Communication is critical to excavator safety
WorkSafe NZ media release, 13 June 2017 – Worksafe Smart, Health and Safety Consultant for the Nelson, Richmond and Blenheim region. Health and Safety policies, manuals, management plans, training, reviews, audits, advice and more.
The critical importance of following industry guidelines and adequately assessing hazards and risks in the workplace was highlighted in today’s judgement of a large drainage contractor after an employee was run over by an excavator.
Hydrotech Limited pleaded guilty to one charge under section 6 of the Health and Safety in Employment Act (1992) for failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of its employees.
WorkSafe New Zealand’s investigation found that the company failed to carry out an adequate hazard and risk assessment for the task and did not identify appropriate control measures and communication systems, exclusion zones and a spotter.
Since the event the company has made some significant changes:
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the responsibility for filling in the on-site hazard register is now rotated through all staff, giving everyone a turn at identifying and mitigating risks on-site
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in-house training is run on a regular basis, ensuring their workers have continued education
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and staff are expected to present projects on the hazards and the controls that they identified.