This Operations and Loading into Baler Risk Assessment/JSA (Job Safety Analysis) is pre-filled and covers loading and running a baler for scrap metal, paper, cardboard and other materials. It covers 14 activities, from the pre-operation inspection to clearing jams, handling finished bales and emergency response, with the hazards, control measures and risk ratings before and after controls for each. It's written by WHS specialists, aligned to Australian WHS legislation, and fully editable in Microsoft Word.
 
Who it's for
Recycling and scrap metal yards
Warehouses and distribution centres baling cardboard
Supermarkets and retail stores with back-of-house balers
Manufacturing plants with production waste
Waste management and collection contractors
A risk assessment, also called a JSA, JSEA or task risk assessment, records the hazards of a task and how you control them. If the task is part of high risk construction work, the law requires a SWMS for that work, so use our Operations and Loading into Baler SWMS instead.
 
Use it to
Show clients, insurers and auditors how you manage the risks
Apply for tenders, contracts and supplier panels
Get through prequalification with Avetta, Cm3 and other contractor portals
Induct new workers and train them in the task
 
What this risk assessment covers
Information on other work areas and new or introduced hazards
Pre-operation inspection and maintenance of the baler
Coordination between the loading plant operator and the baler operator
Crush injury from unguarded moving parts, manual handling and noise
Hydraulic fluid exposure, ignition and leaks
Clearing jams and blockages, including stored hydraulic energy and the platen dropping after isolation
Ejecting, tying and stacking bales, and wires or straps breaking under tension
Electric shock from damaged leads, poor isolation or unauthorised access
Dust and respirable crystalline silica during baling
Safe shutdown at the end of the day to stop unauthorised access
Hydraulic spills, dust emissions and scrap waste
Post-work inspection and emergency response to entrapment, fire or fluid spill
 
What's included
Hazards and control measures for 14 work activities
Risk ratings before and after controls, with a 5x5 risk matrix and the hierarchy of controls
PPE requirements checklist
Plant and equipment list, materials, maintenance checks and the training each worker needs
Loading plant such as grab loaders, forklifts and front end loaders
Site specific hazards section for anything unique to your job
Further controls action plan to track anything still to be done
Worker sign-off sheet and worker consultation record
 
Why use this template
Saves hours compared with writing a risk assessment from a blank page
Covers the most common hazards and control measures for this work, ready to use out of the box
Fully editable, so you can add, remove or change anything to suit your workplace and how your team works
Helps your business stay compliant, with risk ratings, an action plan, worker sign-off and consultation records already set up
Comes with a step-by-step implementation guide
 
How it works
Buy online and download straight away. You'll also get an email with your link.
Add your logo, ABN, area and site details.
Check it suits your workplace and task, edit anything you need to, and consult your workers before you finalise it.
Brief your team and collect signatures.
 
Common questions
Do I need a SWMS or a risk assessment for operating a baler?
No. Running a baler isn't high risk construction work, so a SWMS isn't a legal requirement. You still have to manage the risks, including crush injury while clearing a jam and hydraulic fluid exposure, and a risk assessment or JSA is a practical way to record how. Clients, insurers and prequalification portals often ask for one.
Does it cover clearing a jam?
Yes. It has a separate activity for clearing a jam or blockage, covering the ram or platen operating while someone is inside the machine and injury from stored hydraulic energy or the platen dropping under gravity after isolation.
Can I change it?
Yes. It's a Microsoft Word file, so you can add, remove or change any hazard, control or rating, and add your own logo and details.
Does it suit my state?
Yes. It's written to the model WHS laws and suits all states and territories, including Victoria under the OHS Act and Regulations.
What if it doesn't suit my work?
You're covered by our 30-day money-back guarantee if it isn't fit for purpose.