Symmetrical Group

Policies and Procedures

OHS&E\SAFETY PROCEDURES

SG-PR-33-14 Barricading and Signage

1. Introduction

This barricade and signage standard procedure is designed to control any situation where hazardous conditions are evident or potentially foreseeable, and which may present danger to persons, or damage to equipment or property. The type of barricading shall be determined by way of a risk assessment or Job Hazard Analysis and will be in compliance with the relevant state statutory, Acts, Regulations and Codes of Practice. Appropriate signage shall be used in conjunction with physical barriers to enhance and communicate the barrier message, the signs erected shall be in compliance with relevant state legislation and AS 1319-1994-Safety signs for the occupational environment

Barricades are required and shall be erected in such situations as:

• Overhead work
• Confined space entry
• Scaffold erection and dismantling
• Chemical and product spills
• Traffic and pedestrian control
• Excavations
• Road Works
• Edge protection
• Crane slew demarcation
• Hazardous material storage areas

2. General

Barrier tapes shall only be used in cases of emergency and for the minimum amount of time necessary.  Barrier tape breaks down in strong ultraviolet light and it fails in moderate to strong winds. For most applications rigid barricading consisting of solid vertical and horizontal members shall be used eg (scaffolding members).  Barrier fencing such as Para-webbing, Fence Stop, and Guardex or similar may be used in certain circumstances.

Typical Example of Barrier Fencing

All trenches, excavations, the open sides of all floors, floor openings, stairwells, roofs, platforms, walkways from which a person can fall any distance shall be adequately barricaded.  As an example, in some high traffic areas an excavation of only 300-mm deep would require a warning barricade. Where a person could fall 1.5 metres or greater, then such barricading must also provide a solid physical barrier. This might be, well supported barrier fencing or a solid barrier, fence or guard rails. Barricades shall also be installed wherever there is an area of danger including crane work, overhead activities, possible falling objects or other hazardous specialised work.

Barricades shall be installed to a height of approximately 900-mm and shall be rigidly supported on posts, star pickets etc, no further than 6 metres apart.  For long duration barricading, a top wire shall be installed.

Method to Attach Barrier Fencing

Persons authorised to enter a barricaded area are:

• Those who installed the barricade and who have taken the appropriate measures to protect themselves from the hazard. (eg fall arrest harness)
• Those engaged in re-establishing the area to a safe state, and who have made themselves aware of the hazards, and who have taken the appropriate measures to protect themselves from the hazard.
• Those who need to enter the area to perform a function that cannot be delayed until the hazard is removed providing they have made themselves aware of the hazard, and have taken the appropriate measures to protect themselves from the hazard.
• For the purpose of carrying out further work or handling materials within the barricade, sufficient length of the barricading or guardrail may be removed, provided that it is replaced immediately on completion of such work.  At such times, temporary barricading with warning signs shall be required.
• Barrier Flags are suitable for visual barricading only.  They are most appropriate for hazards above the ground, the use of this type of barricading should be on a strictly temporary basis with a more substantial barricade erected as soon as practicable.
• Solid Substantial Barriers shall be used wherever physical protection is required to stop people from falling.  Solid substantial barricades shall be soundly engineered, constructed and secured.
• The use of temporary scaffold barriers shall be considered if no other means of solid barricading is available. The maintenance and construction of this type of barrier shall be strictly controlled.
• Personnel working within the barricaded area shall identify their presence by affixing Personnel Danger Tags to the barrier.
• Solid barricades shall consist of vertical stanchions or support posts no less than 900 mm in length spaced at intervals of 4 meters, the posts shall be secured by welding, bolting chemical anchors or other substantial method of fastening. The posts or stanchions shall be traversed by solid horizontal members so as to form a solid physical barrier. Where there is a risk of tools or equipment being kicked of knocked over the an open edge toe-boards or infill mesh panels shall be fixed to the barricade.

3. Responsibilities

Barricades shall be supplied installed and maintained by;

• Any person who creates a hazard
• Detects a hazard and considers unauthorised personnel should not enter the area, this person shall report the barricade to their supervisor who will review the hazard with the person and commence action steps to rectify the hazard.
• It is the responsibility of the Supervisor to ensure the barricade is properly installed maintained and disposed of in compliance with this standard.
• Barrier material on the ground shall be reinstated immediately or disposed of. 
• Barriers shall be removed immediately the work is complete or the hazard no longer exists.
• When safety barricades are found to be apparently abandoned, employees shall not enter the area until it is determined the hazard no longer exists.  The responsible Area Supervisor shall be contacted for assistance.  If the hazard has been eliminated, the barrier shall be removed.

4. Signage

• All signs shall be in accordance with AS 1319-1994-Safety signs for the occupational environment. All barricades erected will have appropriate signage communicating the type of hazard associated with the barricading.
• Signs shall be erected on as many points as practicable on the barricade, to ensure all personnel are aware of the associated hazard.
• Signs where practicable shall be of a combination type ie comprises of both word and symbol.
• The person erecting signs shall ensure that they are suitable for the intended purpose.
• The meaning of safety signs used on a site or project must be communicated to the workforce at the induction or at toolbox or five minute safety talks.
• Signs used in conjunction with barricading are designated Hazard signs, they are subdivided into the following.
• Danger signs - Signs warning of a particular hazard or hazardous condition that is likely to be life threatening.
• Warning signs - Signs warning of a hazard or hazardous condition that is not likely to be life threatening.

AS 1319 - 1994 sets forth design and use standards for safety signs used in the work environment. Safety signs are classified by function into groups. Use the following guidelines to determine which sign classification best suits your application.

• Mandatory Signs are regulatory signs which indicate that an instruction must be carried out. When symbols are used they are white on a blue disc. Text only mandatory signs are black on white in a portrait format.

• Prohibition Signs are regulatory signs which indicate that an action or activity is not permitted. The symbolic shape used on prohibition signs is the red annulus and slash over a black symbol. It is allowable for prohibition signs to contain only the red annulus and text with no symbol.

• Warning Signs are hazard signs which warn of a hazard or hazardous condition that is not likely to be life threatening. The symbolic shape used on warning hazard signs is a black triangle with yellow interior and black symbol.

• Danger Signs are hazard signs which warn of a hazard or hazardous condition that is likely to be life threatening. The red, black and white danger header can appear on signs in portrait, landscape or horizontal format.

Exhibit A

Examples of Barricading        

Date published: 25/07/2013

* -25/07/2013 12:27:06 PM