Equipment malfunction or damage toolbox talk

What it is

Tools, plant or PPE that are faulty, damaged or missing parts and may fail during use.

Controls to check, most effective first

1. Buy or hire plant and tools suited to the task, and maintain them to the manufacturer's instructions.
2. Do a pre-start check before each use, following the manufacturer's checklist or the site's inspection form.
3. Tag out and remove faulty or damaged equipment immediately so nobody else uses it before it is repaired.
4. Keep inspection, service and repair records, and have lifting gear and fall-arrest equipment inspected by a competent person.
5. Withdraw any harness, lanyard or other fall-arrest equipment that has arrested a fall until it has been assessed.

Where it comes up on the job

Work steps from SafetyDocs templates that deal with equipment malfunction or damage:

• Pump useOperate the pump safely to prevent burns and equipment failureFrom Water Jetting Drains

Questions for the crew

1. Where could equipment malfunction or damage come up on this job today?
2. The most effective control is: “Buy or hire plant and tools suited to the task, and maintain them to the manufacturer's instructions”. Can we do that here? If not, why not?
3. Which controls for equipment malfunction or damage are missing or not working on this site?
4. When would you stop work because of equipment malfunction or damage, and who would you tell?
5. How do we report a hazard, a near miss or an incident on this job?