110797 VWA PlantHazard Cvr 21/11/05 10:28 AM Page 1

Plant hazard
checklist Some of the
questions you
should ask to help
identify hazards
arising from plant

WorkSafe Victoria is a division of the Victorian WorkCover Authority

VWA 556/03/11.05
 HAZARD CHECKLIST Page 1

Introduction

This checklist provides a typical range of questions that can be

asked to help with the identification of hazards associated with
plant. It may be used as a starting point, with certain questions
added or deleted to make the checklist appropriate to the plant
and associated systems of work being examined.

If “yes” is the answer to a question in the checklist, the plant,

parts of the plant and/or the situation associated with the hazard,
should be identified on the checklist.

The following are examples of hazards identified and recorded

in checklists:

• someone’s fingers may get caught between the two rollers

of the paper processing machine

• the pipe containing high pressure fluids in the stamping

machine may burst

• the boom of the mobile crane may touch the overhead powerlines

• people may trip over the electric power lead for the bench grinder

When completing the checklist, consider the hazards that may affect:

• plant operators

• anyone working, or in the vicinity of, the plant

• others who could be affected, such as visitors, contractors, etc.

 Page 2 HAZARD CHECKLIST

If “yes” is the A ENTANGLEMENT

answer to a Can anyone’s hair, clothi ng, gloves,
question in the n ecktie, jewellery, cle ani ng brushes,
checklist, the r ags or other materia l s become
plant, parts of entangled with moving parts of the
the plant p lant, or materials in m oti on?
and/or the
situation
associated with
the hazard B CRUSHING
should be
written in the Can anyone be crushed due to:
space provided. a. material falling off the plant?

b. uncontrolled or unexpected movement

of the plant or its l oad?

c. lack of capacity for the plant to

be slowed, stopped or immobilised?

d. the plant tipping or rolling over?

e. parts of the plant col l apsing?

f. coming in contact w i th moving parts

of the plant duri ng testing, inspection,
operation, maintenance, cleaning
or repair?

g. being thrown off or under the plant?

h. being trapped be tw een the plant

and materials or fi xed structures?

i. other factors not m entioned?

 HAZARD CHECKLIST Page 3

C CUTTING, STABBING If “yes” is the

answer to a
AND PUNCTURING question in the
Can anyone be cu t, stabbed or punctured checklist, the
due to: plant, parts of
a. c oming in co ntact with sharp the plant
or flyin g objects? and/or the
situation
associated with
the hazard
b. c oming in co ntact with moving should be
parts of the p lant during testing, written in the
inspection, o peration, maintenance, space provided.
cleaning or r epair of the plant?

c. the pla nt, pa rts of the plant or

work pieces d isintegrating?

d. work pieces being ejected?

e . the mobility of the plant?

f . uncontrolled or unexpected movem ent

of the plant?

g. other factors not mentioned?

D SHEARING
Can anyone’s bod y parts be sheared
be t ween two part s of the plant,
or between a part of the plant and a
wor k piec e or stru cture?

E FRICTION
Can anyone be bu rnt due to contact wi th
mov ing parts or surfaces of the plant, or
mat erial ha ndled by the plant?
 Page 4 HAZARD CHECKLIST

If “yes” is the F STRIKING

answer to a
Can anyone be struck by m oving objects
question in the
d ue to:
checklist, the
plant, parts of a. uncontrolled or unexpected movement
the plant of the plant or materi al handled by
and/or the the plant?
situation
associated with
the hazard b. the plant, parts of the plant or work
should be pieces disintegra ti ng?
written in the
space provided.
c. work pieces bein g ej ected?

d. mobility of the pl ant?

e. other factors not m entioned?

G HIGH PRESSURE FLUID

Can anyone come into contact
with fluids under high pressure,
d ue to plant failure or m i suse
o f the plant?
 HAZARD CHECKLIST Page 5

H. ELECTRICAL If “yes” is the

answer to a
Can anyone be injured by electrical
question in the
shoc k or burnt due to:
checklist, the
a. the plant contacting live electrical plant, parts of
conductors? the plant
and/or the
situation
b. the pla nt wo rking in close proxim i ty associated with
to elec trical conductors? the hazard
should be
written in the
c. overload of electrical circuits? space provided.

d. damaged or p oorly maintained

elec trical leads and cables?

e . damaged electrical switches?

f . water near electrical equipment?

g. lac k of isolat ion procedures?

h. other factors not mentioned?

I EXPLOSION
Can anyone be injured by explosion of
gases, vapours, liq uids, dusts or other
substanc es, triggered by the operation
of t he plant or by material handled by
t he plant?
 Page 6 HAZARD CHECKLIST

If “yes” is the J SLIPPING, TRIPPING AND FALLING

answer to a Can anyone using the pl ant, or in
question in the t he vicinity of the plant, sl ip, trip
checklist, the o r fall due to:
plant, parts of
a. uneven or slippe ry w ork surfaces?
the plant
and/or the
situation
associated with b. poor housekeeping, eg. swarf in the
the hazard vicinity of the pl ant, spillage not
should be cleaned up?
written in the
space provided.
c. obstacles being pl aced in the vicinity
of the plant?

d. other factors not m entioned?

Can anyone fall from a hei ght due to:

a. lack of a proper w ork platform?

b. lack of proper stai rs or ladders?

c. lack of guardrail s or other suitable

edge protection?

d. unprotected hole s, penetrations or

gaps?

e. poor floor or wal ki ng surfaces, such as

the lack of a slip-resi stant surface?

f. steep walking surfaces?

g. collapse of the s upporting structure?

h. other factors not m entioned?

 HAZARD CHECKLIST Page 7

K ERGONOMIC If “yes” is the

Can anyone be injured due to: answer to a
question in the
a. poorly design ed seating?
checklist, the
plant, parts of
the plant
b. repetitive bo dy movement? and/or the
situation
associated with
c . constra ined body posture or the n eed the hazard
for excessive effort? should be
written in the
space provided.

d. design defici ency causing mental or

psyc hologica l stress?

e . inadequate o r poorly placed lighti ng?

f . lac k of consid eration given to human

error or human behaviour?

g. mismatch of the plant with huma n

traits and natural limitations?

h. other factors not mentioned?

(F or more inf ormation on hazards

assoc iated with manual handling,
refer to the WorkSafe publication
Manua l H and ling – Code of Practi ce
No. 25, 2000 )

L SUFFOCATION
Can anyone be su ffocated due to lack of
ox y gen, or atmosp heric contamination ?

M HIGH TEMPERATURE OR FIRE

Can anyone come into contact with
objects at h igh temperatures?

Can anyone be injured by fire?

 Page 8 HAZARD CHECKLIST

If “yes” is the N TEMPERATURE [THERMAL COMFORT]

answer to a
Can anyone suffer ill -heal th due to
question in the
exposure to high or l ow temperatures?
checklist, the
plant, parts of
the plant
and/or the O OTHER HAZARDS
situation
associated with Can anyone be injured or suffer
the hazard ill-health from exposure to:
should be a. chemicals?
written in the (For more informati on on hazards
space provided. associated with chem i cals, refer to
the Code of Prac ti ce for Storage &
Handling of Dan gerous Goods and
the WorkSafe publ i cation Hazardous
Substances – Code of Practice
N o. 24, 2000)
b. toxic gases or va pours?

c. fumes?

d. dust?

e. noise?

(For more inform ati on on hazards

associated with noi se, refer to the
WorkSafe website or WorkCover
Advisory Service)

f. vibration?

g. radiation?

h. other factors not m entioned?

WORKSAFE VICTORIA CONTACTS

WorkSafe Victoria Local Offices

WorkSafe Victoria offers a complete range of health Ballarat 5338 4444
and safety services: Bendigo 5443 8866
• emergency response Dandenong 8792 9000
• advice, information and education
Geelong 5226 1200
• inspections
Melbourne 9941 0558
• licensing and certification
Mildura 5021 4001
• publications
For further assistance and information, contact any Mulgrave 9565 9444
of the WorkSafe Victoria offices listed below. Preston 9485 4555
Shepparton 5831 8260

Head Office Traralgon 5174 8900

Victorian WorkCover Authority Wangaratta 5721 8588
222 Exhibition Street Warrnambool 5564 3200
Melbourne Victoria 3000
GPO Box 4306 Publications
Melbourne Victoria 3001 Phone 9641 1444
Phone 9641 1555 Email publications@workcover.vic.gov.au
Fax 9641 1222

Website
WorkCover Advisory Service www.workcover.vic.gov.au
222 Exhibition Street
Melbourne Victoria 3000
Phone 9641 1444
Email
info@workcover.vic.gov.au
Fax 9641 1353
Toll-free 1800 136 089
110797 VWA PlantHazard Cvr 21/11/05 10:28 AM Page 1

Plant hazard
checklist Some of the
questions you
should ask to help
identify hazards
arising from plant

WorkSafe Victoria is a division of the Victorian WorkCover Authority

VWA 556/03/11.05