INTRODUCTION: WORKING ALONE

Many tasks require or involve only one worker, but, in an industrial environment, other factors come
into play. Tasks performed in these workplaces benefit from a second person—a qualified
observer/spotter, for instance—who could notice and warn the worker before an incident takes place.
Job-hazard analysis and safety planning should consider when two workers should be present.

Electrical work must be performed only when every effort to minimize danger has been taken. The fact
that we cannot see the electricity creates additional hazards that require proper precautions when
working on or near energized circuits, conductors and components. For this reason, it is always good to
have an additional qualified person present when work is performed.

A second person or a person capable of responding to an emergency is required by standards and

emergency-response programs and procedures.

INTRODUCTION: HAZARDS AND RISK

What is a Hazard? When we refer to hazards in relation to occupational safety and health the most
commonly used definition is ‘ A Hazard is a potential source of harm or adverse health effect on a
person or persons’.

The terms Hazard and Risk are often used interchangeably but this simple example explains the
difference between the two.

If there was a spill of water in a room then that water would present a slipping hazard to persons
passing through it. If access to that area was prevented by a physical barrier then the hazard would
remain though the risk would be minimised.

What is Risk? When we refer to risk in relation to occupational safety and health the most
commonly used definition is ‘ risk is the likelihood that a person may be harmed or suffers adverse
health effects if exposed to a hazard.’

Categorising Risk

The level of risk is often categorised upon the potential harm or adverse health effect that the
hazard may cause, the number of times persons are exposed and the number of persons exposed.
For example exposure to airborne asbestos fibres will always be classified as high because a single
exposure may cause potentially fatal lung disease, whereas the risk associated with using a display
screen for a short period could be considered to be very low as the potential harm or adverse
health effects are minimal.

A step-by-step approach to managing WHS risks

Risk management is a proactive process that helps you respond to change and facilitate continuous
improvement in your business.

It should be planned, systematic and cover all reasonably foreseeable hazards and

associated risks.

The four steps for managing WHS risks are:

Step 1 - Identify hazards

Find out what could cause harm.

Step 2 - Assess risks

If necessary – understand the nature of the harm that could be caused by the hazard, how serious
the harm could be and the likelihood of it happening.

This step may not be necessary if you are dealing with a known risk, with known controls.

Step 3 - Control risks

Implement the most effective control measure that is reasonably practicable in the circumstances

and ensure that it remains effective over time.

Step 4 - Review control measures

Review the control measures to ensure they are working as planned.

What are Control Measures?

Control measures include actions that can be taken to reduce the potential of exposure to the hazard, or the
control measure could be to remove the hazard or to reduce the likelihood of the risk of the exposure to that
hazard being realised. A simple control measure would be the secure guarding of moving parts of machinery
eliminating the potential for contact. When we look at control measures we often refer to the hierarchy of
control measures.

Elimination of the hazard is not always achievable though it does totally remove
1. Eliminate the the hazard and thereby eliminates the risk of exposure. An example of this would
hazard be that work crews are removed or rotated out of the worksite if there is risk of a
tree rolling towards them from an operation upslope.
Substituting the hazard may not remove all of the hazards associated with the
2. Substitute the
process or activity and may introduce different hazards but the overall harm or
hazard with a lesser
health effects will be lessened. In this same scenario, the work crew downslope
risk
from another felling operation may operate machinery such as an excavator.
Isolating the hazard is achieved by restricting access to plant and equipment or
isolating the hazard from the person or workcrew, such as moving further along
3. Isolate the hazard
the downward slope or at another angle from the adjacent (upslope) felling
operation.
Engineering Controls involve redesigning a process to place a barrier between the
4. Use engineering
person and the hazard or remove the hazard from the person, such as machinery
controls
guarding or proximity guarding.
5. Use Administrative controls include adopting standard operating procedures or safe
 work practices or providing appropriate training, instruction or information to
administrative
reduce the potential for harm and/or adverse health effects to person(s). Isolation
controls
and permit to work procedures are examples of administrative controls.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) include gloves, glasses, earmuffs, aprons,
6. Use personal
safety footwear, dust masks which are designed to reduce exposure to the hazard.
protective
PPE is usually seen as the last line of defence and is usually used in conjunction
equipment
with one or more of the other control measures.

Introduction: Risk Assessments At Work

A risk assessment form shall be completed on-site, before commencing a training session on site and
when operating conditions change. If a training session goes over multiple days then a separate risk
assessment must be completed before the start of each day. It is the teacher’s responsibility to ensure
that the risk assessment is completed and the information within it discussed with all of the work
group and visitors.

If conditions change when the team is on site, another risk assessment may need to be completed to
cover the new hazards, e.g. the weather changes dramatically, or another contractor sets up a site
which will impact on the work process. All onsite have the responsibility to participate in the process
and confirm their acceptance by signature on the site register.

Visitors are to be inducted onto the site by the teacher. They must read, understand and sign onto the
risk assessment form to prove they are aware of the issues and agree with the controls. A risk
assessment form is accountable, i.e. forms must be returned to management. If you make a mistake or
make substantial changes, write ‘cancelled’ through both pages. Start a new form.

Failure to complete a risk assessment is considered a serious safety breach of procedure.

Identifying low-voltage overhead conductors

Utility poles generally carry both low-voltage and high-voltage conductors (power lines), as well as
communications lines, such as pay television and telephone.

High-voltage conductors are always installed at or near the top of the utility pole. Low-voltage
conductors are usually installed as single conductors mounted one above the other If there is a
transformer on the pole, lines from the high-voltage conductors feed the transformer, which reduces
the voltage for distribution through low-voltage lines to homes (240 V) and commercial and light
industrial buildings (typically 600 V). A worker can identify a line as low-voltage from the service drop
(located on the building), taking power to individual customers, from its connection to a street light, or
from the type of insulator used.

Types of Insulators Used in Transmission (Overhead) Lines

There are 5 types of insulators used in transmission lines as overhead insulation: Pin Insulator;
Suspension Insulator; Strain Insulator; Stay Insulator; Shackle Insulators
Pin Insulator Pin insulators are the earliest developed overhead insulator, but are still commonly used
in power networks up to 33 kV systems.

Post insulators are similar to Pin insulators, but post insulators are more suitable for higher voltage
applications. Post insulators have a higher number of petticoats and a greated height compared to pin
insulators.

Suspension Disck Insulators In higher voltage, beyond 33KV, it becomes uneconomical to use pin
insulator because size, weight of the insulator become more. Handling and replacing bigger size single
unit insulators are a quite difficult task. For overcoming these difficulties, suspension insulators were
developed.
RECAP: Safe Approach Distances ()

Designated approach distances are one way of keeping people separated from electrical hazards.

The table below provides the minimum safe working distance for ordinary persons (after consultation),
instructed persons and authorised persons.

Nominal Voltage (kV) *Ordinary persons

after consultation
with Ausgrid Instructed persons Authorised persons
Up to and
including
(m) (m) (m)
More than
- 1 1.0 0.5 0.5

1 11 2.0 0.7 0.7

11 22 2.0 0.7 0.7

22 33 2.0 1.0 1.0

33 66 3.0 1.0 1.0

66 132 3.0 1.5 1.5

132 220 4.5 2.5 2.5

220 330 6.0 3.0 3.0

330 - 6.0 4.0 4.0

Emergency Lowering Procedures

Safety is an integral factor if you’re planning on operating elevated working platforms as a future career
path. To ensure you remain safe, even in the event of the main power supply failing when operating a
platform, it’s crucial for you to be aware of the four main emergency lowering procedures.

The lowering procedure you choose is dependent on the type of lowering system that’s been fitted to
your elevated working platform, which ranges from an auxiliary power motor or an emergency lowering
cable to a hand pump or a bleed down valve. Before you attempt to lower a platform if a power failure
emergency arises, the first step is to check and make sure the lowering path has no obstructions. Once
you’ve cleared away any obstructions you can then safely follow one of the four emergency lowering
procedures listed below:
Procedure 1: Emergency lowering procedure using an auxiliary power motor

An auxiliary power unit (APU) is generally fitted to either the scissor or boom elevated working
platform. The electric motor receives power from the machines battery, which is connected to a
hydraulic pump. If the main power supply fails, the controls of the APU motor can be switched on at the
base of the platform to start the hydraulic pump delivering hydraulic pressure to the platform for
lowering.

Procedure 2: Emergency lowering procedure using an emergency lowering cable

If a scissor elevated working platform isn’t fitted with an APU, it will have an emergency lowering cable.
The cable can be found at the base of the platform. When pulled during an emergency, the cable
activates a manual lowering valve which lowers the platform to the base.

Procedure 3: Emergency lowering procedure using a bleed down valve

A bleed down valve can be fitted to all types of different elevated working platforms. It’s operated by
pushing the plunger which can be found on the cylinder.

Procedure 4: Emergency lowering procedure using a hand pump

This manual lowering system can be fitted to either a scissor or boom elevated working platform and is
found at the base. By pulling the hand pump you can manually lower the platform safely.

Your primary assessment:

To assess the emergency situation and the casualty, the emergency action plan DRS ABCD will
always help you to ensure your own safety and to stay calm and focused:
 Shock Verdict

Follow the link to Shock verdict for a practical amusing video demonstration of
the DRS ABCD.

Your trainer will also demonstrate the DRS ABCD in class for you and you will have plenty of
opportunity to practice yourself.

What is CPR?

The need for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) arises when a person’s breathing or heartbeat has
stopped or is abnormal. The supply of oxygen to the brain and vital organs is interrupted and this can
lead to severe damage or even death.

Whenever someone is seriously ill or injured or in need of urgent medical help, you will need to call
 Triple Zero 000 immediately to organise professional care.

RECAP: INCIDENT REPORTING

A notifiable incident is when:

 a person dies
 a person experiences a serious injury or illness
 a potentially dangerous incident occurs.

Significant penalties apply if you don’t notify regulatory bodies of a ‘notifiable incident’. You must also
notify your insurer within 48 hours.

Details you may be asked for when you place a call to an authority are:

 an overview of what happened, including date, time and location

 information about anyone who was injured, including their date of birth, contact details and
their relationship to you (worker, site visitor, volunteer, contractor, member of the public)
 information about the injury, including treatment received and hospital details, if they were
taken to hospital
 your details, including business information and contact details
 immediate action taken to make the site safe
 further safety action taken, or actions that will be taken, to prevent the incident happening
again.

RESPONDING TO INCIDENTS:

 The first priority in response to an incident is to ensure that all affected persons are attended to, and
anyone requiring first aid or medical treatment is provided with treatment as soon as possible.

Emergency Response

If a serious incident occurs that requires emergency services, call ‘000’. Dialling 112 directs you to the
same Triple Zero (000) call service and does not give your call priority over Triple Zero (000). 112 is an
international standard emergency number which can only be dialled on a mobile phone.
Hazards – Initial Response

The first priority in response to a hazard is to take any immediate precautions or actions to control the
hazard, and inform others of the hazard that may be immediately affected. The actions may include
isolating the hazard by tape or other barriers, or through removing the hazard itself. This may only be a
temporary measure and require the hazard to be reported for a more permanent control or repair.

Scene Preservation

Areas subject to (or possibly subject to) an incident or a hazard investigation must be made safe and
preserved in the event that the scene is required to be attended by Police or the Safety Regulator
(SafeWork NSW). The scene may be barricaded to restrict access if appropriate (eg. by using tape or
other barriers). Scene preservation would occur in the event of a notifiable incident as defined in Part 3
of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, and/or an incident of a serious nature where the scene will
assist in determining the cause of the incident.

Recap: First Aid – Kits and Emergency Equipment

In the event of a serious injury or illness, quick access to the kit is vital. First aid kits should be kept in a
prominent, accessible location and able to be identified and used quickly. Access should also be
ensured in security-controlled workplaces. First aid kits should be located close to areas where there is
a higher risk of injury or illness.

If the workplace occupies several floors in a multi-storey building, at least one kit should be located on
every second floor. Emergency floor plans displayed in the workplace should include the location of first
aid kits. A portable first aid kit should be provided in vehicles if that is the closest and obvious space in a
workplace. These kits should be safely located so as not to become a projectile in the event of an
accident and have appropriate decals.
HARNESS INSPECTION:

Australian Standards recommend the life of a harness to be 10 years from the date of manufacture, if no damage has
been sustained prior or in the meantime.

Inspection by a competent person is recommended every 6 months in accordance with the manufacturer’s
recommendations. The harness is to be withdrawn from use if it shows any form of degradation during this
inspection. Refer to AS/NZS 1891.4:2009 for further guidance on harness selection, use, inspection and maintenance.

Before and after each use, inspect your harness for any signs of ageing or damage.

1. Run your hands over the straps and ensure all webbing is free from abrasion, dirt, cuts, tears, burns and pen
marks, overspray, chemical and UV damage, worn or crushed fibres, discolouration and knots.

2.Check the harness’ sewn areas for damaged stitch patterns, broken or loose threads, heat damage or stretching.

3.Check each buckle, D-ring or attachment point is in perfect working condition with no distortion, cracking,
corrosion, rust, abrasion or missing components.

4.Ensure all labels and tags are present and clearly legible. If any defects are found during this checking process you
should remove the harness from service immediately and tag it “Out of Service”. If more than 10% wear is
determined, tag the unit and remove it from service.

Note: If there is a reason to believe a harness or lanyard has sustained a free fall, the equipment is to be removed
from service and service and destroyed immediately. Attach a “withdrawn from service” label to the harness to
ensure it is will not to be used.

▻
Raising the Bucket – EWP Hazards

Please view the video below detailing potential overhead crush and electrocution hazards during
operation.
▻
Confined Spaces - Hazards

Please view the video below before proceeding. https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=rUM7tnYcOjQ

▻
Ladder Safety

Please view the ladder safety video below before proceeding. https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=826OTOu48LA