Crushing by moving machinery or unexpected machine start-up

• Falls from heights or accidents involving falling objects

• Electrocution, electrical shocks or burns

• Confined spaces resulting in asphyxiation

• Explosions and fire.

In order to mitigate the risk to maintenance personnel, there are five basic rules for safe maintenance.

1. Planning. Maintenance must start with proper planning. A risk assessment must be carried out and workers should be involved in this process. Issues to be covered at the planning stage are:

a) The scope of the task – what needs to be done, and how it will affect other workers and activities in the workplace.

b) Risk assessment – potential hazards have to be identified (e.g., dangerous substances, confined spaces, moving parts of machinery, chemical substances or dust in the air), and measures need to be developed to eliminate or minimize the risks.

c) Permits to work and lock-out systems.

d) The time and resources that the activity will require.

e) Communication between maintenance and production staff, and all other parties concerned.

f) Competence of the employees and adequate training.