CCNZ was notified of an enforceable undertaking by Hiway Stabilisers, which has provided a Safety Alert and wishes to share the lessons it has learnt with the wider civil construction industry.

After completing a stabilising run of approximately 180 meters, a machine operator returned a rotary hoe to the park-up area. Once in the park-up area, the operator raised the rotor and hood and, with the rotor and hood elevated, approached the powered turning rotor and kicked at some dirt on the lower skid to clear debris from the skid. His foot missed the skid and was caught by the turning rotor causing his leg to become trapped in the rotor and amputated at the knee.

This incident is a reminder that before any work is carried out on a rotor or any moving or rotating part of our plant and equipment, the plant must be shut down, isolated, and made safe.

• A thorough risk assessment should be completed on all plant and equipment in accordance with AS4024 and published Machinery Guidelines to ensure appropriate engineering controls are applied.
• Operators must ensure that the stabilizer is shut down and isolated before carrying out any cleaning, maintenance or inspection work on any moving or rotating parts.
• Under no circumstances is any person to approach or operate a stabilizer that exposes anyone to an energised rotor that is being powered by a motor or electromechanical device or motor.

Read the full safety alert>>

Read the Enforceable Undertaking on the WorkSafe website>>

Watch: a webinar on lessons learned from the Enforceable Undertaking