Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00416:reg:4:p4
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00416
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 4 (pt 4/21)
Character Range: 40164–43163

attention should be given to job layout, haul roads, vehicle pathways and overall traffic management to achieve a healthy and safe workplace.

Temporary haul roads should be well constructed and maintained to enable plant operators
to complete the work safely.

Large earthmoving machinery such as bulldozers should not operate close to an overhang
or a deep excavation as the weight may collapse the sides. Equipment should always approach embankments or trenches from across the line of a trench rather than parallel to it.

Excavation work exceeding 1.5 metres deep is typically done by excavators or specialised
plant such as tunnelling machines and raise-bores. Most of these types of plant have an element of mobility, although tunnelling machines typically have restricted movement.

Other plant used in excavation work includes backhoes, rubber tyred loaders, skid steer loaders (for example bobcat), trench diggers, graders and tip trucks.

Blind spots
Operators of powered mobile plant can often have severely restricted visibility of ground workers or nearby pedestrians, particularly those close to the plant. Figure 4 shows some of the blind spots for operators of typical excavation equipment.

Figure 4 Mobile plant operator blind spots

Powered mobile plant operating near ground personnel or other powered mobile plant should be equipped with warning devices (for example reversing alarm and a revolving light).
An effective system of communication based on two way acknowledgement between mobile plant operators and ground workers should be established before work commences. Relevant workers should also be trained in the procedures involved prior to the work commencing. The system should stop ground workers from approaching mobile plant until the operator has agreed to their request to approach. Similarly the system should stop operators from moving plant closer than
a set distance from ground workers until the operator has been advised by ground workers that they are aware of the proposed movement.
Mobile plant operators and ground workers should be made familiar with the blind spots of particular items of plant being used. Induction training programs should emphasise the dangers of workers working in close proximity to mobile plant, and adequate supervision should be provided.
Mobile plant operators and ground workers should be provided with and required to wear high-visibility clothing.

Operator protection
Powered mobile plant should be equipped with appropriate combination of operator protection devices, for example enclosed cabin and seat belts, to prevent the ejection of the operator or
the operator being struck by falling objects.
Any earthmoving machinery weighing more than 1500 kgs, not including attachments, and designed to have a seated operator must have an appropriate operator protective structure fitted. These are either in the form of roll-over protective structures (ROPS) or falling object protective structures (FOPS) or both, depending