Emergency stops on machines [Australia]

[DAB]

It's a little off topic but its been quiet in here lately so............


We are reviewing our OH&S and I was wondering what the requirements are
in regard to emergency stop buttons on machinery in workplaces?


The workplace is a small manufacturing company with an associated
workshop with a small drill press, bandsaw, grinder, linishing belt etc.

The workshop is only used by experienced / trained staff.


Thoughts?

 

[Xeno]

On 29/10/2015 4:56 PM, DAB wrote:

It's a little off topic but its been quiet in here lately so............


We are reviewing our OH&S and I was wondering what the requirements are
in regard to emergency stop buttons on machinery in workplaces?


The workplace is a small manufacturing company with an associated
workshop with a small drill press, bandsaw, grinder, linishing belt etc.

The workshop is only used by experienced / trained staff.


Thoughts?

Regardless of what the 'legal obligations' are, you should certainly
equip every machine with an emergency stop button. You owe that much to
your workers....

Here's some info; http://tinyurl.com/nlesscb

A risk assessment process is where you start, then go on from there.

--

Xeno

 

[DAB]

On 29-Oct-15 2:40 PM, Xeno wrote:

On 29/10/2015 4:56 PM, DAB wrote:
It's a little off topic but its been quiet in here lately so............


We are reviewing our OH&S and I was wondering what the requirements are
in regard to emergency stop buttons on machinery in workplaces?


The workplace is a small manufacturing company with an associated
workshop with a small drill press, bandsaw, grinder, linishing belt etc.

The workshop is only used by experienced / trained staff.


Thoughts?

Regardless of what the 'legal obligations' are, you should certainly
equip every machine with an emergency stop button. You owe that much to
your workers....

Here's some info; http://tinyurl.com/nlesscb

A risk assessment process is where you start, then go on from there.

I agree with your sentiments but cost & real world issues always get in
the way! BTW, I'm one of the workers too.


I've found various gov documents but they are very wordy and vague. That
link you provided by contract is quite succinct, thanks for link.
It would seem that most of the small machinery on the market wouldn't
pass the requirements. I guess a lot of stuff is aimed at domestic use.

 

[Xeno]

On 30/10/2015 12:38 AM, DAB wrote:

On 29-Oct-15 2:40 PM, Xeno wrote:
On 29/10/2015 4:56 PM, DAB wrote:
It's a little off topic but its been quiet in here lately so............


We are reviewing our OH&S and I was wondering what the requirements are
in regard to emergency stop buttons on machinery in workplaces?


The workplace is a small manufacturing company with an associated
workshop with a small drill press, bandsaw, grinder, linishing belt etc.

The workshop is only used by experienced / trained staff.


Thoughts?

Regardless of what the 'legal obligations' are, you should certainly
equip every machine with an emergency stop button. You owe that much to
your workers....

Here's some info; http://tinyurl.com/nlesscb

A risk assessment process is where you start, then go on from there.



I agree with your sentiments but cost & real world issues always get in
the way! BTW, I'm one of the workers too.

The way of looking at that is simple. When you look at a risk factor,
think of the worst possible scenario, a death say, then think of the
consequences that will ensue from that - jail time, criminal negligence
proceedings, higher insurance premiums, potential closure of the
workplace, so on and so on. Large companies can afford the risks, small
companies go to the wall. A friend lost all the fingers on his right
hand through lack of a guard on a guillotine. Another nearly lost his
face when a dickhead foreman removed a danger tag from an overhead
crane. It's not just equipment, it's safety procedures as well.

I've found various gov documents but they are very wordy and vague. That
link you provided by contract is quite succinct, thanks for link.

You're welcome. I'll agree it's often hard to sift the wheat from the
chaff when searching on the net these days.

It would seem that most of the small machinery on the market wouldn't
pass the requirements. I guess a lot of stuff is aimed at domestic use.

A lot of it is cheap shit from China these days. It doesn't seem to be
put through any scrutiny before being sold in the marketplace here.

I used to work in a mining environment and safety regulations were very
strict, much stricter than any other place I have ever worked. I got
used to thinking safety first. The only place more strict would be the
offshore oil industry. I have friends in that field and I have heard
some interesting stories..... When safety gets lax in that industry,
things go pear shaped extremely quickly.

--

Xeno

 

[Ian Field]

"DAB" <x@y.com> wrote in message
news:1a-dncHbwsNgKazLnZ2dnUU7-fednZ2d@westnet.com.au...

It's a little off topic but its been quiet in here lately so............


We are reviewing our OH&S and I was wondering what the requirements are in
regard to emergency stop buttons on machinery in workplaces?


The workplace is a small manufacturing company with an associated workshop
with a small drill press, bandsaw, grinder, linishing belt etc.

The workshop is only used by experienced / trained staff.

Experienced/trained staff have off days too.