WHS Accreditation Scheme accredited company, COLAS, embraces new safety tech to reduce hazards in using mobile plant.

Interactions between people and mobile plant are a common hazard on building and construction sites. Workers being struck by plant has been the second most frequent mobile plant incident reported to the Office of the Federal Safety Commission during the Hazard 2020 safety campaign to date.

While eliminating interactions between people and plant is always the best safety outcome, it’s not always practical or possible. Scheme accredited company COLAS is alive to this hazard and has implemented halo lighting systems on its large plant so exclusion zones are more clearly identifiable. Since implementing the halo systems, COLAS has had zero workers struck by plant.

Watch our new case study video showcasing COLAS’ use of the halo lighting system on its road construction project.

Federal Safety Commissioner David Denney said that while the Hazard 2020 campaign has seen solid improvements in accredited companies identifying and controlling mobile plant hazards in accordance with the Hierarchy of Controls as well as establishing safe systems of work for the operation of mobile plant, more focus is needed in this area given the frequency with which worker continue to be struck by plant. “Initiatives like the halo lighting system used by COLAS to make exclusion zones more visible are a great way to harness technology onsite and help every worker to get home safely every night.”

COLAS are now in their seventh year of accreditation under the Federal Safety Commissioner’s WHS Accreditation Scheme. COLAS Australia design, construct, maintain and operate road and port projects for public and private sector clients.

To find out more about how your building and construction company can work with the OFSC:

Email ofsc@dewr.gov.au

Call the FSC Assist Line on 1800 652 500