Download Historical plant - Requirements for the safe use

Guidance Note
Historical plant Requirements for the safe use
June 2017
This information sheet provides information for
employers and proprietors on their duties under the
Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (OHS Act)
and the Equipment (Public Safety) Act 1994 (EPS
Act) in relation to using historical plant for display
purposes. It also provides advice about controlling
risks.
Definition
‘Historical plant’ is plant which is intended to be preserved
in its current operational form for historical value.
Background
Historical plant was often designed without proper
consideration for health and safety. When used for display
purposes, it can pose a health and safety risk to employees
and/or members of the public. Employers or proprietors
of historical plant have a duty under Sections 23 and 24
of the OHS Act and Section 7 of the EPS Act respectively
to control, so far as is reasonably practicable, any health
and safety risks associated with the use of the plant in
a workplace (OHS Act) or non-workplace situation
(EPS Act).
Controlling risks
Part 3.5 of the Occupational Health and Safety
Regulations 2017 (OHS Regulations) applies to prescribed
plant regardless of the date of manufacture (except where
specified). This includes employer duties related to specific
risk control measures, inspections,
and specific types of plant.
Even if plant is not in use, under Part 3.5 of the OHS
Regulations an employer (or self-employed person) must
ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the plant
is left in a state that does not create a risk for any person.
This duty also applies to people in charge of prescribed
equipment (which may include historical plant) in a
non-workplace environment under the Equipment
(Public Safety) Regulations 2017 (EPS Regulations).
GUI0052/02/06.17
The health and safety risks associated with the use of
historical plant for display purposes may be controlled
in a practicable way with a minimum reduction to its
historical value or degradation of the plant’s appearance.
The standard approach would be to provide the best
protection for all personnel, particularly members of
the general public, who may have no understanding
of potential risks.
To achieve this, the following options, listed in order of
priority, are suggested:
•• plant is not operated in any way during the display
•• use historically styled physical barrier (eg steel
mesh of appropriate grid dimension/strength and/or
perspex/polycarbonate/safety glass) to guard danger
area of the plant to prevent access and/or arrest
flying objects
•• locate power transmission shafts and belts of the
plant in an open roof space away from people
•• cordon off the area where historical plant is in use
and implement proper crowd control to prevent
access of the area
•• provide hearing protection to people for noisy
operations.
In certain circumstances a combination of these
suggested risk control measures may be required.
All employees or operators of historical plant should be
trained, instructed and provided with relevant information
in regards to the risks associated with the plant.
Guidance Note Historical plant - Requirements for the safe use
Further information
Contact the WorkSafe Victoria Advisory Service
on 1800 136 089 or go to worksafe.vic.gov.au
This guidance has been reviewed and updated for the sole purpose of
amending year and regulation references relating to the Occupational
Health and Safety Regulations, in line with amendments which came
into effect on 18 June 2017.
Note: This guidance material has been prepared using the best information
available to WorkSafe Victoria. Any information about legislative obligations
or responsibilities included in this material is only applicable to the
circumstances described in the material. You should always check the
legislation referred to in this material and make your own judgement about
what action you may need to take to ensure you have complied with the
law. Accordingly, the Victorian WorkCover Authority extends no warranties
as to the suitability of the information for your specific circumstances.
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