work Safely Reference Manual, aims to support Members in meeting the requirements of the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004. In doing so, the document demonstrates a process that can be used to establish and successfully implement plant and equipment guarding specific to site requirements.
The scope of the Guarding Guideline is to focus on the guarding requirements of fixed plant and equipment in the construction materials industry. The Guarding Guideline does not attempt to cover mobile equipment, site security, nor restricted or other means of access to plant and equipment or operational areas.
The definition of guarding is given as devices such as barriers and other means of physically barring or restricting access to equipment, or parts of equipment, or material or objects that exit equipment which may present risk to personnel.
Guarding is an engineering control as defined by the Hierarchy of Controls. Guarding is a shield or device covering hazardous Experience has shown, that approximately 1 in 3 cases areas of a machine to prevent contact with body parts, dust or noise from exiting the machine.
to understand the concepts of machine guarding there are three fundamental areas of a piece of machinery that should be guarded. These areas are the point of operation, the power transmission device and the operation controls.
- Plant and Equipment Identification Checklist for Guarding;
- Plant and Equipment Component Checklist for guarding; and
- Guarding Integrity Review Checklist
There is also a Guarding Example Photo Gallery: a series of useful photographs covering a range of guarding of equipment including agitators.
The publication has been sent to all of CMPA Members. Additional copies are available from the Secretariat ($10 Members and $20 non-members). CMPA would like to thank those that contributed to the Guideline and would appreciate feedback on this document that will be considered when next issued.
Photo: Conveyor Under side – Fence Guard
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