Risk Assessment and Safe System of Work for Replacing a Bent Parking Net Pole

Assessment Date: [DATE]

Assessor: [ASSESSOR NAME]

Department/Area: [DEPARTMENT/AREA]

Review Date: [REVIEW DATE]

1. Assessment Scope

This risk assessment covers the planned replacement of a bent parking net pole, including site set-up, isolation of the work area, inspection and removal of the damaged pole, excavation or ground disturbance as required, lifting and positioning of the replacement pole, reinstatement of the ground and any temporary works, and demobilisation. It applies to employees, supervisors, competent persons, plant operators, riggers, and any subcontractors involved in the task. The assessment also covers interface risks with pedestrians, site traffic, public vehicles, and nearby work equipment. Exclusions: this assessment does not cover unrelated civil works beyond the immediate pole replacement area, permanent redesign of the parking net system, or major structural repairs to adjacent assets unless separately authorised and assessed.

2. Risk Assessment Methodology

A task-based Job Hazard Analysis approach is used, consistent with breaking the work into discrete steps, identifying hazards at each step, assessing likelihood and severity, and applying controls using the hierarchy of controls. The assessment uses a 5x5 risk matrix with likelihood levels of Rare, Unlikely, Possible, Likely, and Almost Certain, and severity levels of Negligible, Minor, Moderate, Major, and Catastrophic. Controls are selected in the order of elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and PPE. The assessment must be reviewed with the work crew before starting and updated if conditions change during the job.

3. Risk Matrix Reference

The following matrix is used to evaluate risk levels based on likelihood and severity:

		Likelihood
Rare	Unlikely	Possible	Likely	Almost Certain
Severity	Catastrophic	Low	Low	Low	Low	Medium
Major	Low	Low	Medium	Medium	High
Moderate	Low	Medium	Medium	High	High
Minor	Medium	Medium	High	High	Extreme
Negligible	Medium	High	High	Extreme	Extreme

4. Hazard Identification and Risk Evaluation

1. Striking underground services or hidden obstructions during excavation or ground disturbance for pole removal and replacement.

Potential Consequences: Damage to buried utilities, electric shock, gas release, flooding, service interruption, fire, explosion, or serious injury to workers and nearby persons. [1] [7]

Affected Persons: Groundworkers, excavator operators, supervisors, nearby workers, visitors, and the public.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Major	High

Control Measures

• Eliminate unnecessary excavation by confirming whether the pole can be removed and replaced using existing foundations or non-invasive methods.
• Obtain utility plans, carry out service locating, and mark the work area before breaking ground.
• Use a permit to work and require competent supervision for excavation and ground disturbance.
• Use hand digging or vacuum excavation near known or suspected services.
• Establish exclusion zones around the excavation and stop work immediately if unknown services are encountered.
• Provide task-specific PPE including gloves, eye protection, safety footwear, and high-visibility clothing.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Major	Medium

2. Manual handling of the bent pole, replacement pole, tools, and ancillary materials.

Potential Consequences: Musculoskeletal strain, sprains, back injury, crush injuries to hands and feet, or dropped loads causing impact injuries. [12] [14]

Affected Persons: Groundworkers, riggers, installers, and any person assisting with handling operations.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Likely	Moderate	High

Control Measures

• Eliminate manual lifting where practicable by using mechanical handling aids, lifting equipment, or team lifting.
• Use suitable lifting accessories and plan the lift so the load is stable and within equipment capacity.
• Break down the task so components are moved in manageable sections where possible.
• Provide manual handling instruction, including keeping hands clear of pinch points and using correct lifting posture.
• Wear gloves with adequate grip, safety footwear, and high-visibility clothing.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Minor	Medium

3. Lifting operations involving the damaged pole, replacement pole, or associated components.

Potential Consequences: Load drop, rigging failure, struck-by injuries, crush injuries, property damage, or fatality. [10] [8]

Affected Persons: Riggers, slingers, operators, installers, supervisors, and anyone within the fall zone.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Major	High

Control Measures

• Use a qualified rigger and competent lifting supervisor for all lifting operations.
• Inspect lifting equipment, slings, shackles, hooks, and attachments before use and remove defective items from service.
• Determine the load weight and centre of gravity before lifting and ensure the lifting arrangement is suitable.
• Establish a barricaded fall zone and prohibit anyone from standing under suspended loads.
• Use tag lines where needed to control load movement and maintain clear communication between the operator and ground crew.
• Wear hard hats, gloves, safety footwear, and high-visibility clothing.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Major	Medium

4. Collapse or instability of temporary works, including the partially removed pole, excavation edges, or any temporary support used during replacement.

Potential Consequences: Collapse of the work area, falling materials, entrapment, struck-by injuries, or damage to adjacent assets. [15] [15]

Affected Persons: Groundworkers, installers, supervisors, and nearby persons.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Major	High

Control Measures

• Eliminate unstable temporary arrangements by using a planned sequence that keeps the pole stable at all times.
• Use engineered temporary supports, shoring, or bracing where required by the ground conditions or installation method.
• Have a competent person inspect temporary works before use and after any change in conditions.
• Keep personnel out of unsupported or unstable areas and maintain exclusion zones around the work face.
• Stop work if ground conditions deteriorate or if movement, cracking, or settlement is observed.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Major	Medium

5. Contact with moving plant, tools, or equipment during removal and installation activities.

Potential Consequences: Struck-by injuries, caught-between injuries, cuts, crush injuries, or fatality. [5] [12]

Affected Persons: Operators, groundworkers, riggers, supervisors, and nearby workers.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Major	High

Control Measures

• Use only equipment suitable for the task and ensure it is inspected before use.
• Separate pedestrians from plant using barriers, exclusion zones, and controlled access points.
• Use a banksman or spotter where reversing, slewing, or close-quarters manoeuvring is required.
• Maintain clear communication with operators before entering the equipment operating area.
• Keep hands and feet clear of pinch points and never place body parts between moving and fixed objects.
• Wear high-visibility clothing, safety footwear, gloves, and hard hats.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Major	Medium

6. Public and vehicle interface at or near the parking area, access road, or adjacent traffic routes.

Potential Consequences: Collision with workers or plant, injury to members of the public, damage to vehicles, and disruption to site operations. [5] [11]

Affected Persons: Workers, visitors, delivery drivers, members of the public, and plant operators.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Likely	Major	High

Control Measures

• Plan the work to minimise exposure to live traffic and public access.
• Install barriers, cones, signs, and where necessary a traffic management layout to separate the work area from vehicles and pedestrians.
• Use a traffic marshal or banksman for vehicle movements and reversing operations.
• Schedule work during lower-traffic periods where practicable.
• Provide clear entry and exit routes for vehicles and pedestrians and keep the area tidy to avoid confusion and trip hazards.
• Use high-visibility PPE for all personnel in the interface area.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Moderate	Medium

7. Use of work equipment such as excavators, compactors, lifting accessories, cutting tools, or powered hand tools.

Potential Consequences: Equipment failure, entanglement, cuts, eye injuries, noise exposure, flying debris, or uncontrolled movement of tools and materials. [1] [2] [4]

Affected Persons: Operators, installers, maintenance personnel, and nearby workers.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Moderate	Medium

Control Measures

• Use the correct tool or machine for the task and do not improvise with unsuitable equipment.
• Inspect equipment, guards, cables, attachments, and safety devices before use and remove defective equipment from service.
• Follow manufacturer instructions and safe operating procedures at all times.
• Provide task-specific training and authorisation for equipment operators.
• Use PPE appropriate to the task, including eye protection, gloves, hearing protection where required, and safety footwear.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Moderate	Low

8. Exposure to falling objects, including tools, pole sections, spoil, or loose materials during lifting and installation.

Potential Consequences: Head injury, facial injury, fractures, bruising, or fatality to workers or bystanders. [8] [16]

Affected Persons: Groundworkers, riggers, operators, supervisors, and any person within the drop zone.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Major	High

Control Measures

• Keep the area below lifting and installation activities barricaded and signed.
• Secure tools and materials to prevent them from falling or being displaced.
• Do not work or stand under suspended loads.
• Use toe boards, catch methods, or controlled handling methods where appropriate.
• Require hard hats and high-visibility clothing for all persons in the work area.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Moderate	Medium

9. Adverse weather, poor lighting, or lone working affecting the safety of excavation, lifting, and vehicle interface activities.

Potential Consequences: Reduced visibility, loss of control of equipment, slips and trips, delayed emergency response, and increased likelihood of struck-by or fall incidents. [5] [13]

Affected Persons: All workers on site, especially those working near plant, traffic, or excavations.

Initial Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Possible	Major	High

Control Measures

• Suspend or modify work during high winds, heavy rain, lightning, ice, or other adverse conditions.
• Provide adequate lighting for the work area and access routes when visibility is reduced.
• Avoid lone working for high-risk activities such as lifting, excavation, or traffic interface.
• Increase supervision and communication checks during changing conditions.
• Issue weather-appropriate PPE and ensure workers are prepared for cold, wet, or low-light conditions.

Residual Risk Assessment

Likelihood	Severity	Risk Rating
Unlikely	Moderate	Medium

5. General Control Measures

• Hold a site-specific job briefing before work starts and whenever conditions change.

Review the task steps, hazards, controls, emergency arrangements, and any site-specific changes with the crew before starting and again if the work scope, weather, traffic conditions, or ground conditions change. [1]

• Use a permit to work for excavation, lifting, and any activity that could affect buried services, traffic, or temporary works stability.

The permit should confirm utility checks, competent supervision, exclusion zones, lifting arrangements, and authorisation to proceed. [3]

• Establish and enforce exclusion zones around excavation, lifting, and vehicle movement areas.

Use barriers, cones, tape, and signage to keep unauthorised persons out of the work area and to prevent exposure to struck-by and fall hazards. [5]

• Ensure all personnel are competent and authorised for their assigned duties.

Only trained operators, riggers, and competent supervisors should carry out equipment operation, lifting, traffic control, and excavation oversight. [6]

• Provide and enforce appropriate PPE for the task.

Minimum PPE should normally include hard hat, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear, gloves, and eye protection; add hearing protection, respiratory protection, or other PPE if the task conditions require it. [2] [4]

6. Emergency Preparedness

• If a utility strike occurs, stop work immediately, evacuate the area if required, isolate ignition sources where safe to do so, and notify the relevant emergency and utility contacts through site procedures.
• If a load becomes unstable or is dropped, clear the fall zone, do not attempt to catch the load, and only re-enter the area once the competent person confirms it is safe.
• If a worker is injured by plant, excavation collapse, or struck-by impact, raise the alarm, provide first aid within the limits of training, and call emergency services without delay.
• If weather or visibility deteriorates, suspend the task, secure equipment and materials, and move personnel to a safe location until conditions improve.
• Maintain clear access for emergency response vehicles and identify the nearest muster point, first aid provision, and emergency egress route before work begins.

7. Training Requirements

• Job Hazard Analysis and Site Briefing Training: All workers involved in the task must understand the job steps, the hazards associated with each step, the control measures in place, and the requirement to stop work if conditions change. The briefing must be task-specific and repeated when the work plan changes. [1]
  • How to recognise changing site conditions
  • How to report new hazards
  • Stop-work authority and escalation process
• Excavation and Ground Disturbance Awareness: Workers must be trained to recognise buried service risks, safe digging practices, spoil placement, edge protection, and the limits of hand digging near services. Competent supervision is required for higher-risk ground disturbance. [3]
  • Utility locating and marking
  • Safe digging near services
  • Signs of ground instability
• Lifting and Rigging Competence: Personnel involved in lifting operations must be trained and competent in load estimation, sling selection, rigging angles, centre of gravity, exclusion zones, and communication with the operator. Defective lifting gear must be removed from service. [10]
  • Load weight and centre of gravity
  • Inspection of slings and attachments
  • Use of tag lines and hand signals
• Traffic Management and Vehicle Interface Training: Workers exposed to vehicles or plant must be trained in traffic control arrangements, pedestrian segregation, reversing controls, and safe entry and exit from the work area. Banksmen and traffic marshals must be competent for the role. [5]
  • Reversing and spotter procedures
  • Pedestrian segregation
  • High-visibility PPE use
• PPE Selection and Use: Workers must be trained to select, wear, inspect, and maintain PPE correctly, including hard hats, gloves, eye protection, high-visibility clothing, and safety footwear. PPE must fit properly and be used as the final layer of protection, not as a substitute for other controls. [4]
  • Correct fit and adjustment
  • Inspection before use
  • Replacement of damaged PPE

8. Monitoring and Review

Review Frequency: Review before each job, after any incident or near miss, and at least annually.

Monitoring Type	Frequency	Responsible Party	Description
Pre-Start Inspection	Before each shift and before any lifting or excavation activity	Competent supervisor and equipment operator	Inspect the work area, plant, lifting accessories, excavation edges, temporary works, access routes, and PPE condition before work begins. Remove defective equipment from service and correct unsafe conditions before proceeding. [9]
Work Area and Exclusion Zone Check	Continuous during the task	Supervisor or banksman	Monitor the integrity of barriers, the movement of vehicles and pedestrians, the position of workers relative to suspended loads, and any encroachment into the exclusion zone. Stop work if controls are breached. [5]
Competent Person Inspection	At setup, after any change in conditions, and at completion of the task	Competent person	Verify excavation stability, temporary works, lifting arrangements, and the overall safety of the work sequence. Reassess if weather, ground conditions, or traffic conditions change. [15]
PPE Compliance Check	Daily and spot-checked during the task	Supervisor	Confirm that workers are wearing the required PPE correctly and that items remain in safe condition throughout the job. Replace damaged or unsuitable PPE immediately. [2]

9. Special Circumstances

• High winds, heavy rain, lightning, ice, or poor visibility may increase the risk of lifting failure, slips, and vehicle interface incidents and may require the task to be postponed or re-sequenced.
• Night work or low-light conditions require enhanced lighting, high-visibility PPE, and additional supervision to maintain safe separation from vehicles and plant.
• Lone work is not suitable for high-risk steps such as lifting, excavation, or traffic interface because immediate assistance may be needed in an emergency.
• Uneven ground, soft ground, or recently disturbed soil may reduce stability for plant, temporary works, and lifting operations and must be reassessed before proceeding.

Approval and Sign-off

This risk assessment has been reviewed and approved by:

Assessor: _________________________ Date: __________

Manager/Supervisor: _________________________ Date: __________

Safety Representative: _________________________ Date: __________

This risk assessment must be reviewed review before each job, after any incident or near miss, and at least annually. or when significant changes occur.

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