Plant Hazard and Risk Register

Purpose. Lists the significant health and safety hazards at each Southern Cross site, the current controls, the residual risk rating and the owner responsible for maintaining each control.

1.How the register is used

The register is the master list of hazards identified through risk assessments, incident investigations, inspections and consultation. Department managers use it to plan inspections and toolbox talks, and the health and safety committee reviews it every quarter. New hazards are added when they are reported and assessed.

2.Risk rating method

Each hazard is rated for likelihood and consequence before and after controls using the five by five matrix in the risk management procedure. A residual rating of High or Extreme requires a documented action plan and monthly review by the General Manager.

3.Lairage and livestock

Hazards include crush injuries between animals and gates, kicks and horn strikes, falls from the unloading ramp, truck movements in the yard and zoonotic infection. Controls include gate design with escape gaps, exclusion from pens during unloading, ramp handrails and non-slip surfaces, a traffic plan and Q fever vaccination.

• Crush between animal and gate: High before controls, Medium residual
• Truck movement in yard: High before controls, Low residual
• Q fever exposure: Extreme before controls, Low residual

4.Slaughter floor and boning room

Hazards include knife and bandsaw lacerations, falls from rise and fall platforms, carcase strike from the chain, whizard knife injuries, ammonia exposure and repetitive strain. Controls include mesh personal protective equipment, platform guarding and interlocks, chain stop pull cords, station rotation, ammonia detection with alarms and evacuation drills.

• Knife laceration: Extreme before controls, Medium residual
• Bandsaw contact: Extreme before controls, Medium residual
• Ammonia release: Extreme before controls, Low residual

5.Packing, cold store and loadout

Hazards include forklift and pedestrian interaction, manual handling of cartons, cold stress in the blast freezer, falls from the loading dock and entrapment in freezer rooms. Controls include separated pedestrian walkways, carton weight limits and conveyors, freezer suits and time limits, dock edge protection and internal door releases with alarms.

6.Rendering and services

Hazards include hot surfaces and steam, confined space entry in cookers and tanks, boiler operation, biogas and hydrogen sulphide, and chemical handling in the cleaning store. Controls include permit to work for confined space and hot work, gas detection, isolation procedures and safety data sheets at the point of use.

7.Register maintenance

The People and Safety Manager owns the register. Each control has a named owner and a verification frequency. Controls that fail verification must be reported at the health and safety committee and the hazard rating reviewed.