Why is maintenance of plant and machinery so important?
A sufficient, effective maintenance program will make plant and machinery more reliable. Fewer breakdowns, whether just a minor setback or a more serious failure, will mean less dangerous contact with equipment is needed, as well as having the cost benefits of improved efficiency and productivity.
Other hazards and threats may occur when machinery becomes unreliable and produces faults. Machine maintenance allows these faults to be diagnosed early to take care of any risks. However, maintenance should always be correctly planned and carried out. The unsafe implementation of machine maintenance Adelaide has caused lots of fatalities and serious injuries either during the maintenance process itself or to those using the poorly maintained or wrongly repaired equipment. Faulty functioning of machineries is a result of poor maintenance, which in turn will require machine repairs. Adelaide, due to this fact, has set up provisions that require work equipment and plant to be well maintained so it remains safe and the maintenance operation is carried out with safety.
What do we have to do?
If you own, manage, employ, or provide equipment for use, from basic hand tools and ladders to electrical power tools and larger plant, you will have to demonstrate that you have preparatory measures in place to make sure they are maintained in safe, effective condition.
What are the hazards that may occur?
- Tools may break during use.
- Machinery may start up unexpectedly.
- There may be contact with materials that are normally enclosed within the machine. This may be caused by ejections, breakage or leaks.
- Starting maintenance before correctly planning and communicating clear and precise instructions and information can lead to confusion, causing accidents. This can be a particular complication if machine maintenance is done during normal production working hours or where there are contractors who are not familiar with the site.
When is extra care required?
- Extra care is required when working at heights or when doing work that needs access to unusual spots of the building.
- Entering vessels or confined spaces may contain toxic materials or may lack air.
How can we maintain our machinery safely?
Coming up with a planned maintenance program may be of great help especially towards reducing risk, as well as having a reporting procedure for workers who may notice problems while working on machinery in play.
Note that some items of plant and equipment may have built-in safety-critical features where its deterioration would cause a risk. You should have preparations ready to ensure that the necessary inspections take place. However, there are other steps that you should consider:
Before you begin maintenance and machine repairs Adelaide - based experts suggest deciding if the work should be done by specialist contractors. Only take on work for which you are adequately prepared or competent. Always plan the work carefully before you start, ideally making use of the manufacturers maintenance instructions, and develop a safe system of work. Doing so will avoid unforeseen delays and minimize the risks.
