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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. 2