SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PROCEDURE

08PR131C RECOVERY OF BOGGED MACHINERY

Brierty Ltd ABN 65 095 459 448

72 Melville Parade South Perth WA 6151
Locked Bag 2001 South Perth WA 6951
Telephone (08) 9267 8000
Facsimile 1300 735 152
info@brierty.com.au
RECOVERY OF BOGGED MACHINERY
SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PROCEDURE

CONTENTS
1 Purpose ...................................................................................................................................................... 3
2 Responsibilities ........................................................................................................................................... 3
3 Definitions ................................................................................................................................................... 3
4 Procedure Details ....................................................................................................................................... 3
4.1 Recovering Light Vehicles ................................................................................................................. 4
4.2 Recovering Light Plant ....................................................................................................................... 5
4.3 Recovery of Heavy Equipment .......................................................................................................... 5
4.3.1 Recovery of Dump Trucks and Water Carts .................................................................................. 5
4.3.2 Recovery of Other Heavy Equipment. ........................................................................................... 6
4.4 Sling Care .......................................................................................................................................... 7
4.5 Sling Specifications ............................................................................................................................ 7
4.6 PPE .................................................................................................................................................... 7

DOCUMENT CONTROL
Document ID Document Name Comment
08PR131C Non-Routine Recovery of Bogged Machinery

Date Version Description Originator Reviewer Approver

28/08/13 1 Safe Work Procedure J Angus S Henderson B Murphy

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1 PURPOSE
To provide a safe system of work where both employees and equipment are protected from injury and
damage whilst retrieving mobile plant and/or machinery from a bogged location.

2 RESPONSIBILITIES
It is the responsibility of the relevant site superintendents and site supervisors to ensure that this safe system
of work as well as any site requirements for Hazard recognition systems before under taking the task is
complied with.

3 DEFINITIONS
Shall The word “shall” is to be understood as mandatory

Should The word “should” as recommended

Vehicle For the purposes of towing applications only the following vehicle classifications
Classification shall apply.

Light Vehicle 4WD utilities, wagons, personnel carriers, lighting plants, welding trailers, pump
trailers and car trailers.

Light Plant Highway type truck not exceeding 20 tonne, forklift trucks, integrated tool carriers,
elevated work platforms and non-slewing cranes.

Heavy Equipment Dump trucks, articulated trucks, water carts, excavators, face shovels, dozers, drill
rigs, loaders, and wheeled dozers, graders, scrapers , heavy haulage road trains,
heavy haulage low loader floats, and semi-trailers.

Recovery Vehicle The vehicle used to tow another vehicle from a bogged position shall be designated
as the recovery vehicle.

Recovery The process of freeing a vehicle from a bogged position.

Towing Strop The super heavy duty towing strop has a loop secured by a casting at each end.

Towing Slings Designated certified fibre rope and flat slings

4 PROCEDURE DETAILS
When a light vehicle, light plant or heavy equipment becomes bogged the operator / driver shall call for
assistance rather than attempting to free the vehicle on their own.

Call the Shift Supervisor for assistance, do not try to recover the vehicle/equipment yourself. The Shift
Supervisor shall call the Workshop Supervisor for assistance with the recovery.

Be mindful of the resistance generated by the material that the vehicle/equipment is stuck in. In soft sand or
mud allow as much as 3 times the vehicle/equipment weight when selecting the appropriate sling or snatch
strap. E.g. a 30t vehicle could require a 90t sling.

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All towing and recovery shall be under the supervision of the Shift Supervisor and Workshop Supervisor.

Only fibre rope, flat slings or an approved towing strop, shall be used for towing bogged vehicles and
machinery unless otherwise authorised by the Project Manager a risk assessment and JHA must be
conducted.

Under no circumstances are slings used for towing, to be used for lifting or vice versa. All towing slings and
equipment shall be clearly and prominently marked as For Towing Only.

Wherever possible, towing slings and devices shall be connected horizontally between the bogged vehicle
and the recovery vehicle.

As per Brierty procedure; there shall be no metal on metal contact made, in an attempt to push a disabled,
or bogged vehicle or equipment, except when the bogged machine has a purpose designed push pad, for
example on a push load scraper

In extraordinary circumstances; where the no metal on metal procedure cannot be adhered to, express
permission from the Site Project manager, Site Superintendent and Workshop Superintendent must be
gained. A risk assessment and JHA must also be completed and signed off, by the Managers prior to
commencing the task.

Site workshop personnel shall inspect and assist in the recovery of the vehicle/equipment

All towing activities must be co-ordinated by radio contact or hand signals visible to the drivers / operators of
all vehicles / machinery involved.

In most circumstances the front wheels of the bogged vehicle should be in line with the direction of tow.

The bogged vehicle operator/driver should select the lowest gear, either forward or reverse and assist the
recovery vehicle by applying moderate acceleration.

After recovering any bogged vehicle the area should be marked as hazardous, until that area is rectified by
grading, dozing out and or boxing out and refilling.

4.1 RECOVERING LIGHT VEHICLES

Recovery of light vehicles shall be achieved using a fibre rope or fibre belt sling or approved towing strop
only.

Slings shall be attached to designated towing points attached directly to the chassis only, (i.e. tow balls shall
not be used as a tow point on bogged or recovery vehicles).

An assessment of the conditions and best recovery method shall be conducted prior to attempting to recover
the bogged vehicle. Possible damage to the hoses, tanks, drive train and steering mechanisms shall form
part of the assessment.

Where practicable, light vehicles should be towed out in a forward direction. Give assistance by selecting the
appropriate low range/gear and applying moderate acceleration.

The recovery vehicle should be another light vehicle or item of light plant E.g. on highway truck not
exceeding twenty tonnes.

Prior to taking the strain on a tow rope or sling all pedestrian personnel shall be cleared, to a distance 1 x 1/2
times the length of the tow rope or sling, from the towing operation. No personnel shall enter a radius closer
than this during towing operations.

An inspection shall be conducted by workshop personnel prior to returning the vehicle to service.

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4.2 RECOVERING LIGHT PLANT

Recovery of light plant may be achieved using a fibre rope / flat sling or an approved towing strop.

Slings shall be attached to manufacturer designated towing points or towing points which have been
approved by the manufacturer and attached directly to the chassis.

An assessment by the supervisor of the conditions and best recovery method shall be conducted prior to
attempting to recover the bogged vehicle.

Where practicable, light plant should be towed out in a forward moving direction.

The recovery vehicle should be another item of light plant or if heavy plant is utilised it should be in the order
of preference of:

 Dozer
 Loader
 Grader
 Excavator
 Other

Prior to taking the strain on a tow rope or sling all personnel shall be cleared, to a distance 1x 1/2 times the
length of the tow rope or sling, from the towing operation. No personnel shall enter a radius closer than this
during towing operations.

Where wire rope slings or wire flat slings are used for towing then gloves shall be worn whilst handling the
slings. Wire rope or flat wire slings, other than an approved towing strop, shall be used.

An inspection shall be conducted buy workshop personal prior to returning the vehicle to service.

4.3 RECOVERY OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT

4.3.1 Recovery of Dump Trucks and Water Carts
Fibre rope and flat fibre slings shall not be used to recover heavy equipment

Only an approved towing strop shall be used for the recovery of bogged trucks unless otherwise authorised
by the registered Site Manager or Project Manager

The extent to which a truck is bogged shall be assessed by the Site Superintendent, Workshop Supervisor
and Superintendent, and the Production Supervisor. Possible damage to the hoses, tanks, drive train,
steering and suspension mechanisms, as well as truck stability shall form part of the assessment..

The towing Strops shall be attached to the manufacturers designated towing points and attached in a
manner specified by the manufacturer.

Protective gloves shall be worn whilst handling towing strops and shall be positioned and attached by two
people.

Prior to taking the strain on a towing strop all personnel shall be cleared, to a distance 1 x 1/2 times the
length of the towing strop. No personnel shall enter a radius closer than this during towing operations of the
recovery vehicle.

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Where a truck is thought to be, or may become, unstable then another machine may need to be attached
strategically to the truck in order to provide stability. This shall ONLY be done under the direct supervision of
the Production and Workshop Supervisors; as well as the involvement of the Site and Workshop
Superintendents. Depending on the severity of the risk, a JHA shall be completed prior to commencing the
task.

If the truck cannot be recovered; the Site and Workshop Supervisor shall assess the stability of the truck,
stabilising if necessary and authorise the hoist to be lifted. With the tray partly raised the truck may be
recovered.

If the truck still cannot be recovered, the Site and Workshop Supervisor and authorise to tip the entire load.
Disconnect the dozer from the towing strop, and have the dozer clear the load from the tray duck tail. At no
time shall the dozer be closer than 1/2 metre to the tray duck tail. It may be necessary to mark the position of
the tray and have a spotter in place. When the load has been cleared lower the tray.

Reconnect the dozer using the above procedure and recover the truck.

If the truck still cannot be recovered a second dozer may be utilised.

The dozers shall work side by side, pulling, with separate towing strops, at approximately 10o from the centre
line of the truck.

Trucks shall not be pushed from the duck tail, or be lifted using an excavator.

Recovery of Other Heavy Equipment.

The preferred recovery vehicle for bogged heavy equipment in order is

 Dozer
 Loader
 Grader
 Excavator

At all times the recovery process using dozers and manually attached strops shall be co-ordinated by the
Site, and Workshop Supervisors.

The extent to which heavy equipment is bogged shall be assessed by the Site, and Workshop Supervisors.
Possible damage to the hoses, tanks, drive train and steering and suspension mechanisms, as well as
vehicle stability shall form part of the assessment.

The towing strop shall be attached to the towing points which have been approved by the manufacturer and
attached in a manner specified by the manufacturer.

Protective gloves shall be worn whilst handling the towing strop and shall be positioned and attached to the
machines by two people.

Prior to taking the strain on a towing strop all personnel shall be cleared, to a distance 1 x 1/2 times the
length of the towing strop. No personnel shall enter a radius closer than this during towing operations until
given permission to do so by the supervisor in charge of the recovery.

If the vehicle still cannot be recovered a second dozer may be utilised.

The dozers shall work side by side, pulling, with separate towing strops, at approximately 10o from the centre
line of the bogged vehicle.

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4.4 TOWING STROPS

All towing strops shall be prominently marked as “for towing use only”, numbered and entered onto a
register.

All towing strops on the register shall be cleaned and inspected, by the Workshop Supervisor and personnel
for integrity.

4.5 SLING SPECIFICATIONS

Fibre rope slings or fibre flat slings used for recovering light vehicles and light plant shall have a breaking
strain of at least twice the aggregate mass of the vehicle being recovered.

Wire rope slings or approved towing strops used for recovering heavy equipment shall have a breaking strain
of 1 x 1/2 times the mass of the vehicle being recovered.

4.6 PPE
 Hard hat
 Safety glasses
 Steel capped boots
 Site minimum clothing
 Riggers gloves

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