Safety Bulletin - Duty of Care 2021

CPAA National Office Unit 5 41-47 Five Islands Road Port Kembla NSW 2505 Postal Address PO Box 85 Port Kembla NSW 2505 P: 1300 136 636 W: www.cpassoc.com.au E: exec@cpassoc.com.au

Safety Bulletin - Duty of Care This Safety Bulletin is sent to remind owners and operators of concrete placing booms of their ‘duty of care’ when determining ‘who should’ and ‘how’ to carry out all inspections on their plant.

Safety Bulletin 2021

Audience • • • •

Owners of Concrete Placing Equipment Operators of Concrete Placing Equipment Persons Servicing and Repairing Concrete Placing Equipment Persons Inspecting and Certifying Concrete Placing Equipment

Summary Concrete Pumping Association of Australia (CPAA) is the national body representing the interests of the concrete pumping industry. The CPAA provides a strong, unified and respected voice for the concrete pumping industry across Australia working to improve the professionalism, safety and quality of the industry it represents, and accordingly these ‘Safety Bulletin’ are published and updated when appropriate to keep members and the wider construction industry abreast of issues relevant to the concrete pumping industry.

Duty of Care Duty of care can be broadly defined as a legal obligation, which is imposed on an individual or organisation requiring compliance to a standard of reasonable care while performing any acts that could foreseeably harm others. Breaches in duty of care may subject individual(s) and /or organisation to prosecution or liability such as fines.

This Bulletin has been published to remind concrete placing equipment owners and operators of their ‘duty of care’ , in particular requirements set-out for the safe use of concrete placing equipment and conduct of Inspection, Assessment, Maintenance and Repair. Owners and operators are responsible in ensuring all inspections be carried out.

Competent Person(s) AS 2550.15 requires ‘competent person(s)’ to make decisions and/or provide approval in a range of situations before use of equipment. Owners and operators of concrete placing equipment have a ‘duty of care’ to ensure that the competent person(s) making these decisions and providing approvals are in fact competent to do so in each case.

When selecting a competent person(s) to undertake the requirements setout in AS 2550.15 Section 6, owners and operators should ensure the person(s) selected to perform the relevant inspection as defined in Clause 1.3.2. – Competent person.

The following list could be used to determine a competent persons experience and qualification; • • • • • • •

provide appropriate qualifications to undertake the required task(s) demonstrate knowledge of the operation of concrete placing equipment provide copies of training undertaken on manufactures concrete placing equipment show years of relevant experience in assessment of concrete placing equipment have current insurance to undertake assessments and inspections should provide reference list of similar work previously completed should provide example of documentation / report issued at completion

The above list is only suggested and not exhaustive of other investigations which can be undertaken to meet ‘duty of care’ requirements for concrete placing equipment owners and operators.

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Inspections, Assessment Maintenance & Repairs

Safety Bulletin 2021

Appropriately planned inspections and preventative maintenance programs are essential for safety and efficient operation of concrete placing equipment. These maintenance programs carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications or prepared by a competent person are essential and recorded into a Logbook. The Association has designed and produced a Logbook to assist owners and operators to correctly record pre-operational, routine, periodic inspections, maintenance and repairs of concrete placing equipment which comply with AS 2550.15 and Code of Practices for concrete pumping.

Owners and operators should ensure the requirements for inspection, assessment and maintenance for continued service of concrete placing equipment be conducted in accordance with the following: (a) Pre-operational inspections (each use) See Clause 6.4.2 (b) Routine inspections and maintenance (monthly) See Clause 6.4.3 (c) Periodic inspections See Clause 6.4.4

Pre-operational inspections (each use) Conducting pre-operational inspections are necessary to ensure safety. Before operation, the equipment operator or competent person must undertake a visual inspection to ensure: • • •

Pre-operational checks according to operating instructions The equipment has no visible defects that would affect safety There are no unauthorized personnel on or near equipment

Where any adjustments or alterations are necessary to ensure the safe operation and function of the equipment, these are to be carried out by a competent person.

Routine inspections and maintenance (monthly)

Routine inspections and maintenance (monthly) Conducting routine inspections and maintenance are necessary to ensure safety. Routine inspections are conducted to identify all areas where visible wear has taken place which may result in failure or breakdown of the equipment during operation.

These areas may require some dismantling for more detailed inspection. Any deficiencies discovered need to be rectified prior to placing the concrete placing equipment into service.

• • •

Routine inspection and maintenance carried out by a competent person (see Clause 1.3.2.3) each calendar month The equipment has no visible defects that would affect safety Rectify prior to placing the concrete placing equipment into service

Pipe wall thickness is to be tested in accordance with the pipe manufacturer’s requirements and AS 2550.15.

Suitable testing methods should be adopted such as the use of thickness testing calipers, increased inspection and increased monitoring of use, in terms of volume and type of concrete pumped. Pipes with a wall thickness less than the recommended thickness for the pumping design pressure should not be used and be replaced immediately.

• •

Inspecting and measuring wall thickness of single and double wall delivery pipes, bends and reducers must be recorded Single wall or double wall pipes must be replaced when worn beyond minimum pipe thickness

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Safety Bulletin 2021

Periodic Inspections The periodic inspection conducted should be in accordance with the manufacturer’s defined maintenance and inspection where appropriate. The minimum periodic inspection regime should be as per AS 2550.15 Clause 6.4.4.1 ‘Periodic Inspection Criteria’: • • • •

Audit of equipment logbook Review of maintenance and inspection requirements of manufacturer or competent person Complete the periodic inspection report Issue statement for continued service

Next Steps The Concrete Pumping Association of Australia is committed to the development of a nationally consistent Code of Practice for Concrete Placing Equipment which will hopefully clarify and better align national requirements for the safe operation, cleaning and maintenance of concrete placing equipment, in particular recommendations on how and when to carry out major inspections.

For further information and assistance contact the Concrete Pumping Association of Australia on 1300 136 636.

References A collective term used to describe all equipment and components used for the purpose of placing concrete, e.g.

Line pump or Mobile boom pump or Satellite placing boom (See AS2550.15 cl 1.3.4). i).

iv).

AS 2550.15:2019 – Safe use: Concrete placing equipment

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Copyright 2021 CPAA - All rights reserved. Manufacturer’s recommendations supersede any and all information provided by the Association.

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