Mobile plant

Mobile plant can include any piece of work equipment, appliance, vehicle, container, implement or tool that is not exclusively reliant on manual power for it to function for its intended purpose. Mobile plant is commonly found in workplace environments as varied as: 

• Warehousing and manufacturing
• Construction sites
• Mines and railways

Examples of mobile plant

Mobile plant can include equipment as diverse as: lifting equipment, forklifts, power tools. mobile cranes, earthmoving equipment, cherry pickers and elevated work platforms. Higher risk equipment generally requires a current license to operate without which it must never be used.

Even if you are licensed and competent to operate mobile plant, only do so if you:

• Have been authorised by Hays to do so
  Hays has a duty to identify, assess and control risks to your health and safety. We undertake an assessment of each job as directed by the client. If the client asks you to complete different duties or asks you to work at a different site, you may be exposed to an increased risk to your health and safety or you may be exposing others to undue risk.
• Have received specific training by the client to use mobile plant
  You may be licensed and competent to operate mobile plant however site rules often vary. Prior to operating you must know these site rules, understand safe work practices and follow these procedures. A client may also ask that you demonstrate the use of equipment to assess your ability to operate equipment safely.

Safe operation of mobile plant

Prior to operating mobile plant, you must ensure:

• A pre-start inspection or check is completed
• Any defects identified are reported to the client and fixed before plant is used
• You run through the controls, alarms, emergency brakes and operating instructions
• You are familiar with the environment you are operating plant in the type and suitability of mobile plant that you will be operating
• You consider all site safety restrictions that could include: 
  • Speed limits
  • Shared or safety zoning
  • Communication procedures and the environment (indoors or outdoors, uneven, sloped, wet/dry, high-reach, overhead hazards, attachments etc.)
  • Restraint devices, if fitted are used, That you report to your Hays consultant any request to use plant that you are not licensed to operate

How to report a Health & Safety issue or concern