Plant Safety Protocol

1. The purpose of our protocol

Our protocol sets out how Adelaide University conducts work that involve plant and or equipment.

This protocol should be read in conjunction with the Hazard Management Procedure which gives effect to the Wellbeing and Safety Policy.

2. Our protocol applies to

2.1 Inclusions

Members of our Adelaide University Community
Any facilities engaged by the University or affiliated with the University
Any plant/equipment owned, leased, designed, manufactured, installed and hired by the University

2.2 Exclusions

manually powered hand-held tools (e.g. a hammer, screwdriver) that are designed to primarily be held or used by hand (except for explosive powered power tools)
plant/equipment owned by contractors which is not used by university staff or students; and
heritage plant/equipment which will be managed in accordance with SafeWork Australia’s Guide for managing risks involving heritage plant.

3. Our Plant Safety protocol

3.1 Roles and responsibility

University roles and responsibilities for managing Wellbeing and Safety risks, including those risks associated with plant and equipment safety, are set out in the Hazard Management Procedure.

3.2 Ensuring training needs of plant and equipment is considered

The table below outlines key roles and responsibilities for the management of plant and equipment safety.

Process: Identification of training needs and provision of information, instruction, training and supervision.

Role	Responsibilities	Protocols
People Leaders / Staff	Must: Ensure that the training associated with the use of plant/equipment in your area(s) of control, are identified and managed	Ensure that the training needs of workers operating plant/equipment are identified and the requirement for any high-risk work licences. Ensure that all workers under your supervision are provided with the relevant level of information/instruction/training in accordance with their training plan before undertaking a task. This includes emergency instructions and how to operate stops and warning devices. Ensure the appropriate level of supervision is provided, based on the skill/proficiency/competency of the person and the level of risk. Comply with the information, instruction and training requirements provided to you. Maintain your high-risk work licence as required to use the plant/equipment Ensure that you report to your supervisor if any of your licences (required for work) expire and/or are not renewed; are suspended, restricted or have been disqualified.

Process: Requirements for the design, manufacture, importation, supply, lease/hire, acquisition, installation and commissioning of plant/equipment.

Role	Responsibilities	Protocols
Any person in control of the design, manufacture, importation, supply lease/hire, acquisition, installation and commissioning of plant/equipment	Must: Ensure that the applicable legislative requirements are met.	Ensure: the applicable legislative requirements are met. any infrastructure and/or licensing requirements are considered prior to purchase, installation and commissioning of the plant/equipment (including electrical connection and supply). Estates and Facilities are consulted for any purchases associated with the built environment or that requires modification of infrastructure to accommodate the plant/equipment. the impact on the work environment is considered during the process of erection or installation process. where contractors are engaged to erect and install plant/equipment the Contractor Management process is followed. if plant/equipment is prescribed equipment as defined under the Controlled Substances you can demonstrate that you have: a reasonable excuse to possess/use the prescribed equipment; and physical control of the prescribed equipment i.e. there is no unauthorised access to the prescribed equipment.

Role

Responsibilities

Protocols

Any person in control of the design, manufacture, importation, supply lease/hire, acquisition, installation and commissioning of plant/equipment

Must:

Ensure that the applicable legislative requirements are met.

Ensure:

the applicable legislative requirements are met.
any infrastructure and/or licensing requirements are considered prior to purchase, installation and commissioning of the plant/equipment (including electrical connection and supply).
Estates and Facilities are consulted for any purchases associated with the built environment or that requires modification of infrastructure to accommodate the plant/equipment.
the impact on the work environment is considered during the process of erection or installation process.
where contractors are engaged to erect and install plant/equipment the Contractor Management process is followed.
if plant/equipment is prescribed equipment as defined under the Controlled Substances you can demonstrate that you have:
- a reasonable excuse to possess/use the prescribed equipment; and
- physical control of the prescribed equipment i.e. there is no unauthorised access to the prescribed equipment.

Process: Hazard management

Role	Responsibilities	Protocols
People Leader	Must: Ensure a process is in place to identify hazards and control risks associated with the use of plant and equipment to prevent injury. The risk assessments and standard operating procedures are documented and records are maintained locally.	Ensure that the hazards associated with the use of plant/equipment in your area(s) of control, are identified and managed in accordance with the manufacturer's operator's manual. This includes any activity in relation to: the design, manufacture, assembly or use of the plant/equipment the storage, decommissioning, dismantling or disposal of the plant/equipment; and the inspection, operation, cleaning, maintenance or repair of the plant/equipment. Ensure that additional control measures are in place for specific items of plant/equipment, for the following: Powered mobile plant; (e.g. vehicles, tractor, forklift truck, earthmoving equipment) Tractors roll-over protection Industrial lift trucks see definitions Plant/equipment that lifts/suspends load Plant used in connection with tree lopping Industrial robot Ensure that additional control measures are in place for specific items of plant/equipment, for the following: Lasers Pressure equipment Scaffolds Plant with presence-sensing safeguarding system – records Registered plant.
Staff/Students	Must: Ensure that where registration and/or operator proficiency is required these are included in the risk assessment	Ensure that where registration and/or operator proficiency and/or high-risk work license requirements apply to any plant/equipment, these requirements are included on the risk assessment. Undertake hazard management and implement control measures.

Role

Responsibilities

Protocols

People Leader

Must:

Ensure a process is in place to identify hazards and control risks associated with the use of plant and equipment to prevent injury.
The risk assessments and standard operating procedures are documented and records are maintained locally.

Ensure that the hazards associated with the use of plant/equipment in your area(s) of control, are identified and managed in accordance with the manufacturer's operator's manual. This includes any activity in relation to:
- the design, manufacture, assembly or use of the plant/equipment
- the storage, decommissioning, dismantling or disposal of the plant/equipment; and
- the inspection, operation, cleaning, maintenance or repair of the plant/equipment.
Ensure that additional control measures are in place for specific items of plant/equipment, for the following:
- Powered mobile plant; (e.g. vehicles, tractor, forklift truck, earthmoving equipment)
- Tractors roll-over protection
- Industrial lift trucks see definitions
- Plant/equipment that lifts/suspends load
- Plant used in connection with tree lopping
- Industrial robot
Ensure that additional control measures are in place for specific items of plant/equipment, for the following:
- Lasers
- Pressure equipment
- Scaffolds
- Plant with presence-sensing safeguarding system – records
- Registered plant.

Staff/Students

Must:

Ensure that where registration and/or operator proficiency is required these are included in the risk assessment

Ensure that where registration and/or operator proficiency and/or high-risk work license requirements apply to any plant/equipment, these requirements are included on the risk assessment.
Undertake hazard management and implement control measures.

Process: Using plant/equipment in the workplace

Role	Responsibilities	Protocols
People Leaders	Must: Ensure that control measures identified on the risk assessment are in place and being implemented	Ensure that control measures identified on the risk assessment are in place and being implemented in your area(s) of control including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Provide additional supervision, if/where required, based on the level of risk and experience of the worker(s). Ensure the proper use of the plant/equipment and operator controls. This includes taking reasonable steps to ensure: that the plant/equipment is only used for the purpose for which it was designed; and that all health and safety features and warning devices (including guarding, operational controls, emergency stops and warning devices) are used in accordance with the information provided and safe operating procedures (where required by the risk assessment) are followed. Prevent alterations to or interference with the plant/equipment that have not been authorised by a competent person (see definitions). In determining whether a proposed use increases the risk, note that the person making the alterations is considered a designer or manufacturer under the WHS Legislation and those specific obligations will apply to that person. Ensure that when not in use the plant/equipment does not create a risk to health and safety. (Note: After an extended period of storage and before the plant/equipment is used, the plant/equipment should be re-commissioned by carrying out the same level of testing and inspection as when it was first commissioned. Ensure that any faulty plant/equipment is tagged/locked out Ensure that where contingency testing of emergency stops and warning devices is required by the Risk Assessment and/or the Manufacturer’s instructions, the tests are scheduled in consultation with those who operate the plant/equipment.
Staff/Students	Must: Follow reasonable instructions and work practices to maintain their own and others’ wellbeing and safety.   Report hazards/incidents identified through Unisafe.   Have been trained/inducted on any equipment before use and have prepared a risk assessment and safe operating procedure.	Operate plant/equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, operations manual, risk assessment, information/instruction/training provided and Safe Operating Procedure (where documented). Report concerns if an activity may place you or any other person at risk of injury/illness to the People Leader in control of the activity/area and, using UniSafe the online reporting system. Report damaged or faulty plant/equipment to the relevant supervisor/manager immediately, “tag out” if necessary and enter the details of the issue into the Unisafe the on-line system using the app or on-line form. Do not use plant/equipment that is tagged/locked out. Do not remove tags/locks without authorisation, or damage them in any way. Ensure that you are not in a state as to endanger yourself, another person, or cause damage to the plant/equipment or property from the consumption of alcohol or a drug or prescribed medication. Report the loss of any prescribed equipment.

Role

Responsibilities

Protocols

People Leaders

Must:

Ensure that control measures identified on the risk assessment are in place and being implemented

Ensure that control measures identified on the risk assessment are in place and being implemented in your area(s) of control including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Provide additional supervision, if/where required, based on the level of risk and experience of the worker(s).
Ensure the proper use of the plant/equipment and operator controls. This includes taking reasonable steps to ensure:
- that the plant/equipment is only used for the purpose for which it was designed; and
- that all health and safety features and warning devices (including guarding, operational controls, emergency stops and warning devices) are used in accordance with the information provided and safe operating procedures (where required by the risk assessment) are followed.
Prevent alterations to or interference with the plant/equipment that have not been authorised by a competent person (see definitions). In determining whether a proposed use increases the risk, note that the person making the alterations is considered a designer or manufacturer under the WHS Legislation and those specific obligations will apply to that person.
Ensure that when not in use the plant/equipment does not create a risk to health and safety. (Note: After an extended period of storage and before the plant/equipment is used, the plant/equipment should be re-commissioned by carrying out the same level of testing and inspection as when it was first commissioned.
Ensure that any faulty plant/equipment is tagged/locked out
Ensure that where contingency testing of emergency stops and warning devices is required by the Risk Assessment and/or the Manufacturer’s instructions, the tests are scheduled in consultation with those who operate the plant/equipment.

Staff/Students

Must:

Follow reasonable instructions and work practices to maintain their own and others’ wellbeing and safety.  
Report hazards/incidents identified through Unisafe.  
Have been trained/inducted on any equipment before use and have prepared a risk assessment and safe operating procedure.

Operate plant/equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, operations manual, risk assessment, information/instruction/training provided and Safe Operating Procedure (where documented).
Report concerns if an activity may place you or any other person at risk of injury/illness to the People Leader in control of the activity/area and,
using UniSafe the online reporting system.
Report damaged or faulty plant/equipment to the relevant supervisor/manager immediately, “tag out” if necessary and enter the details of the issue into the Unisafe the on-line system using the app or on-line form.
Do not use plant/equipment that is tagged/locked out.
Do not remove tags/locks without authorisation, or damage them in any way.
Ensure that you are not in a state as to endanger yourself, another person, or cause damage to the plant/equipment or property from the consumption of alcohol or a drug or prescribed medication.
Report the loss of any prescribed equipment.

Process: Maintenance, inspection and testing of plant/equipment

Role	Responsibilities	Protocols
People Leaders / person engaging contractors	Must: Ensure that the maintenance, inspection and, if necessary, testing of the plant is completed	Ensure that the maintenance, inspection and, if necessary, testing of the plant is: scheduled in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, or as determined by a risk assessment carried out by a competent person (see definitions); and communicated with affected workers to prevent any risk arising from the restarting of plant/equipment operations. Ensure the plant/equipment is isolated from the energy source before maintenance, inspection or cleaning starts or where plant/equipment cannot be isolated, methods to prevent accidental operation are implemented. Ensure control measures implemented, for example guards and warning devices, are regularly inspected and tested to ensure they remain effective. Ensure any guards that are removed during maintenance/inspection, have been replaced correctly before a task re-commences, to prevent access to hazardous parts by the operator. Ensure that faulty plant/equipment, or plant/equipment that requires isolation for cleaning, maintenance or repairs, is tagged or locked out. Ensure that any certificates of compliance are held where relevant. Ensure records of maintenance and testing conducted are held. Where a contractor is required to maintain, clean or dispose of an item of the University’s plant/equipment in accordance with the University records management process.
Staff/Students	Must:  Follow reasonable instructions and work practices to maintain their own and others’ wellbeing and safety.    Report hazards/incidents identified through Unisafe.   Have been trained/inducted on any equipment before use and have prepared a risk assessment and safe operating procedure.	Use work-related electrical equipment according to the manufacturer's instructions and your training.  Do not use: any electrical equipment tagged out of service.  any electrical equipment not tested (see 3.4 for exceptions)  Report damaged/faulty equipment/hazards and/or incidents in Unisafe.

Role

Responsibilities

Protocols

People Leaders / person engaging contractors

Must:

Ensure that the maintenance, inspection and, if necessary, testing of the plant is completed

Ensure that the maintenance, inspection and, if necessary, testing of the plant is:
- scheduled in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, or as determined by a risk assessment
- carried out by a competent person (see definitions); and
- communicated with affected workers to prevent any risk arising from the restarting of plant/equipment operations.
Ensure the plant/equipment is isolated from the energy source before maintenance, inspection or cleaning starts or where plant/equipment cannot be isolated, methods to prevent accidental operation are implemented.
Ensure control measures implemented, for example guards and warning devices, are regularly inspected and tested to ensure they remain effective.
Ensure any guards that are removed during maintenance/inspection, have been replaced correctly before a task re-commences, to prevent access to hazardous parts by the operator.
Ensure that faulty plant/equipment, or plant/equipment that requires isolation for cleaning, maintenance or repairs, is tagged or locked out.
Ensure that any certificates of compliance are held where relevant.
Ensure records of maintenance and testing conducted are held.
Where a contractor is required to maintain, clean or dispose of an item of the University’s plant/equipment in accordance with the University records management process.

Staff/Students

Must: 

Follow reasonable instructions and work practices to maintain their own and others’ wellbeing and safety.   
Report hazards/incidents identified through Unisafe.  
Have been trained/inducted on any equipment before use and have prepared a risk assessment and safe operating procedure.

Use work-related electrical equipment according to the manufacturer's instructions and your training. 
Do not use:
- any electrical equipment tagged out of service. 
- any electrical equipment not tested (see 3.4 for exceptions) 
- Report damaged/faulty equipment/hazards and/or incidents in Unisafe.

Process: Decommissioning, dismantling and disposing of plant/equipment.

Role	Responsibilities	Protocols
People Leaders	Must: Ensure that plant is disposed of safely	Ensure that: a risk assessment is conducted where a decommission/dismantle or disposal could cause injury any decommissioning or dismantling is undertaken by a competent person. the parts are disabled and safe prior to disposal. Reselling of a plant transfers the duties of a supplier to the seller. Scrapping or recycling should be conducted in consultation with local waste disposal authorities.

Role

Responsibilities

Protocols

People Leaders

Must:

Ensure that plant is disposed of safely

Ensure that:

a risk assessment is conducted where a decommission/dismantle or disposal could cause injury
any decommissioning or dismantling is undertaken by a competent person.
the parts are disabled and safe prior to disposal.
Reselling of a plant transfers the duties of a supplier to the seller.
Scrapping or recycling should be conducted in consultation with local waste disposal authorities.

4. Definitions used in our protocol

The following definitions are applicable to this protocol, for generic Adelaide University definitions refer to the Glossary of Terms.

Competent person -
- for electrical work on energised electric equipment or energised electrical installations (other than testing referred to in WHS Regulations (SA) section 150 and 165) - a person registered to undertake the work under the Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Electricians Act 1995.
- for design and verification of plant/equipment (under WHS Regulations (SA) section 252) – a person who has the skills, qualifications, competence and experience to design the plant/equipment or verify the design.
- for inspection of plant/equipment for registration a person who has the skills, qualifications, competence and experience in an engineering discipline and knowledge of technical standards of the plant/equipment being inspected.
- for inspection of cranes and amusement devices a person who has the skills, qualifications, competence and experience to inspect the plant/equipment; be registered as a professional engineer and deemed to be a competent person by SafeWork SA.
- for any other case - is a person who has acquired through experience the knowledge and skills to carry out the task.
Danger tag - a tag that indicates plant/equipment isolated from its power source and which cannot be operated.
- This is to allow maintenance or repair work on the plant/equipment to be performed safely
Decommission - to remove from service
Design - the design of part or all of the plant/equipment and redesign or modification of a design
Designer - a person who designs plant/equipment, substances or structures
Hazardous plant:
- Any plant/equipment used for a work/task related activity that has the potential:
  - to entangle, crush, cut/stab/puncture, trap, shear, tear or strike, has a pinch point to trap any part of the body or catch loose clothing, hair etc (e.g. conveyor, gears, loaders and other moving equipment).
- where a worker can come into contact with fluids under high pressure; to cause a serious burn/injure
- that could expose the worker to live electrical conductors
- could expose the worker to gases/vapours/liquids/dusts/other substances triggered by the operation
- could explode or implode
- could exceed safe noise levels
- where the worker may be required to adopt poor posture
- could overturn, collide with another person or thing (e.g. moving powered plant)
- is used to lift or suspends a load
- is an industrial robot or other remotely or automatically energised plant at the workplace
- involves non-ionising radiation or high-level magnetic fields
- any plant or equipment that requires registration in accordance with Schedule 5 of the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 (SA). (e.g. an autoclave, forklift, cryostat, lathe, industrial robot, scaffolding, laser, microtome, elevated work platform, crane, gantry, reach stacker, pressure equipment)
Heritage plant/equipment - machinery, equipment, appliances, implements or tools which form part of Australia’s industrial heritage. To be considered heritage the plant/equipment must be at least 30 years old and not in productive service. Refer to Guide for managing risks involving heritage plant.
Hoist - means an appliance intended for raising or lowering a load or people, and includes an elevated work platform, a mast climbing work platform, personnel and materials hoist, scaffolding hoist and serial hoist, but does not include a lift or building maintenance equipment.
Industrial lift trucks - are powered mobile plant designed to move goods, materials or equipment.
Isolation and energy dissipation - means a procedure which consists of all of following actions:
- Isolating (disconnecting, separating) the machine from all power supplies
- Where necessary locking or securing all the isolation units in the isolating position
- Dissipating or restraining any stored energy which may give rise to a hazard.
  Note- energy may be stored in:
  - Mechanical parts continuing to move through inertia
  - Mechanical parts liable to move due to gravity
  - Capacitors and accumulators
  - Pressurised fluids; or
Manufacturer - A person that manufactures plant/equipment or structure that is to be used or could reasonably be expected to be used at a workplace.
Mobile crane - a crane capable of travelling over a supporting surface without the need for fixed runways and relying on gravity for stability.
Operator - a proficient or competent person who operates any plant/equipment outlined in this document.
Out of service tag - a tag that indicates plant/equipment that either has a fault, or is unsafe to operate and is being removed from service,
Plant/equipment:
- any machinery, equipment, appliance, implement or tool or a component of any of these
- anything fitted or connected to plant or equipment

It includes items such as lifts, cranes, computers, machinery, conveyors, forklifts, vehicles, power tools, quad bikes, mobile plant and amusement devices. It also applies to explosive power tools that are designed to be held or used by hand.

A proficient person - means one who has been trained and assessed in a task and has been deemed able to carry out those duties without supervision.
Powered mobile plant/equipment - means plant/equipment that is provided with some form of self-propulsion that is ordinarily under the direct control of an operator (e.g. tractor, forklift truck, earthmoving equipment, crane)
Prescribed equipment - Equipment that is, or may at some stage have been capable of being used in the manufacture of controlled drugs includes: condensers; distillation heads; heating mantles; rotary evaporators; heater stirrers; mechanical stirrers; pressure reaction vessels; separatory funnels; Buchner flasks; in-line membrane filters; reaction vessels; splash heads; tube furnaces; manual or mechanical tablet presses, including parts for such an item; manual or mechanical encapsulates, including parts for such an item; an item modified to perform the function of a condenser, distillation head, splash head, pressure reaction vessel or tube furnace; and a device comprising a hydraulic compression system and a die that is, or may at some stage have been, capable of being used to compress a powdered substance into blocks is prescribed.
Pressure equipment - means boilers, pressure vessels and pressure piping
Pressure vessel - means a vessel subject to internal or external pressure and includes interconnected parts and components, values, gauges, and other fittings up to the first point of connection to connecting piping and fired heaters and gas cylinders but does not include a boiler or pressure piping
Residual current device (RCD) - a mechanical switching device designed to make, carry and break currents under normal service conditions, and to cause the opening of contacts when the residual current attains a given value under specified conditions
Residual Risk - the risk remaining after implementation of risk controls.
Scaffold - a temporary structure specifically erected to support access or working platforms.
Scaffolding work - erecting, altering or dismantling a temporary structure that is or has been erected to support a platform and from which a person or object could fall more than 4 metres from the platform or structure.
Tower crane - refer to definitions in the WHS Regulations 2012 (SA).
Tractor - a motor vehicle whether wheeled or track mounted, designed to provide power and movement to any attached machine or implement by transmission shaft, belt or linkage system but does not include earth moving equipment machinery.

5. How our protocol is governed

5.1 Compliance

Electrical safety management at Adelaide University is conducted in compliance with the following established regulations and guidelines:

Legislation & Code of Practice

5.2 Governance

This protocol is categorised, approved and owned in line with the governance structure of Adelaide University and the offices and officers listed below.

Parent procedure	Authority to create and maintain this protocol is granted under the Hazard Management Procedure
Policy category	Corporate
Approving authority	Executive Director People, Advisory and Wellbeing
Policy owner	Deputy Vice Chancellor People and Culture
Responsible manager	Deputy Vice Chancellor People and Culture or their delegate
Effective from	1 March 2026
Review date	1 March 2029
Enquiries	Wellbeing and Safety Team
Replaced documents	None

6. History of changes

Date approved	To section/clauses	Description of change
28 Jan 2026	N/A	New protocol

Note on structures, positions and position titles:

At the time of writing, the organisational structure, positions and position titles for Adelaide University have not all been confirmed. Accordingly, square brackets [ ] temporarily enclose position titles in this procedure until position titles for Adelaide University are known.