1. Workplace rules that will save your life
Cardinal Rules
Workplace rules that will save your life

2. The Downer Cardinal Rules document behaviours and situations which we know can lead to serious harm to our people.
The Cardinal Rules and associated compliance guides are available on the Zero Harm pages of the Downer intranet:
Please review the Rules and familiarise yourself with them; you can also download the posters from the link above to print and display in your work areas.
Non-compliance to the Downer Cardinal Rules will be taken seriously, and will result in disciplinary action and a potential loss of employment.
NEVER walk directly behind or in the path of a reversing vehicle.
Scope:
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What to Do:
Ask yourself:
Is the task going to require me to be in the path of this reversing vehicle
What could go wrong
Do I have a clear path in case of emergency to be well clear of the vehicle.

3. 1. NEVER walk directly behind or in the path of a reversing vehicle.
Scope:
Whenever a task requires Downer personnel and/or contractors to work closely with reversing vehicles.
What to Do:
Specific arrangements shall be in place to ensure that reversing vehicles and other mobile plant, do not present a risk to personnel. This shall include arrangements to:
Minimising the amount of reversing required;
Minimising the amount of moving plant working at one time;
using audible reversing alarms and/or other technologies or other safe work practices. Note: reversing alarms may cause confusion where multiple plant is using the same area; other systems of work may be required; they may also be inappropriate where work is to be carried out at night near residential areas;
Where multiple plant is operated around the work site a competent person shall be used to direct the plant (i.e. when vehicles and plant are operating in close proximity to each other, when reversing, where persons are on the ground, or in other situations as indicated by the risk assessment);
nominating a designated worker to act as an observer to ensure all persons are clear of a reversing vehicle;
Any other measures and precautions, as identified in the risk assessment.

4. 2. NEVER work at height without fall protection.
Scope:
Whenever a task requires you to leave the ground or work around open pits or excavations.
What to do:
Always consider doing the task on the ground, can the job be relocated if not make sure you have a solid construction to work from with handrails,
Consider fall prevention devices such as a temporary work platform, scaffolds, elevated working platforms or guard-railing;
As a last option use fall prevention systems such as full-body harness fitted with an appropriate lanyard to a secure approved anchorage.
Working from fixed or portable ladders should be avoided; if this is not possible then the ladders must be secured at the foot and top.

5. 3. NEVER enter a designated confined space without training and a permit.
Scope:
A confined space is an enclosed or partially enclosed space that is not intended or designed primarily for human occupancy. Confined spaces include tanks, pipes, vessels, pits, enclosures in and around buildings and plant.
What to Do:
Be trained in confined space work.
Properly plan the work.
Ensure a confined space permit is available and that you took part in the risk assessment and apply the agreed controls.
Make sure you don’t start the work until all controls are in place including your emergency response process.

6. 4. NEVER be under a suspended load.
Scope:
Suspended loads are situations in which the load can fall or drop striking or crushing a person. Examples include loads lifted by cranes, chain blocks, forklifts or supported by jacks, rigs, mobile plant.
What to do:
Prior to making contact with the load ensure it is placed on the ground or on an engineered support device or stand.
Where loads are being shifted use tag lines to position to the load, keep distance from you and the load.
Plan your lifts.
If supported on jacks make sure that the jacks have fail-safe mechanisms built in.

7. 5. NEVER enter a designated exclusion zone without authorisation.
Scope:
Exclusion zones are designated areas that control access to known hazards. They can be identified by barricades, signage or rules. In relation to moving plant and equipment or a blasting zone the area will be defined as a clearance distance. Physical barricading of these areas is not always possible.
What to do:
Understand your working areas and be a part of the work planning process.
Never enter barricaded enclosures or a minimum clearance distance prescribed in your procedures or work permits.
Keep at least 3m from site vehicles / mobile plant and at least 1.2m from public traffic.
Do not approach vehicles or mobile plant unless you are in full view, the machine is stopped, and your presence has been acknowledged by an exchange of hand signals. Don’t assume operators have seen you, if you can’t see their eyes they can’t see you.
Never walk behind a reversing vehicle or mobile plant.
Remove all non-essential people, vehicles and mobile plant from exclusion zones.

8. 6. NEVER work on plant and equipment without verifying isolation, tagging and testing.
Scope:
Energy sources, including stored energy, left uncontrolled are potential hazards. The following is a list of energy types:-
Energy Examples of energy source
Gravity Material hung up in a raised dump truck tray.
Mechanical Moving machinery parts or material subject to tension or compression.
Electrical Any item that is in contact with an electrical power source, including batteries.
Chemical Any substance that leads to a chemical reaction, and includes fuel or gas to drive combustion.
Thermal Apart from fire, sources could include hot water or metal and welding.
Radiant Arising from welding activities.
Radiation Any object that emits radiation as its source of energy.
Hydraulic Any machinery part or object that contains compressed fluid.
Pneumatic Any machinery part or object that contains compressed gas or vapour.
What to do:
Know the Isolation Requirements. Be trained and have authority for the isolation procedures.
Get the Work Procedures. Plan your work and identify all potential energy sources.
Effective Isolation. Identify the mechanisms to make these energy sources safe.
Lock Out and Tag Out. Apply devices to lock the mechanisms in the safe position.
Testing. Conduct a test of the energy source to ensure isolation has been successful.
Re-connection and Re-energising of Plant and Equipment. Always follow the de- isolation procedures
Completion of Work. Return the equipment in a safe to operate standard.

9. 7. NEVER tamper with, remove or bypass any safety device.
Scope:
Safety devices are purpose built or installed to protect people. Safety devices can be machine guarding, interlock switches, reversing beepers or cameras, horns, infrared screens, emergency stop buttons/switches etc.
What to do:
Understand the safety devices for the equipment you use.
Never alter the intended use of a safety device.
When returning equipment back into service ensure all safety devices are properly fitted and operational.
Never bypass a safety device.

10. 8. NEVER operate plant or mobile equipment unless licensed / competent (unless under direct training supervision).
NEVER operate plant or mobile equipment unless licensed / competent (unless under direct training supervision).
Scope:
Plant and equipment includes earth moving equipment, trucks, forklifts, cranes, elevated work platforms, road surfacing trucks, skid steers, utilities etc. Competence is evidenced through either holding a current licence or operator certificate, or the completion of the designated approved training on the specified plant or mobile equipment.
What to do:
Always ensure you hold the appropriate licence to operate the equipment you intend to use.
If the equipment you are going to use does not require a licence then make sure you have the appropriate training records.
When training never operate the equipment without your supervising operator present.

11. 9. NEVER operate a vehicle while using a handheld mobile phone nor without wearing a seatbelt where fitted.
NEVER operate a vehicle while using a handheld mobile phone nor without wearing a seatbelt where fitted
Scope:
Using a mobile phone during the operation of a vehicle causes you to be distracted. Seatbelts when being worn have proven to reduce injuries and save life.
What to do:
Minimise your use of the mobile phone.
There are steps you can take to eliminate or at least reduce the risks from using a mobile phone, while driving:
Never use a mobile while driving without a hands free kit or blue tooth
Make sure the hands-free phone is set up and operational before you start driving.
Keep the conversation short. Don't engage in complex or emotional conversations.
Tell the person on the other end that you are driving and may have to end the call.
Never text message (SMS) or while driving.
End the call if it is distracting you from driving, where possible pull over to a safe spot to talk.
Always use and ensure all your passengers use the fitted seatbelts.

12. 10. NEVER consume or be under the influence of alcohol or non-approved drugs in the workplace.
Scope:
Downer has a zero tolerance approach to alcohol and illegal substances in the workplace. This includes where our people are performing work for Downer offsite.
Downer’s workplaces are smoke-free environments, and we expect that our people comply with this policy.
What to do:
You must not possess or use alcohol or illegal substances in the workplace and must not distribute these substances at any Downer worksite.
Our contractors are also expected to comply with this policy.
You must not perform any work for Downer if you are under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs or any substance that could prevent you from performing your job safely or effectively.