by Nick Drew | Wed 11 Mar 2015
Inadvertent operation of controls
Last year the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published the results of research into the inadvertent operation of controls on excavators and mobile plant (IOOC). During the course of this study the HSE interviewed a number of operators, and many said that they had either experienced this themselves or had seen it happen on site, sometimes with terrible consequences including fatalities.
Although the HSE research concentrated on excavators, many of the issues raised are common to other items of mobile plant, such as telehandlers. Some incidents were attributed to operator behaviour, for example reaching for other controls or items in the cab, turning around in the cab or raising themselves out of the seat. Other factors include the operator being distracted, and issues related to control layout.
For the individual, there are a number of simple actions that can be taken to minimise the risk. The first is to avoid loose clothing. For example, bulky high-visibility overcoats can easily catch on a joystick or tracking lever, particularly when twisting around in the cab or getting in and out of the machine.
For site supervision and management, there are a range of issues they should consider, including how instructions are communicated to the operator, ensuring that there is adequate time for them to operate the machine and get out carefully, and making sure that there is always proper separation between the machine and other workers.
In the HSE research, operators gave examples of IOOC which included:
“I turned to get a bag that was at the back of the seat, and I hit the lever and the bucket was on the ground but I still hit the lever and I felt the machine move and it was because the safety lever wasn’t up”.?¯
“As I got off the machine my coat got caught on the tracker lever which then started the tracks going and as I stood on the track my foot went in underneath the machine”.¯
The full report can be downloaded from the HSE Website http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr1000.htm
The Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group work will look at guidance for site management, supervisors and operators to prevent inadvertent operation of controls on mobile plant, including excavators, telehandlers and similar machinery. It will not cover issues involving MEWPs or remote controls.
As part of this initial research for the project, the Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group is inviting readers to share their experiences or incidents of Inadvertent Operation of Controls with the working group. You can do this online through the Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group page of the CPA website: http://www.cpa.uk.net/sfpsg/