a guide to safety in the wood products ... - WorkSafe Victoria

PLANTPLANT IN WOOD PRODUCTS MANUFACTURINGWhat is plant?Plant can be defined as an apparatus, machine, appliance, equipment or tool usedto enhance the capacity of employees to perform tasks. Plant can be a simplelever, a tool or a complex machine.A person operating woodworking plant is often applying a cutting blade at highspeed to timber. Some of the processes included in wood product manufacturinginclude cutting, routing, thicknessing, shaping, tenoning, etc. Manufacturers areoften making products to order rather than high volume production. This requiresplant to be frequently set-up for different product runs. There is also a tendencyfor ‘one-off’ cuts or shapes to be required in normal operation.For these reasons alone, it is paramount that plant be operated in a safe manner.In many cases, in order to machine timber it is necessary to have an exposedblade to the timber. Employers must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable,that all plant is guarded to prevent an operator coming into contact with exposedblades or trapping spaces.Employers must ensure introducing risk controls to reduce the risk of injuries doesnot introduce other hazards or risks into a system of work. For example;• the introduction of a forklift requires the implementation of a trafficmanagement plan to segregate pedestrians from forklifts• where mechanical aids or other load shifting equipment is used, such aspowered pallet jacks, ensure employees are trained and competent in its use• when transferring cabinet carcases using lifting gear, ensure loads are carriedwithin the manufacturer’s safe working load (SWL) and implement a programto monitor damage to shackles, slings etc• changes to equipment will require a plant risk assessment be conducted toensure employees are not injured by newly introduced hazards such as trappingpoints or in-running nip points and that controls are put in place if risk is present.WORKSAFE VICTORIA / A GUIDE TO SAFETY IN THE WOOD PRODUCTS MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY 7