Would using Plant Assessor have prevented a fatality?

• OEM operation & maintenance manual

• Safe Operation Procedures

• Service & maintenance records

• Risk assessment

• Daily pre start checklist

• Safety prop & instruction label

• Controls labelled as to purpose & method of operation

• Control direction consistent with machine movement

It is fair to say that if Plant Assessor was used to inspect the machine in question it would have identified:

• The need for a loader safety prop and a label highlighting the need to use it

• The need for service and maintenance procedures, which would also have required the use of the safety prop

If the safety prop was used, irrespective of any other control being missing (in this case the interlock for prevention of actuation of the loader arm), the fatality simply could not have occurred as it did.

In considering this specific incident, it also gave me reason to re-open a long-term issue regarding the lack of an Australian Standard related to the controls on earthmoving machinery.  Currently Plant Assessor does not contain specific inspection requirements around interlocks on operator controls due to the lack of an Australian Standard based authority.

There is an International Standard, ISO 10968:2004 Earthmoving Machinery – Operators Controls. This standard is under review at the moment.  We are currently in the process of creating operator control related inspection questions based upon this standard to enhance the inspection process for earthmoving equipment in this area.

As always, if you would like further information about this issue, please contact us on 1300 728 852.