AUGUST 2026 - Mobile Plant Safety
Elevating Work Platforms (EWPs), stump grinders, excavators and loaders are essential tools, but they can crush, strike, overturn or entangle in seconds if risks are not properly controlled.
This month’s toolbox talk reinforces the fundamentals of mobile plant safety, including pre-start checks, exclusion zones, powerline and underground service awareness, safe operating practices and emergency response.
Control the risk
Always work down the hierarchy of controls. PPE is the last line of defence, not the first:
Eliminate – avoid using the plant altogether where possible
Substitute – use a smaller or safer machine
Engineering – use ROPS/FOPS cabs, anchor points, reversing alarms and guards
Administrative – establish exclusion zones and use spotters, pre-start checklists and appropriately licensed operators
PPE – wear hi-vis clothing, a hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection and an EWP harness where required
Plant maintenance and pre-start checks
No pre-start, no start. Before operating mobile plant:
Complete the daily pre-start and logbook checks
Tag out and report faulty plant immediately—no workarounds
Keep servicing current with the manufacturer’s schedule
Maintain records in the plant register (REG-ENV-002)
Seven steps before starting mobile plant
Check → Clear → Barricade → Look Up → Inspect → Operate → Shutdown
Talk it through with your team
Does the EWP operator hold the correct and current licence for the equipment being used?
Have powerlines, underground services and ground conditions been identified?
Are there any plant defects or near misses to report?
For the full list of key hazards and controls, download the toolbox talk and discuss it with your team using the links below.