Volunteer OHS Management

2. Risk management

The principal and/or their delegate must ensure they identify the risk associated with the task, assess the level of risk using the Risk assessment template (DOCX) or equivalent, refer to the Risk Management Procedure for directions, and implement relevant risk controls.

Based on the task, and level of risk, a Safe work procedure (DOCX) may need to be developed. All volunteers undertaking the task(s) are to be trained in the contents of the Safe Work Procedure by a competent person.

2.1 Use of restricted powered plant and equipment

The principal and/or their delegate must ensure that volunteers working with any of the listed restricted plant or equipment below, have been trained or have equivalent industry experience in the use of the item of restricted plant or equipment.

Restricted items of plant/equipment

• Rip saw – table saw, bench saw
• Band saw
• Docking saw – cross-cut saw, radial arm saw
• Triton work centre
• Portable circular saw
• Circular saw table
• Panel saw
• Slide compound mitre saw and compound mitre saw
• Reciprocating saw
• Guillotine – powered or manually operated
• Grinder – pedestal or bench
• Buzzer – surface planer
• Thicknesser
• Spindle moulder
• Power wood shaper
• Portable planer
• Metal cut-off saw
• Table inverted router
• Portable plunge router – unsecured, for example, without template or guide fence.

The principal and/or their delegate must ensure that volunteers have been provided with completed risk assessments and safe work procedures for each item of restricted plant or equipment, as per the requirements of the OHS Risk Management Policy and Plant and Equipment Management Policy.

The principal and/or their delegate must ensure that all volunteers have been deemed competent to use items of restricted plant or equipment and are familiar with site specific Risk Management Forms and Safe Work Procedures.

2.2 Testing and tagging of electrical equipment

The principal and/or their delegate must ensure all electrical equipment brought onto site by volunteers has been tested and tagged prior to use, refer to Testing and Tagging of Electrical Equipment Policy.