Avoiding the 7 pitfalls when doing plant risk assessments

While conducting dedicated, machinery specific plant risk assessments is the only way to truly evaluate if your plant and machinery is safe to use, there are a number of traps you can fall into when conducting manual checks.

The process of ensuring safe plant is simple: identify the hazard, evaluate the risk, implement controls and evaluate. It sounds pretty straightforward but such assessments are not without potential pitfalls. These can include:

• Lack of knowledge of the equipment and what it does, especially if the equipment is rarely used, is new to site or has been modified in any way

• Lack of understanding of all hazards

• Poor knowledge of the risk assessment process

• Lack of understanding of controls needed

• Inconsistency

• Controls are identified but not implemented

• Assessment results are poorly recorded, incomplete and hard to understand or unusable in the field

These can mostly be avoided through a systemised plant risk assessment process.

The main deal breaker, however, is that the assessor must have a comprehensive knowledge of the plant. If they don’t, they shouldn’t be attempting to conduct a plant risk assessment.

Once you are certain your assessor is suitably qualified to ensure your plant safety, there are a few systems you can implement to avoid other pitfalls.

This kind of systematic approach needs to come from the top down and requires a solid and robust safety culture to be implemented effectively.

Plant Assessor’s online tool can provide a structured process and professional guidance to help you avoid the pitfalls of plant risk assessments.

Find out how by contacting us today on 1300 728 852 or via our contact us.

Disclaimer: This information is intended to provide general information on the subject matter. This is not intended as legal or expert advice for your specific situation. You should seek professional advice before acting or relying on the content of this information.