Purpose Site Safety Brief Generic / Remote Areas The purpose of this site brief is to provide you as a contractor the necessary information required to conduct your work safely and in accordance with Victorian Port Corporation (Melbourne) (VPC(M)) Occupational Health and Safety, and Environment (OHSE) rules. November 2015 Responsibility of VPC(M) Under the Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Act and in accordance with its policies, VPC(M) has a duty of care to ensure that so far as is reasonable practicable that: risks to health, safety and the environment are minimised adequate facilities for the welfare of workers are provided and adequate training, instruction, information or supervision is provided to enable workers to undertake their work safely.
Responsibility of Workers and / or Contractors All users/workers have a duty of care to ensure that they implement and maintain safe systems of work. This, in part, will be facilitated by: the completion of contractor induction training knowledge of the berth s emergency procedures identification of any site hazards conduct of a Job Safety & Environment Analysis (JSEA) obtaining any necessary Permit to Work approvals take reasonable care of their health and safety take reasonable care of the health and safety of persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions cooperate with their employer with respect to any action taken to comply with OH&S legislation do not intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided at the workplace in the interest of health, safety or welfare immediately notify their supervisor and VPC(M) contact upon becoming aware of any incident or hazard. Workplace Considerations Prior to entering the site all personnel should be familiar with the following workplace conditions: Slips, trips and falls A number of unsealed and uneven surfaces (including roadways) exist throughout the port at remote sites. Fall into openings and pits All workers working at remote site must be aware that there may be openings and pits whose covers may be dislodged. Obstacles There are may be spare parts, disused items, plant and machinery stored on site. These present a potential traffic hazard for vehicle movement and serve as nest for wild life. Coastal Marine Areas Coastlines and water depths may vary depending on the state of tide. The wetlands and grasslands may have unpredictable surfaces, debris, flotsam as well as flora and fauna which support the ecosystem. Flora Plant life in the form of tall grass, weeds, thistle and thorny bushes are often encountered. They should be reported and work postponed till work area is cleared of them. Fauna Wild life in the form of animals (Foxes, rodents ), birds (seagulls, pelicans ), Reptiles (Snakes, lizards ) and insects (Bees, wasp, ants ) are often encountered. Exercise caution and making a noise usually disturbs the wild life. They should be reported and work postponed till work area is cleared of them. Debris and Flotsam Debris and flotsam are often washed up on the coastal areas. These present a potential tripping hazard, and serve as nest for wild life. Airborne Dust Elements of airborne dust can sometimes affect visibility and air quality within the site. This usually occurs when conducting works on windy days or when high volumes of traffic are moving through the site. Pedestrian / Vehicle Traffic 2
Care is to be taken when driving vehicles within a remote site and speed limits if not marked must be limited to 20km/h. All personnel are to wear high visibility vests while in the site. Contamination - Surface Contaminants (organic and inorganic compounds) may be present in the soil. Care should be taken when handling or coming into contact with ground water, soil and vegetation. Proper hygiene procedures must be followed when handling contaminated products. Contamination - Subsurface Contaminants (organic and inorganic compounds) may be present at varying depths in the soil. Care should be taken when boring and drilling into the soil. Air/gas monitoring may be required on site. Needle stick injuries Used syringes may be present and care should be taken when walking in long grass or picking up debris. Asbestos Asbestos may be present within buildings and structures. Please refer to VPC(M) s asbestos register prior for more information. Multi-user site The site may have multiple users at any given time. Advise any other personnel on site if your work is likely to impact them. Permit to Work The following activities will require a permit when at Holden Dock: hazardous port activities, including bunkering and hot work Ensure you clarify with your VPC(M) contact as to whether you will require any other permits Personal Protective Clothing The minimum personnel protective equipment requirement is as follows: Notes: A high visibility vest Safety footwear Clothing with long pants and long sleeves Extra protective equipment may be needed depending on the workplace location and task to be undertaken. A job safety analysis or safe work method statement is to be used to determine if extra protective devices are required. Other PPE examples may include: A Hard Hat where risk of objects falling on your head is present, Gloves for manual handling tasks, Safety eyewear where a spill or splash may occur, fall protection equipment when working at heights above two metres. A personal floatation device (PFD) is required to be worn when working within 2 metres of the wharf edge. Smoking Smoking is not permitted within any VPC(M) buildings or berths. Road Safety The laws outlined in the Victorian Road Safety Act 1986 apply throughout VPC(M) controlled sites. The following restrictions also apply: Drivers of vehicles, plant and equipment must comply with all road traffic signage displayed throughout the VPC(M) controlled areas Vehicles, plant and equipment must be positioned so that the roadway or the emergency accesses are not restricted or blocked 3
All vehicles are to park in designated parking bays as applicable Speed limit of vehicles must be restricted to walking pace within berths Do not park or drive vehicles or equipment in such a manner that kerbs, gutters, drains, building structures or vegetation are likely to be damaged Vehicles must be parked facing out (rear to curb) and with the keys left in the ignition Housekeeping All work areas are to be kept free from debris and work materials. The work site is to be cleared of all work materials at the end of each day s activities or be secured from contact by other personnel entering the site. All waste and hazardous material is to be removed from VPC(M) land and disposed of in a safe and approved manner. All items (including drums and packages) must be clearly marked and identified with MSDS. Only immediate use chemicals are to be kept on site. Amenities Many of the remote sites have no amenities. In such circumstances, workers are to provide their own amenities or identify the closest public amenities. Work Procedures When working on site, respect other people working in the area and neighbouring tenants. Noisy and / or dirty work should be carried out at a time when minimal disruption should occur. Hazard and Incident Reporting Where a hazard is identified report the hazard to your direct manager or VPC(M) contact. An incident is an event which has or, has the potential to cause injury or disease to people, damage to property or equipment, or damage to the environment. An emergency incident will cause, or threaten to cause serious injury to people, major damage to VPC(M) property, its surrounds, the environment, port business and the business of the VPC(M) including but not limited to Fire, Explosions, Dangerous Goods Spills, Oil Spills, Vehicle Collisions, Structure Collapses and Bomb Threats. In the event that an incident occurs on a VPC(M) controlled site: First Aid where an emergency response is required immediately informing emergency services (police, fire, ambulance) and Melbourne VTS where a pollution response is required immediately informing Melbourne VTS in all cases you will be responsible for contacting your VPC(M) contact There is limited access to first aids kits at various VPC(M) remote sites; there are no first aid kits on vacant land that do not infrastructure. Workers are to ensure that they have adequate first aid equipment (including pressure immobilisation bandage) and qualified first aid attendants applicable to the type of work being undertaken. Workers are recommended to have at least one mobile phone that can be used if an emergency or incident arises. Working Near the Community Understand that your works may impact the community, including nearby businesses, properties and residents. Discuss the works with the VPC(M) manager 2 weeks before the works commence and work out how you will minimise the impacts. Particularly consider: traffic and parking disruptions temporary path or road detours 4
noisy or dusty work activity works conducted at night, in the early morning, on Saturday afternoons or on Sundays. When approached by a member of the public, respond promptly and in a polite manner. Assist the community member with simple enquiries and provide them with a VPC(M) Community Contact Line card so they can call VPC(M) for more detail. Report community issues to your VPC(M) manager immediately. Media Protocols Refer all media enquiries to VPC(M) s Head of Corporate Relations. Do not be drawn into providing even minor comment or opinion to any media outlet. Photography of VPC(M) sites, projects and people cannot be published, used in promotions, advertising or display without written permission from VPC(M) s Head of Corporate Relations. Contact your VPC(M) Manager to arrange. Environmental Contamination (Sub-Surface Works) Due to historical land reclamation and previous industrial operations in and around the port, all shallow soils within the port area should be regarded as potentially contaminated unless demonstrated otherwise through an assessment program conducted by suitably qualified personnel. The main pathways for exposure to contamination during subsurface works include: Absorption (following direct skin contact) Ingestion (during food consumption or smoking) Inhalation (of dusts, fibres and/or vapours) Therefore, regardless of location, it is recommended that workers avoid direct skin contact with soil by wearing a long sleeved shirt and full-length trousers during works. Workers should also ensure that they wash hands prior to consuming food and/or smoking. If the activities require workers to touch soil with their hands, it is recommended that disposable gloves be worn and discarded or cleaned following use. If hydrocarbon (fuel) or other chemical vapours are encountered, personnel working in the vicinity of the trench should wear a half-face respirator with organic filters. If vapours are considered to be offensive trenching works should cease and the VPC(M) project manager should be notified immediately. There is also a possibility that asbestos fibres may be present within excavated soils. Should fibrous material be identified, excavation should cease to enable further assessment to be undertaken. Where possible, generation of dust should be avoided. In minor dusty conditions where no chemical vapour has been identified, it is recommended that a particulate mask be worn to reduce potential for inhalation of dusts. If weather conditions result in significant dust generation, works should cease and the VPC(M) project manager should be notified immediately. Groundwater (and therefore groundwater contamination) is typically not encountered within the upper 1m of soil profile. However, should groundwater be encountered, physical contact with groundwater should be avoided and specific management will be required. If contact is unavoidable, disposable (latex or nitrile) gloves are recommended. Under no circumstances should groundwater be allowed to enter the storm water or river system via an excavated trench. Unexpected contamination Any material that appears contaminated (i.e. oily, odorous, ash-like or uniquely coloured) should not be used to backfill any subsurface excavations and should be stockpiled separately in a non-public area away from storm water pits/rivers. The VPC(M) project manager should be notified immediately should such soil be encountered. Environmental Impacts All personnel are to ensure that no contaminants are allowed to spill on the ground, enter the storm water system, port waters or atmosphere. Security 5
A valid MSIC access card is required to enter the berth. No MSIC card no entry. Access It is unlikely that access will be supported for non-essential services and works when a ship is at the berth. For information pertaining to current and future shipping operations refer to the VPC(M) website at www.portofmelbourne.com (specifically the Shipping Movements link on the Shipping Operations landing page) or contact your VPC(M) Manager. All requests for access when a ship is at berth are to be forwarded to the Duty Port Safety Officer. Weapons and Prohibited Items in Maritime Security Zones Persons who are granted unrestricted access into a common user facility shall be aware that unauthorised carriage or possession of weapons or prohibited items is an offence under Section 127 of the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003 (MTOFSA). Any person found to have breached the act shall have unrestricted access cancelled and may be liable for penalties associated with the breach of the MTOFSA. Emergency evacuation All persons entering the site are to be familiar with the site s evacuation plan (where available), normally located at the entry point of the site. In the event of an emergency: CALL 000, if the site has a POM number reference this to the emergency services Ensure your area is safe e.g. clear access and egress and isolate all equipment Move to a safe location and await the arrival of emergency services and further instructions Important Points of Contact Police Fire Ambulance Vessels at berth (emergencies) Chief Warden 0400 187 961 / UHF 9 Melbourne VTS 9644 9777 / VHF 12 Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 National Anti-Terrorist Hotline 1800 123 400 Customs Hotline 1800 061 800 VPC(M) Health, Safety and Environment 9683 1594 VPC(M) Community Contact Line 1300 857 662 Option 4 VPC(M) Head of Corporate Relations 0407 323 749 VPC(M) Security Officer 9612 3646 Port Security Control Room 9681 8044 Land Assets 9612 3619 Water Assets 9612 3595 Station Pier Gate House 9681 9729 000 6