PULLEYS

Risk Assessment :

:

· Risk to operator, Danger from falling branches, splitting timber, loss of balance. Danger of recoil if cable or attachment to load slips under tension. Getting caught in the cables if load shifts suddenly.

· Risk to other workers, As Above

· Risk to public, As Above

CODE OF SAFE PRACTICE

Equipment:

· Must be maintained and serviced regularly, according to manufacturer's instructions.

· All cables and attachments must be checked and replaced if there are signs of wear.

Protective Clothing:

· Operator should wear protective hard hat, gloves .

Site Assessment:

· Prior to the commencement of work, the site should be inspected and assessed for specific hazards, as set out in general safety procedures.

Safety Zone for operations:

· The area in which the pulleys are to be used should be clearly demarcated, and no one should stand in direct line between the pulley blocks and the load, whilst force is exerted.

· The zone should be extended to cover the area over which the load may be expected to travel. In the case of upright trees there should be an allowance for the fact that it might not fall in exactly the direction intended. A co-worker should be delegated to maintain this exclusion zone until the operation is completed.

· The limits of this exclusion zone shall vary according to the size, height and nature of the load, and the gradients of the surrounding land.

Visible and Audible Signals:

· A signal system should be established to provide communication between the pulley operator, the designated supervisor and the remainder of the work party. The supervisor should familiarise all members of the work party with the signals prior to each day's work.

· Warning signs should be erected to inform the public of the dangers and to keep them out of the operating zone

Safe System of Work:

PULLEYS

Risk Assessment :

:

· Risk to operator, Danger from falling branches, splitting timber, loss of balance. Danger of recoil if cable or attachment to load slips under tension. Getting caught in the cables if load shifts suddenly.

· Risk to other workers, As Above

· Risk to public, As Above

CODE OF SAFE PRACTICE

Equipment:

· Must be maintained and serviced regularly, according to manufacturer's instructions.

· All cables and attachments must be checked and replaced if there are signs of wear.

Protective Clothing:

· Operator should wear protective hard hat, gloves .

Site Assessment:

· Prior to the commencement of work, the site should be inspected and assessed for specific hazards, as set out in general safety procedures.

Safety Zone for operations:

· The area in which the pulleys are to be used should be clearly demarcated, and no one should stand in direct line between the pulley blocks and the load, whilst force is exerted.

· The zone should be extended to cover the area over which the load may be expected to travel. In the case of upright trees there should be an allowance for the fact that it might not fall in exactly the direction intended. A co-worker should be delegated to maintain this exclusion zone until the operation is completed.

· The limits of this exclusion zone shall vary according to the size, height and nature of the load, and the gradients of the surrounding land.

Visible and Audible Signals:

· A signal system should be established to provide communication between the pulley operator, the designated supervisor and the remainder of the work party. The supervisor should familiarise all members of the work party with the signals prior to each day's work.

· Warning signs should be erected to inform the public of the dangers and to keep them out of the operating zone

Safe System of Work:

· The pulley shall only be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

· The operator must be familiar with its use.

· All attachments must be secure and more than capable of withstanding the load.

· There should be a safety quick release mechanism in the event of the pulleys jamming.

· The pulley operator must await the supervisor's signal before applying strain.

· The supervisor must clearly demarcate the boundary of the exclusion zone. He must check that there is no person other than those operating the pulleys within this zone, and that everyone is aware that this activity is taking place. He may then signal the operator to proceed.

· When the load has been moved, the tension in the pulley cables must be relaxed before the operator signals to the supervisor that he feels that it is safe for assistants to enter the danger zone. Where other potential hazards still exist (eg unstable banks, uneven river bed, cut timber which has not yet fallen), the supervisor must warn those entering the zone of these hazards.

· Any injury sustained whilst working should be reported to the safety supervisor and logged on the record sheet.

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Copyright fishwatch 1998