Equipment Procurement
Whether you are upgrading an existing piece of plant, equipment, and machinery; or your school is in the process of building a new facility, Integra offers a range of procurement and installation services.
We give consideration to the syllabus requirements and whether the equipment can be used in schools; and if it is the most suitable for the space, layout and safety exclusion zone requirements.
As we are a “turn-key” company, we ensure that you get a suitable product. We organise delivery, installation and set up; and will commission your equipment. As part of our service, we also install all SOPs, signages, safety exclusion zones, and any engineered control systems which are needed such as screens or gates.
At Integra, we understand that a person with management or control of plant at a workplace, must manage the risks to health and safety associated with plant and equipment.
In order to manage risk under the WHS Regulations, a school must:
- identify reasonably foreseeable hazards that could give rise to the risk
- eliminate the risk so far as is reasonably practicable
- if it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate the risk, minimise the risk so far as is reasonably practicable, by implementing control measures in accordance with the hierarchy of control
- maintain the implemented control measure so that it remains effective
- review, and if necessary, revise, risk control measures so as to maintain, so far as is reasonably practicable, a work environment that is without risks to health and safety
Purchasing Plant and Equipment
Before purchasing plant/equipment for your school, you should also determine:
- What are the hazards and risks associated with installation, commissioning, operation, inspection, maintenance, repair, transport, storage and dismantling of the plant.
- Are there any control measures needed to minimise hazards and risks.
- What are manufacturer’s recommendations in relation to the frequency and type of inspection and maintenance needed for plant and equipment installed.
- Are there any special skills required for people who operate the plant or carry out inspection and maintenance?
- Are there any special conditions or equipment required to protect the health and safety of people carrying out activities such as installation, operation and maintenance.
- Are there any alterations or modifications needed to be made to the plant or equipment or even the space in which it is being installed into?
- Can the plant/equipment be delivered and installed within the confines of your school
- Will the plant or equipment fit within its intended space with the appropriate safety exclusion zone requirements, extraction or engineered control systems.
You should check whether the plant includes some or all of the following characteristics:
- Contact with or access to dangerous parts is prevented, for example by using guards and protective structures in or around the equipment.
- Is it of sturdy construction and has a tamper-proof design (meets educational requirements)
- Are there are no obstructions to the operator and does it have fail-safe operation?
- Is it easy to inspect and maintain?
- Does it not introduce other hazards (for example, manual handling problems or excessive noise) into your workplace?
- Does it incorporate measures to minimise risks during use (for example, low noise).