NEW guidance has been published to help tackle the issue of unintended movement of plant.
When machines move due to operators accidentally or unknowingly touching a switch, lever or pedal – or if a different action occurs to the one the operator was expecting – potentially serious or even fatal injuries can occur.
The Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group (SFPSG) is behind the new publication, developed with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), called ‘Reducing Unintended Movement of Plant – Managing Exposure to Consequential Risks’. The guidance provides advice around control measures to help avoid such incidents.
A large number of case studies of actual incidents are analysed, with comment on how they might have been prevented. The publication includes all plant types including those operated through a remote control unit, with the exception of MEWPs where a separate publication has already been produced.
CPA director Kevin Minton said, “If construction plant moves unexpectedly, then anyone close to it is at risk of being seriously injured or killed. This new publication gives guidance on a range of control measures to prevent this happening. Drivers, people working near plant, supervisors and contractors all have a part to play. We urge all those in the construction sector and those involved with the operation of plant and machinery to implement the many recommendations in order to maintain safe plant activities.”
The publication can be downloaded free of charge from the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) website.
