Work site

Site set-up

Make sure your work site is set up safely and workers consulted of the hazards and risks that can affect their health and safety on the site.¹¹ Make sure workers have been trained in the use of the machine being operated.

When you set up the wood-chipper, ensure there is sufficient clearance from the immediate working area or drop zone to remove the risk of entanglement from climbing or lowering ropes.¹²

Park the machine off the road wherever possible. If this cannot be done, ensure adequate traffic management is in place.¹³

Traffic management measures protect workers, motorists, and pedestrians. It can include an appropriate combination of warning signs, witches’ hats, flashing amber lights, and the delineation of the work site.

Workers controlling traffic must be appropriately trained to do so (refer to the Transport for NSW website for further information) and wear high visibility (hi-vis) clothing.

Set up an exclusion zone around the machine and work area that is to be closed off to public. Put up signs and barricades to identify the exclusion zone if required.

Pre-start checks

Workers should ensure:

• guards for all dangerous parts e.g. cutting discs, drive shafts, belts and pulleys are in place, secure and undamaged.
• emergency stops and control bar are functioning properly.
• equipment has been set up correctly and systems are performing accurately.
• operator controls on the machine are clearly labelled to indicate their nature and function.
• operating teams consist of at least two people competent in the use of wood-chipping machines and have received specific training
  on the individual machine being used (NWCO and feeder).
• the material to be chipped is free from metal, stones, plastic, rope and other forms of contamination that could damage and affect the safe operation of the machine.²
• that there is, a number, of push sticks at least 1.5m long available for use by workers.

Caption: A worker conducting a safety check.