What is a safety observer?
A safety observer is a person who has the responsibility of observing the work and can enter the regulated minimum safe distance.
A safety observer has specific responsibilities in relation to warning, rescuing and stopping the work being undertaken.
The self-employed operator or the operator's employer is responsible for appointing a safety observer. A safety observer is required for the following types of work:
- any work that may breach exclusion zones;
- live low-voltage work; and
- live high-voltage work.
A safety observer zone is larger than the specified minimum working distance (or exclusion zone). The safety observer zone comes into force when there is a risk that the crane or any part of the crane might enter the exclusion zone during its operation.
The safety observer zone is designed to encourage plant operators to locate their equipment so that the risk of it entering the exclusion zone is minimal. When this is not possible, adopt other suitable precautions to prevent encroachment into the exclusion zone.
A crane or plant is not operating in a safety observer zone when:
- the electric lines have been de-energised and earthed for high-voltage lines;
- limiting devices have been installed to warn the operator or prevent any part of the crane, plant or load from entering the exclusion zone; or
- physical barriers are used to prevent any part of the crane, plant or load being moved from entering the exclusion zone.
For more information on the role of the safety observer for the safety observer zone, refer to section 5.5.3 of the Code of Practice - Working Near Exposed Live Parts.
Last updated July 16, 2005
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