Safe Use of Mobile Equipment

Safe Use of Mobile Equipment

Hazards Associated With Plant And Pedestrian Safety

According to the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), the greatest risk to pedestrians is from vehicles and mobile plant. It is highlighted that there are substantial blind spots on dozers, wheeled loading shovels and excavators, with workers at risk of being run over if they are in the operator’s blind spot.

The HSA highlights that the employer or a person in control of a workplace must carry out a documented risk assessment of workplace transport hazards to include an evaluation and assessment of vehicles and mobile work equipment in use in the workplace. Additionally, pedestrian activity within the operational areas shall wherever possible be restricted, particularly in hours of darkness, and for certain operations ‘no entry’ zones should be identified and clearly marked.

Where people must work in areas with moving vehicles or have to work close to moving vehicles, the risk may be further reduced by using high visibility clothing to signal their presence. High visibility clothing is a vital and necessary requirement in any workplace where a significant proportion of the work occurs near, in, on and around moving vehicles. It is also of critical importance for people working at night or in low-light conditions. Please note the new publication from HSA on High visibility clothing for use around moving vehicles

Kevin Cummins of John Sisk & Son kindly facilitated a brief video to advise of measures to ensure plant and pedestrian safety; this may be accessed HERE!

Construction Site Traffic Management Plan

According to the HSA, an employer or a person in control of a workplace must carry out a documented risk assessment of workplace transport hazards to include an evaluation and assessment of vehicles and mobile work equipment in use in the workplace. The HSA, through BeSMART.ie facilitated the generation of a Construction Site Traffic Management Plan (CSTMP) for work on construction sites (not live roads). It is made up of two elements:

1. Part A – Guidance document which gives an introduction and summary of the 6 sections – Information, Training, Temporary Works, Hazards, Controls and Resources.
2. Part B – Contains the 6 sections in an online fillable form which can be saved and printed.

Use of Cranes

Attention is drawn to the national standards for cranes, as available via the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI):

• I.S. 360 – Code of Practice: Safe Use of Cranes in the Construction Industry
• I.S. 361 – Code of Practice: Safe Use of Tower Cranes & Self-erecting Cranes

When planning a lift, there is a need to consider:

• Competencies required – Appointed Person and others.
• Site conditions (access and egress, site gradient, load bearing characteristics of the ground, excavations, underground structures, services, overhead electricity or telephone cables, and any other potential hazard specific to the work area)
• Weather conditions
• Margin of safety for lift (may equate to 20-25% crane lift capacity)
• Size and type of crane, its duties, outrigger settings and loadings, radius for intended work and boom length
• Select appropriate load handling equipment including chains, slings, lifting beams, spreaders, lifting eyes etc.
• Load weight and dimensions, lift points, radius required, height of lift, sharp edges, location before and after lifting operations
• Weight of the equipment to be used and impact on the overall weight to be lifted
• Determine the method of attaching the load to the crane (i.e. the slinging technique)
• A full risk assessment to identify any hazards, the associated risks, and appropriate controls
• An appointed person’s checklist.

CIF Member-only Content

CIF – Recorded Webinar – RSA’ Toolbox Talk on Road Safety

CIF – Recorded Webinar – Use and Regulation of Drones in Construction

CIF – Recorded Webinar – Temporary Traffic Management (with Charlie Kerr)

CIF – Recorded Webinar – Safe Lifting / Safe Plant (with Scott Hunter, NCTS Ltd.)

Useful Links

An Garda Síochána – Roads Policing Unit

An Garda Síochána – Bikesafe Initiative for Motorcyclists 

Driving for Work – Driving for Work – My Responsibilities Information Sheet

Driving for Work – Driving for Work – Driver Declaration (Grey Fleet)

HSA – Driving for Work – Health and Safety Authority

HSA – Vehicles at Work

HSA – Plant and Machinery

HSA – Pedestrian Safety in the Workplace

HSA – Vehicle Safety Pre-Checks

HSA – Working on Roads (3 or less employees)

HAS – Pedestrian Safety

HSA – Safe Use of Site Dumpers

HSE (UK) – Mobile Plant and Vehicles

RSA – Employer Guidelines