11 Critical Risks. 1 Goal: A Safer Thales Workplace

Critical Risk Controls

At Thales we strive to ensure that our people are safe, healthy and supported within their work environment. To do this we have evaluated the most critical risks to our workers and looked at how we can reduce or remove those risks.

For our physical risks, Thales has implemented robust controls to keep our people safe and prevent serious injury or fatality associated with specific high consequence risks. We do this by applying a structured approach to the design, deployment and monitoring of critical risk controls. For each critical risk, we publish a ‘minimum control standard’ that must be planned for, implemented and monitored. 

Importantly, these control standards have been developed by our own internal experts and validated by ‘end users’ , our people who perform the work every day as part of their role at Thales, to ensure they are fit for purpose. As each Critical Risk topic is addressed and reviewed it will be placed online incrementally.

Inadvertent Contact with Electricity

Minimum Requirements

The minimum requirements for preventing inadvertent contact with electricity and associated work are:

E1: Only trained and competent persons may perform electrical work IAW State Electrical Licensing Standards.

E2: Where isolation is not reasonably practicable, barriers or physical markers must be used to maintain the clearance distances between mobile plant and overhead electrical services.

E3: Electrical isolation and lock out procedures must be in place and completed prior to work commencing on live electrical circuits. Any deviation to this process must be documented and risk assessed.

E4: RCD protection and testing in place for portable electrical equipment not battery operated.

E5: Underground and concealed electrical services must be located prior to any excavation or penetration.

E6: Switchboards must be compliant and secured.

E7: Maintenance, testing, tagging and visual inspection of electrical equipment and plant conducted and in date.

E8: Implement design, configuration and management of change processes for electrical circuits, plant and equipment.

Mobile Plant and People Interaction

Minimum Requirements

The minimum requirements for preventing an incident with mobile plant and people interaction and associated work are:

MP1: Plant and people are separated, defined exclusion zones are maintained, and entry to work areas is controlled.

MP2: Operators must be trained, assessed as competent and authorized to operate the specific item of mobile equipment.

MP3: Mobile Plant is inspected before mobilization and before use (including suitability for task).

MP4: Fitted safety devices (i.e. seat belts) must be worn.

MP5: Loads are safely secured.

MP6: Mobile phones (on sites that allow use) and two-way radios may be used provided the mobile plant is stopped in a safe location with the handbrake applied.

Working at Heights and Dropped Objects

Minimum requirements

The minimum requirements for preventing a working at height or dropped objects incident work are:

WAH1: Only approved and appropriately tagged and/or inspected scaffolding, fall arrest systems fixed and elevated work platforms must be used.

WAH2: Physical barriers, barricading, encapsulation, tool straps, exclusion (drop) zones or lockouts to prevent entry by persons are installed directly beneath and immediately adjacent to areas where work is occurring above.

WAH3: Step ladders and extension ladders must be used for access and light work only.

WAH4: Safe work methods must be documented for any work where there is a risk of falling 2m or more from one level to another level.

WAH5: Personnel working at heights are trained and competent.

WAH6: Specified personal protective equipment must be worn at heights.

WAH7: A rescue plan for working at heights is in place and resources are available.

Transport and Driving

Minimum Requirements

The minimum requirements for transport and driving are:

TD1: Journeys are planned for the safest duration, day and time, and route. Communication is to be maintained or available throughout the journey.

TD2: Only authorised and Competent employees are permitted to drive a motor vehicle for work purposes and must have a valid and current licence to operate the class of vehicle being driven.

TD3: All vehicles and trailers are fit for their purpose, maintained in a safe working order IAW OEM instructions and include all required safety features that are available.

TD4: A vehicle inspection schedule is maintained and up to date prior to use of all Thales vehicles.

TD5: All loads are secured correctly for the load type and within OEMs and legal limits.

Lifting and Cranage

Minimum Requirements

The minimum requirements for lifting and cranage are:

LC1: Prior to conducting a crane lift, the site must be assessed for hazards that may impact the work and incorporated into the Lift Plan.

LC2: All cranes, hoists, lifting gear and taglines are suitable for the task and the load characteristics.

LC3: All personnel involved in a crane lift are qualified and assessed for competency in their role for the different types, capacities and operations of cranes.

LC4: Exclusion zones must be established using continuous physical barriers.

LC5: Lifting activities will be conducted and controlled in accordance with documented lifting operations and safe systems of work.

LC6: All loads must be suitably contained, correctly packaged and restrained prior to lifting.

LC7: Where crane operators work at height, a rescue plan must be documented and tested.

Fixed Plant and People Interaction

Minimum Requirements

The minimum requirements for fixed plant and people interaction are:

FP1: All operators of fixed plant are assessed for fitness and competency, and are authorised to operate specific machinery.

FP2: All fixed plant and consumables are suitable for the task.

FP3: The safe operation of fixed plant is described in accessible and easy to understand procedures.

FP4: All fixed plant must be subject to pre-start checks, inspections and maintenance in accordance with Australian Standards, OEM specifications, or equivalent.

FP5: All fixed plant shall be housed in a suitable operating environment.

FP6: All cleaning, servicing and maintenance work is to be conducted on isolated fixed plant.

FP7: Change management processes must be applied to alterations of fixed plant.

FP8: All fixed plant must be guarded to protect the operator from injury.

FP9: Operating controls and warning devices are accessible, easy to understand and use.

FP10: Where they are used, contractors safely service and maintain fixed plant to ensure its ongoing safety and suitability.

Stored Energy

Minimum Requirements

The minimum requirements for stored energy interaction are:

SE1: All operators and maintainers of pressure and other stored energy systems are assessed for fitness and competency, and are authorised to undertake work on those systems.

SE2: Plant, parts and consumables for pressure and other stored energy systems are designed to relevant standards and suitable for the task.

SE3: The safe operation and maintenance of pressure and other stored energy systems is described in accessible and easy to understand procedures.

SE4: All pressure and other stored energy systems must be subject to inspections and maintenance in accordance with Australian Standards, OEM specifications, or equivalent.

SE5: All stored energy is released or restrained prior to operations or maintenance work.

SE6: Exclusion zones are established where there is a risk of operators and bystanders being impacted by stored energy risks.

SE7: Pressure controls, indicators and warning devices are accessible, easy to understand and use.

SE8: Where contractors are engaged, they have the capability and capacity to safely operate and maintain pressure and other stored energy systems.

SE9: Change management processes must be applied to alterations of pressure and other stored energy systems.

SE10: Protocols are established to respond effectively to specific pressure and stored energy injuries.