Download our free Plant and Equipment Procedure Template:

• Plant and Equipment Procedure.doc file (Word Document)
• Plant and Equipment Procedure .pdf file (PDF)

*For internal use only. Not for resale or redistribution. By downloading, you agree to our Free Resources Licensing Agreement.

Purpose of Document

A Plant and Equipment Procedure establishes guidelines for ensuring plant and equipment hazards are managed in the workplace. The key objective is to ensure workers are protected from illness or injury posed by plant and equipment hazards. This procedure is broadly aligned with the requirements of AS/NZS 45001:2018.

How to Use

This Plant and Equipment Procedure should be saved on your server and continually reviewed / updated. It should also be communicated to new workers as part of their induction or onboarding process. This document is a template only and it must be customised for your business. Other aspects that may need to be considered include, but are not limited to, ensuring that:

• Relevant legal requirements have been met,
• Workplace specific risks are identified and managed, and
• Workers are consulted with during the customisation / review process.

When to Use

As stated above, this document should be made available to your staff and managers via your server, onedrive or intranet. You should also use it during employee inductions or you may wish to refresh your workers on the contents of the procedure periodically as part of a safety meeting or similar forum.

Who Should Use

This procedure should be reviewed and updated by your Safety Advisor, Project Manager or other Manager. Supervisors or managers can use the procedure to communicate the requirements to workers (including new workers).

Legal Considerations

There is no specific legal requirement to have a documented Plant and Equipment Procedure. However, it is best practice, especially for larger companies. It can help meet general legal duties, including:

• s(19)(3)b WHS Act – Duty to Provide Safe Plant and Structures
• s(19)(3)d WHS Act – Duty to Provide Safe Use, Handling and Storage and Plant
• s(203) WHS Regulations – Managing Risks to Health and Safety (PCBUs that Control or Control Plant)

FAQ

What is plant?

Plant in the context of workplace safety refers to machinery, equipment, appliances, containers, implements, and tools, including their components or anything connected to them.

What is not plant?

Plant that relies exclusively on manual power for its operation and is designed to be primarily supported by hand, for example a screwdriver, is not covered by the WHS Regulations.

What hazards are involved in plant operation?

Many hazards exist in plant operation, for example

• Moving parts
• Moving plant
• Equipment failure
• Electrical, hydraulic or mechanical energy
• Rollover
• Flying debris

Do you need a license to operate plant or equipment?

Legally, you only require a license to operate “high-risk plant”. For other types of plant or equipment, the level of training provided should be suitable considering “the nature of the work, the nature of the risks and the control measures required” – from WHS regulations. That is, for plant that poses no or minimal risks, there may be very little training required. As the risks of the plant increases, the requirement for training also increases.

Article Sources and Further Reading

1. Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplace (Safe Work Australia) <https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/model-code-practice-managing-risks-plant-workplace>
2. Mobile Plant (Work Health and Safety QLD) <https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/safety-and-prevention/hazards/workplace-hazards/construction/mobile-plant>