Hire and Rental News - August 2018

9 HIRE AND RENTAL NEWS • AUGUST 2018 According to WorkSafe’s Safety Soapbox, earlier this year an employee was hit and injured by a reversing excavator. The excavator had a motion alarm but it had been switched off via a switch in the cab. When WorkSafe investigated industry practice, it was revealed some items of powered mobile plant are being fitted with switches to turn motion alarms off. According to WorkSafe’s alert, this switch appears to be aimed at reducing the environmental impact (noise) when travelling and/or operating near built up or residential areas. These switches present a risk when the warning device does not work as intended, for example: when the switch is turned off by mistake; or the switch is not turned back on. The WorkSafe Alert said: Legal duty holders must ensure powered mobile plant that has a likelihood of hitting INDUSTRY NEWS Safety Alert: Warning devices on powered mobile plant WorkSafe Victoria has released a Guidance for employers, self-employed persons and people who have management and control of a workplace (legal duty holders) about the unsafe work practice of deactivating warning devices on powered mobile plant. pedestrians or other powered mobile plant is fitted with a warning device, for example a motion alarm, that will warn persons who may be at risk from the movement of the plant. Deactivation switches fitted to mobile plant are not recommended because they stop motion alarms from sounding to warn people who may be at risk from the movement of the plant. If deactivation switches are fitted they should be set up so the alarm automatically reactivates (the switch resets) when the item of plant ceases to travel. Employers should ensure pre-start checks of powered mobile plant are undertaken by operators in line with manufacturers’ instructions. If warning devices are faulty, remove the powered mobile plant from service until the warning device is repaired or replaced. Contact:WorkSafe publications, Compliance Code: Plant at the WorkSafe Advisory Service on 1800 136 089 or: www.worksafe.vic.gov.au PPSA update In May 2017 the HRIA and hire industry achieved a victory with the PPSA, removing indefinite hire and extending the threshold before a hire is deemed a PPS lease to two years. Keen to tackle the next stage of the challenge, the four person strong HRIA PPSA team will speak with politicians and bureaucrats in the near future in an attempt to have 'hire' removed altogether from the jurisdiction of this law. The HRIA representative team will meet with members of parliament and keep lobbying on behalf of the hire industry. More news to follow. Entries are now open for the 2018 Honda Innovation Competition POWERING AUSTRALIAN DREAMS Full competition details at HONDAINNOVATION.COM.AU Come up with an innovative way to use a Honda engine to power your invention and WIN! * $10,000 VALUE A TRIP FOR TWO TO THAILAND TO VISIT HONDA'S MANUFACTURING FACILITY. 1 ST One-on-one time with a professional business coach and application engineer to help develop your product. Your choice of Honda products. 2 ND 3 RD CALLING ALL INNOVATORS! PLUS Trophy $3,000 VALUE $5,000 VALUE Powered by Honda *Conditions Apply