Pressurised fluids toolbox talk
Read it out at the pre-start or a toolbox meeting, talk through the questions, and have everyone sign on. It's built from our pressurised fluids page and the 249 SafetyDocs templates that cover it.
- Site
- Date
- Presented by
What it is
Hydraulic oil, air or other fluids escaping under pressure from hoses and fittings, injecting into skin or striking people.
Controls to check, most effective first
- Release stored pressure and lower or support loads before disconnecting or repairing hydraulic or pneumatic components.
- Use hoses and fittings rated for the system pressure, and fit whip restraints to air hose connections.
- Inspect hoses for wear, bulging, leaks and damaged fittings before use, and replace them rather than patching them.
- Never feel for leaks with your hand; use cardboard or timber to find pinhole hydraulic leaks.
- Wear eye protection and gloves when working on or near pressurised systems.
- Treat any fluid injection injury as a medical emergency and get the person to hospital immediately, even if it looks minor.
Questions for the crew
- Where could pressurised fluids come up on this job today?
- The most effective control is: “Release stored pressure and lower or support loads before disconnecting or repairing hydraulic or pneumatic components”. Can we do that here? If not, why not?
- Which controls for pressurised fluids are missing or not working on this site?
- When would you stop work because of pressurised fluids, and who would you tell?
- How do we report a hazard, a near miss or an incident on this job?
Sign-on record
Everyone who attended signs below. Keep it with your toolbox talk records.
| Name | Company | Signature |
|---|---|---|
A starting point for a talk, not a SWMS or a risk assessment. Add what's particular to your site and crew.