Promoting warehouse safety
A collaborative team from Rio Tinto's Procurement function (RTP) has created a guide to help employees and managers develop Traffic Management Plans (TMPs) for warehouses to improve safety.
The step by step guide was recently launched globally across the Procurement function and will also be made available to warehouse operations not managed by RTP, and to some major suppliers.
The TMP comprises risk controls for workplaces. The goal is to separate pedestrians from mobile equipment, and mobile equipment from other mobile equipment.
Effective TMPs have already been successfully implemented at Rio Tinto Iron Ore's Tom Price and Hope Downs mine warehouses, both in the Pilbara. The next step is to globalise the TMP process so that all RTP warehouses have robust and sustainable systems in place to control the hazards related to mobile equipment operation.
It is anticipated that all RTP warehouse sites globally will have developed and implemented an effective TMP by the end of the second quarter 2009.
The TMP development guide contains the following five steps:
- Identify the locations in the existing operations were mobile equipment comes in close proximity to pedestrians and other mobile equipment.
- Assess risk and identify potential risk control measures.
- Decide on risk controls and make necessary changes using relevant change management processes.
- Review the TMP regularly and monitor changes to ensure the plan stays effective.
- Keep the TMP on hand for easy access by all staff.
The risks involved with the operation of mobile equipment are well documented in many of the serious incidents recorded within Rio Tinto. The TMP is seen as a major step in controlling risks within operations in support of the goal of zero injuries.