School Work Equipment Defect, Isolation and Safe-Use Procedure

This procedure applies where the school provides, uses or controls work equipment. It applies to powered gates, barriers or doors where a safety defect or potentially unsafe condition is identified.

1. Inspect work equipment

Inspect work equipment on a regular basis so that deterioration can be identified and action can be taken before it creates a health or safety risk. Inspection is particularly important where safe operation depends on installation conditions or where the equipment is exposed to conditions that may cause dangerous deterioration.

Use the school’s inspection arrangements and manufacturer maintenance instructions where relevant. Record the condition identified and any deterioration or defect using [defect reporting route].

2. Report deterioration or defects

Report deterioration, defects or any condition that may affect safe operation to [equipment responsible person] without delay. The report should identify the equipment, the observed condition and any immediate action taken.

3. Take dangerous equipment out of use

If work equipment is found to be dangerous, take it out of use immediately. Keep it out of use until all safety concerns have been adequately addressed.

Use the applicable isolation or other temporary control and communicate that the equipment is not available for normal use. Do not return dangerous equipment to normal use while safety concerns remain.

4. Powered gates, barriers and doors

Where a powered gate is suspected or confirmed to be unsafe, arrange for it to be made safe by a competent person. Until then, switch it off or use it only in a safe supervised way, such as under direct hold-to-run control.

For the powered gate at [site powered gate location], record the immediate control applied and contact [competent person contact] for competent assessment or work to make the gate safe.

5. Assessment, repair and return to service

Arrange competent assessment or repair where required. Keep the equipment out of use, or keep the powered gate switched off or under safe supervised control, until the safety concerns have been adequately addressed.

Normal operation may resume only after the equipment has been made safe and the responsible person has received confirmation from the competent person or other appropriate assessment that the safety concerns have been addressed.

6. Records

Retain the relevant inspection record, defect report, immediate control or isolation record, competent-person assessment or repair record, and confirmation that the equipment was safe before normal operation resumed.