ohs priorities in csiro louise beckwith ohse manager csiro exploration mining

3. Current OHS Priorities AAHL Report Gas Safety Electrical Safety Contractor Safety

4. AAHL Report Focus on: OHS Risk Assessment Plant maintenance and risk assessment LN2/other gases: handling, storage, alarms, training Working alone Confined space work Hazard reporting/awareness Induction/training re: OHS risks Effectiveness of OHS Committees

5. Gas Safety Risk management of toxic and asphyxiant gases Review of all gases used: Types, quantities and location Potential for oxygen depletion Safe handling, storage Correct/maintained regulators, valves etc Work practices, training and awareness

6. Gas Safety Installation of monitors/alarms where indicated Installation of interlocks/lock out External gas safety audit program

7. Gas Safety

8. Gas Safety ExampleWorst Case Scenario, not considering ventilation or other controls

9. Gas Safety ExampleWorst Case Scenario, not considering ventilation or other controls

10. Gas Safety Incidents Chlorine Incident A CSIRO employee smelt Chlorine gas as he was replacing a mass flow controller in the Chlorine gas line in the UPS room. A small amount of gas had not been purged from the gas line at the gas cylinder. Although staff were exposed to only a small amount of gas, subsequent investigation has shown that a number of operational issues need improvement, in particular the gas monitoring system was not working.

11. Gas Safety Incidents Chlorine Incident � Control Measures The gas monitoring and sensing system will be redesigned to function as intended. The gas scrubbing system will be properly installed. Written Safe Operating Procedures for all normal and maintenance operations will be prepared before operations resume. Emergency response procedures to be reviewed with all staff and documentation updated.

12. Gas Safety Incidents Chlorine Incident: � Long Term Control Measures A full HAZOP study of the safety systems in the facility is needed. The location of the UPS and gases system in the same room needs to be reviewed, as their ventilation needs may not be compatible. A full maintenance schedule needs to be prepared and followed for all systems in the facility; this will be a joint responsibility between project staff and the divisional services group.

13. Gas Safety Incidents Liquid Nitrogen Incident A CSIRO employee went to the centrifuge room off which is an annexed room containing 2 cryogenic storage tanks automatically filled with liquid nitrogen. On hearing an alarm the employee checked her oxygen monitor, which was reading normal. On investigation she found another oxygen monitor which had been left in the room where the tanks are housed. This monitor was alarming, reading 16%. The tanks were filling at the time. The alarm in the staff member�s hand also started to sound. The employee left the room.

14. Gas Safety Incidents LN2 Incident Control Measures In the interim Large extraction fans were purchased with a pickup arm at floor level installed All staff were alerted to the problem and one of the monitors was permanently left in the room All staff were informed to carry personal monitors All staff were instructed not the enter the room when the tanks are filling and the alarm is audible Communications were sent reiterating entry procedures to the area

15. Gas Safety Incidents LN2 Incident Control Measures This division moved to a new building where an oxygen monitor was installed together with an access disabling mechanism when oxygen levels fall. The facility has controlled access at all times. Ventilation systems were evaluated immediately upon occupation.

16. Electrical Safety Restricted licenses and authorizations RCD/ELCB installation, maintenance, testing Equipment testing and tagging Electrician to be involved in design, building, testing of experimental equipment Safe electrical work procedures, tag out Compliance with AS and CSIRO Electrical policy

17. Electrical Safety Incidents Electric Shock Incident 1: A Research Scientist received an electric shock whilst he was explaining to another staff member how to optimise the performance of the Plasma Air Cleaner he designed He was connecting the equipment to High Voltage power when he touched the equipment with the back of his hand causing the equipment to arc He had forgotten to connect the earth cable He was last authorised to work on electrical equipment in 1991 and was not licensed to work on High Voltage equipment

18. Electrical Safety Incidents Electric Shock Incident 1: - Control Measures Equipment is decommissioned pending formal inspection Advice to be sought from other Divisions that have managed this situation Authorisations for work on electrical equipment to be reviewed No unqualified persons to work on this equipment Further training to be sought Installation of an electrical interlock system to prevent the supply being switched to High Voltage if a pair of earth connections is not in place Formal procedures to be developed

19. Electrical Safety Incidents Electric Shock Incident 2: A CSIRO employee received an electric shock when a ceramic insulator broke inside a fluid bed furnace. Incident Control Measures New insulators to be fitted A Residual Current device to be installed The removal of the ceramic insulation tube for inspection to be conducted as part of the set up procedure. This step to be added to the operating procedures. Use shorter thermocouples and ensure ends are well insulated.

20. Contractor Safety Increasing number of incidents involving contractors Check skills/competencies/licenses Risk Assessment processes � scope of work, minor hazards review, JSA, work permit conditions, HAZOP Induction and hazard raising processes Supervision and handover OHS&E and R&M overlap

21. Contractor Safety Incidents Contractor Incident (Electrical Safety) Sub Contractor carpenter cutting through gyprock wall to create a door, using a timber handled manual saw cut into a live electrical cable. The circuit was protected by an ELCB which tripped and no electric shock occurred. Prior to cutting, the contract electrician had removed/isolated known cables, roof space and walls were visually checked for presence of cables. Electrician stated that cable scanning is not usually the method used in this circumstance due to a variety of factors such as knowing which circuits to test, interference from metal wall studs etc. Power not isolated as due to circuitry, whole wing of building would have to be isolated.

22. Contractor Safety Incidents Incident Control Measures (Electrical Safety) Any contractor/sub-contractor or employee whose work will potentially expose them to contact with electrical cables will be required to review the Penetrating Work safety procedure and plan appropriate safety checks to ensure cables are identified and isolated prior to work commencing. This should be incorporated into the work planning stage and reviewed by the site services at the induction stage.

23. Contractor Safety Incidents LONG TERM Incident Control Measures (Electrical Safety): Review of the Penetrating Work safety procedure to provide guidelines of how and when safety checks need to be undertaken, to include training and induction requirements and include in induction for contractors/sub-contractors and employees where appropriate. Improve contractor management procedures to ensure inductions are being undertaken

24. Contractor Safety Incidents Improve liaison between all parties (External consultants, contractors/tradespersons and CSIRO R&M/site services and OHSE staff) involved in projects throughout life of project not just at commencement. This could include the use of project planning and review meetings, work schedules and the development of hand-over processes between tradespersons and site services. Review OHSE risk assessment and management processes used by external consultants and contractors (consider use of JSA�s, safety checklists, pre job start safety meetings etc) Develop sign-off checks for electrical contractors to advise what work has been undertaken, what checks have been done, what checks have not been done and where particular caution should be exercised for other contractors on that job.

25. Summary Focus on management systems Thorough risk assessment and risk management strategies Risk perception and hazard awareness Communication, consultation, induction and training Learn from incidents