Product Overview

This Industrial Press Operations Hydraulic and Mechanical SWMS is a site-ready Safe Work Method Statement designed to identify hazards and implement controls for the safe use of industrial presses in Australian workplaces. It is a comprehensive document that covers multiple aspects of hydraulic and mechanical press operation to support WHS compliance and the safe management of High Risk Construction Work where applicable.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Safe setup, operation and shutdown of air presses for production and maintenance tasks
• Use of arbour presses for precision pressing, assembly and disassembly of components
• Operation of fly presses for repetitive forming, punching and light pressing work
• Gasket cutting press activities, including material handling, guarding and cutting controls
• Use of hydraulic cylinder bench nut crackers for safe removal and tightening of cylinder nuts
• General hydraulic press operations, including pressure setting, guarding and emergency stop use
• Kick press tasks, including foot-operated controls and prevention of crush and pinch injuries
• Power mechanical press operation, including clutch/brake systems, two-hand controls and interlocks
• Overall power press operation, inspection, isolation and lockout/tagout for maintenance and jam clearing
• Press-fitting of bearings and bushings, including alignment, load setting and component support
• Running hydraulic press cycles, including trial runs, production runs and monitoring for leaks or faults
• Use of manual punch presses, including correct tool selection, securing workpieces and guarding
• Selection, inspection and maintenance of press tooling, dies, punches and fixtures
• Management of noise, ejected parts and flying debris through guarding, barriers and PPE
• Emergency response procedures for entrapment, crush injuries, hydraulic failures and electrical faults

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for metal fabrication shops, manufacturing plants, maintenance workshops, gasket and component production facilities, and site supervisors overseeing hydraulic and mechanical press operations.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplace – Guidance on the safe use, guarding, inspection and maintenance of presses and associated plant
• Model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks – Framework for identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing controls for press operations
• Model Code of Practice: Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work – Requirements for managing noise exposure from power presses and related machinery
• AS 4024 Safety of machinery (series) – Principles for machinery safety, guarding, emergency stops and control systems for industrial presses
• AS/NZS 3760 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment – Inspection and testing of electrical components on power presses and associated equipment
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017