Australian WHS Compliance for Imported Machinery

E.S.M. supported a supplier of overseas designed and manufactured mining machinery to demonstrate machine compliance with Australian WHS requirements and standards.

When the customer of the imported machine raised concerns that the machine did not comply with Australian standards, the supplier approached E.S.M. for expert support. Our role was to develop a robust process and framework to demonstrate machine compliance with Australian Work Health and Safety (WHS) requirements.

Compliance Assurance

E.S.M. supported the supplier to demonstrate that the machine was safe for its intended use, so far as is reasonably practicable, and therefore satisfied the associated duties under Australian Work, Health and Safety (WHS) law.

Risk Assessment

The process centred around a Safety of Machinery Risk Assessment conducted in accordance with AS/NZS 4024.1201. E.S.M. prepared for and facilitated the risk assessment workshop to identify hazards of the machine and associated control measures. Where necessary, actions were assigned to implement necessary control measures.

Standards Alignment

E.S.M. supported the supplier to identify associated Australian and International Standards applicable to control measures and interpret which were necessary to meet its WHS duty.

Verification

E.S.M. confirmed the validity of existing control measures and verified new measures as they were modified on the machine.

Evidence-Based Reporting

The output was a report that demonstrated that all hazards of the machine were identified and control measures implemented to reduce the risk so far as is reasonably practicable, and that implemented control measures satisfied the requirements of applicable Australian Standards or equivalent engineering body of knowledge.

The Outcome

The process and framework implemented, supported and verified by E.S.M. allowed the supplier to make necessary safety improvements to the machine, to push-back on the customer against unnecessary demands, and to produce an evidence trail demonstrating the safety of the machine and compliance with Australian WHS law.