Preamble
Employees of Glindemann Industrial Coatings Pty.Ltd. are committed to safety as the first priority of any work or contract undertaken. Although we strive to complete those tasks with efficiency, adherence to Australian Standards and to the economical benefit of our clients, we consider that no job is so urgent that it cannot be done safely. Our goal is always ;
NO INJURIES TO ANYONE……… EVER!
It is mandatory that sub-contractors engaged by our company fulfill the requirements of our Occupational Health and Safety Policy and Procedures, which may require compliance with our client’s Conditions of Contract, Health, Safety and Environmental Management procedures.
Managing Director
Glindemann Industrial Coatings Pty Ltd
Scope of this Policy
The scope of this policy applies to employee’s of Glindemann Industrial Coatings Pty.Ltd. (the company) being a mobile operation, at any site, but not limited to that site where coatings are applied or equipment servicing is carried out. The policy also considers and/or applies to:-
- Sub-contractors engaged in works as part of a contract managed by the company
- Supplier Representatives and/or Visitors to a site where the company is operating
- Service or Delivery personnel engaged or directed by the company
- Other trades, working in the vicinity of company operations
- The Public
Site specific – S.W.M.S. Safe Work Method Statements, and Environmental Management Assessments form part of the company policy and are to be adhered to by any of the above.
Work Sites
As a mobile operation, the company performs work at many industrial, manufacturing and food processing sites, and Conditions of Contract, O.H.&S. Procedures, and Environmental Management plans applicable to that site are to be adhered to. Where a site policy may impede on the safe working practice of company procedure, resolution is to be concluded before any work is commenced.
Work Site Conditions
Prior to commencement of work, assess potential dangers and determine exit pathways that can be utilized in the event of an emergency. In enclosed work areas, ensure that doorways, access hatches or any obstructions will not impede persons exiting from the work area. In deemed “Confined Space” work areas, ensure that all persons entering the area have completed certified “working in confined space” instruction. Remove / relocate any potential “trip” hazards from the work space floor areas and observe terrain for unsealed areas. Deploy mechanical ventilation where required, such as confined spaces or work areas where natural flow of fresh air is limited. Exhaust from extraction fans should be directed to the closest outside area and should not be directed towards any potential fire hazard or adjacent workers.
First Aid - Fire
Site specific procedures are the primary guidance steps to be observed and strictly adhered to. Locate and record on the company S.W.M.S. locations and serviceability of Emergency Eyewash, Showers, Fire Hoses, Fire Extinguishers and Evacuation Assembly areas. Emergency Eyewash bottles, First-aid kits, and Fire Extinguishers located on company vehicles are to be unlocked and /or positioned adjacent to the work area, and checked for serviceability before commencement of work. Check reception for mobile phone communication with Emergency Services and contact procedure for any safety officers engaged on the site.
Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers are specified for use on consumables used by the company. Fire hazard is minimal for Polyurethane and Polyurea Elastomer Products, however small quantities of flammable solvents may be transported, stored or otherwise placed within work areas. All flammable liquids are to be stored in clearly identified containers and removed from work areas before commencement of any task that may produce ignition, such as, operation of electrical hand tools, heater lines on Proportioning Units, Diesel heaters or LPG flame torches used to force-dry substrates.
Scaffold - Access Equipment
Preparation and application of elastomer coatings, abrasive blast operation, UHP water blast operations or maneuvering equipment shall not be performed on painter’s trestles or ladders. Ladders positioned for access are tied off to a secure point before use and all high level work tasks are to be carried out using fixed or mobile scaffold, EWP units, hydraulic boom lifts or similar. All access equipment may only be positioned, or under the control of trained and qualified persons.
Personal Protective Equipment
Hard hats, safety glasses, steel cap work boots and hi-visibility clothing is considered mandatory on all worksites for general work processes. Additional PPE requirements consist of the following:-
- Approved hearing protection for adjacent personnel and operators performing Abrasive Blasting, UHP Water Blasting, Blastrac Shot Blasting and Power Tools used in cutting or grinding for substrate preparation
- Face shields for UHP Water Blasting and Blastrac Shot Blasting
- Air fed helmet for Abrasive Blasting
- Task specific Gloves (Corrosive products or Materials handling)
- Disposable Overalls for all Spray applications
- Filtered Breathing Masks (Minimum P3 for dust, Minimum A1+P3 for Spray applications)
- Air Fed Breathing Masks for all Spray applications in enclosed spaces where acceptable air circulation cannot be achieved
- UHF Radios where visual communication is not possible with standby workers
- Sun Block
Material Safety Data Sheets
Copies of M.S.D.S. for all products use on a site are located adjacent to the worksite in addition to those supplied to the site Safety Officer and/or site Manager. A full library of all products used by the company is filed and maintained at the office of the company.
Equipment Shut-down
Except in an emergency, all equipment is to be shut-down by authorized persons to ensure compressed lines and fluid transfer hoses have been depressurized, preventing inadvertent injury to personnel when disconnecting equipment on completion of works.
Hazards
Hazards are recorded on the company S.W.M.S. using a risk rank calculation to comply with AS 2865. All task rankings are to be within the “low” scale subsequent to application of controls to minimize associated risks. Attention is drawn to UHP Water Blasting Operations, where it is considered to be a dangerous process and with all controls in place, rupture of high pressure lines could cause serious injury. A “medium” ranking should be recorded to draw attention to personnel whom may be unfamiliar with the process. Warning signs and barricades are mandatory with all UHP Water Blasting Operations.
Workshop
All safe working practices described herein also apply to the company premises where product storage, equipment overhaul and general engineering processes are carried out. Operation of any equipment is restricted to trained company employees and visitors are only permitted in workshop areas when accompanied by a company representative. Safety glasses are mandatory and are issued to visitors within the pump service area, spray and blast booths and engineering machine shop.
The Environment
The company promotes protection of all aspects of the environment, whether on work sites or any location where the company performs it’s operation. In sensitive areas, third party monitoring may be required to ensure full compliance with all statutory regulations. Areas of consideration include, but are not limited to the following:-
- Dust: Abrasive Blasting may only be performed in a controlled booth, or where encapsulation and filtering of dust can be achieved. Garnet is the only medium to be used for any blast operations
- Noise: UHP Water Blasting, Abrasive Blasting, Power Tools, Compressors, Generators and Plural Pump operation will create noise that may produce discomfort where worksites are adjacent to residential or public areas. Ear protection is made available to adjacent workers, and/or worksite visitors and hours of work is considered and monitored in sensitive locations
- Concrete dust: Use of grinding or cutting power tools on concrete substrates will produce dust containing silicates, that is controlled by shrouds fitted to the tools and connected to vacuum extraction devices
- Overspray: Elastomer coatings are 100% solids and do not contain VOC’s. Cure occurs within seconds of output from impingement spray equipment, therefore is not considered as an airborne pollutant approx 10 metres beyond the area of work. Where possible, solvented primers and the like is applied by hand rollers or similar. Masking of overspray is mandatory where pollution of waterways is possible
- Vibration: Surface preparation may cause vibration to sensitive structures and engineers are consulted prior to commencement of any works
- Waste: Solvent liquid waste is collected and returned to the company premises for recycling, either by filtering for reuse inhouse or for collection by an authorized recycling organization. Solid waste is collected and disposed by placement in an approved waste bin. Residual two component products are combined to form a solid prior to disposal. Steel product containers are returned to the company premises for compaction and subsequent collection by steel recycling merchants
- Liquid Run-off: Liquid run-off (Water blasting) is controlled by bunding methods or through an acceptable filter medium to surrounding soil areas. All liquid run-off is prevented from entering any natural waterway or storm water drainage system
- Fire: Controls detailed on company S.W.M.S. are strictly adhered to in both the work area and in the surrounding environment. Due attention is given where work sites are adjacent to high fire risk areas.
Incident Reporting
All incidents, whether causing harm to personnel or impact on the environment are recorded on company documents and maintained for reference in compiling future method procedures. Clients and/or work site Managers are informed of any incident and compliance with their reporting procedure is carried out.
Standards Applicable - Codes of Practice
AS 2865 – Safe work in a confined space; AS 2550.5 – Cranes / safe use / Mobile and vehicle loading cranes; AS/NZS 1891.1 – AS/NZS 1891.2 – Industrial fall arrest systems and devices, parts 1 and 2.
Codes of Practice & Safety Guides – Control of workplace hazardous substances / Cutting and drilling concrete / Abrasive blasting / NOHSC Manual handling / Working off stepladders / Equipment – Operating instructions.