Worker injured undertaking aerobridge maintenance

Possible control measures to prevent similar incidents

A Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) must ensure the health and safety of workers while they are engaged for work and other persons who may be affected by the business or undertaking. To do this, risks must be eliminated or minimised so far as is reasonably practicable.

The PCBU and Persons with Management or Control (PWMC) of plant have duties to ensure the provision and maintenance of safe plant.

In some situations, it may be advisable to install a structural stop that will restrict movement of the tool when stored energy is suddenly released. This structural stop should be preferably designed by the plant manufacturer or a suitably qualified competent person, for example, a professional engineer.

In certain circumstances you may need to also assess the risks and consider whether the tool selected is the right tool for the task or whether another tool is more suitable.

Developing a safe system of work

A safe system of work should be implemented to manage the risks associated with the plant to control the risks when working on, near or under aerobridges and similar plant. This could include, but is not limited to the following:

• Ensuring the plant is operated, inspected, maintained and repaired according to the manufacturer’s recommendations and specifications. The plant manufacturer should provide detailed instructions on use and maintenance of the plant. If you identify deficiencies in the specifications, you should contact the manufacturer.
• Ensuring tools provided for the work activity are also supplied with the required safety attachments and tooling
• The PCBU providing the plant ensures workers are provided with adequate information, training and instruction for using the plant in accordance with the designer and manufacturer specifications - not just for the tool, but for any safety attachments as well. Instructions should be included in a safe work procedure on how inspection and maintenance should be carried out.
• Prior to carrying out maintenance or repair work on plant, all energy sources should be identified and isolated to prevent unexpected movement or accidental start up.
• Ensuring worker training, experience and competency align with the requirements and complexity of the operation of plant and any other associated tasks. Workers must be trained and have the appropriate skills to carry out a particular task safely.
  • PCBUs should assess and verify the operator’s knowledge and competence to operate the plant before they commence work.
  • Operators should be able to demonstrate they are competent to operate the specific type of plant being used along with any attachments or tools associated with the plant.
• Review any safe work procedures to include for the identification of stored energy situations.
• Consult with all relevant parties before work starts. Sometimes a PCBU may share responsibility for a health and safety matter with other PCBU’s who are involved in the same activities or who share the same workplace. In these situations, the PCBUs must exchange information to find out who is doing what and work together in a cooperative and coordinated way so that all risks are eliminated or minimised as far as reasonably practicable.

The Hazardous manual tasks Code of Practice 2021 (PDF, 1.38 MB) provides information on identifying and controlling risks associated with hazardous manual tasks.

Any remaining risk must be minimised with suitable personal protective equipment (PPE). For example, use of hard hats, steel cap boots, eye protection, hearing protection and high-visibility vests.

Administrative control measures and PPE rely on human behaviour and supervision. If used on their own, they are least effective in minimising risks. The control measures you put in place should be reviewed regularly to make sure they work as planned.