High Risk Work Licence - Concrete Placing Boom (PB) key terms

The legal obligation of a person conducting business to protect the health and safety of workers and others affected by the work, so far as is reasonably practicable.

The legal entity, such as a company or sole trader, that runs the concrete pumping operation and holds the primary work health and safety duties for it.

A test weighing the likelihood and severity of harm against the cost, effort and availability of ways to remove or reduce the risk.

A national certification issued to a person who has been assessed as competent to perform a specified high risk activity, such as operating a concrete placing boom.

A written document that sets out the high risk construction work to be done, the hazards involved, the control measures and how they will be implemented, monitored and reviewed.

A ranked order of risk controls that starts with eliminating the hazard and moves down through substitution, engineering, administrative measures and finally personal protective equipment.

The structured process of identifying hazards, judging how likely and how severe the harm could be, and deciding which controls are needed before work starts.

A task-based planning tool that breaks a job into steps, lists the hazards at each step and records the controls that will be applied on the day.

A marked area around the boom and discharge point where unauthorised people are not permitted because of the risk of falling concrete, hose whip or boom contact.

A machine with an articulated pipeline mounted on a truck, trailer or fixed base that delivers concrete to a point beyond the reach of a standard pump line.

One of the hinged, foldable steel arms of a placing boom, numbered from the base outward, that together form the articulated delivery pipeline.

The hydraulic joint connecting two boom sections that allows the angle between them to be changed during unfolding, positioning and folding.

The powered rotation of the whole boom assembly about a vertical axis on the turret, which sets the direction in which the boom reaches.

The large geared bearing between the base frame and the turret that carries the boom loads and allows the upper structure to rotate.

The rotating upper structure of a placing boom that supports the boom sections, the slew drive and often the counterweight and operator controls.

Mass fitted to the rear of the turret to balance the overturning moment created by the boom and concrete load when reaching forward.

A hydraulically extended leg with a pad that widens the machine's support base and transfers boom and concrete loads into the ground.

The spreader plate or timber packing placed under an outrigger float to spread load over a larger ground area and reduce penetration.

The load per unit area that the outriggers impose on the soil or slab beneath them, which must not exceed what the ground can safely carry.

Buried pipes, cables, drains, tanks or tunnels beneath the setup position that can collapse or be damaged when outrigger loads are applied above them.

The systematic check of the machine, its safety devices and its setup carried out before each shift or job to confirm it is safe to operate.

The daily walk-around and function test of fluid levels, hoses, pins, guards, interlocks, emergency stops and outriggers performed before starting work.

The ability of the machine and its support system to resist overturning or tipping under the loads imposed by the boom, the concrete and wind.

The manufacturer's table or diagram showing the maximum permitted boom reach or concrete load for each configuration and support condition of the machine.

The maximum load or reach the manufacturer certifies for a stated boom configuration and support setup, which must never be exceeded during placing.

A sensing and control system that warns the operator and restricts boom movement before the machine reaches its rated capacity or stability limit.

The particular arrangement of boom sections and their angles that determines reach, height and permissible load for the current setup.

The steel pipework running along and hinged between the boom sections that carries concrete from the pump to the discharge hose.

The flexible rubber hose at the end of the boom pipeline that directs concrete to the pour and absorbs some of the surge from the pump.

The final flexible section at the boom tip, which must be kept clear of people and structures and never used to drag or lift loads.

A rope attached to the end hose so a worker can guide the discharge point from a safe distance without standing under the boom.

A trained person positioned to watch the boom, the pour and the surrounding area and to warn the operator of hazards or people entering the exclusion zone.

An agreed set of arm and hand movements used to direct the operator when radio contact is lost or unclear, with one nominated signaller only.

The primary communication link between the operator, the pump operator, the pour crew and the spotter, using a dedicated channel and clear call signs.

A clearly marked control, or remote function, that immediately halts boom and pump movement when a person or property is at risk.

The documented sequence for stopping the pump, relieving pipeline pressure, securing the boom and accounting for people after an incident or power loss.

A jam of concrete inside the pipeline that stops flow and can cause sudden pressure release or hose whip when the pump is forced.

The internal pressure in the delivery line created by the pump, which must be released safely before any hose or pipe joint is opened.

A written record of any fault, damage or unsafe condition found on the machine, notified to the responsible person so it can be repaired and rechecked.

The manufacturer's timetable of servicing, lubrication, inspection and parts replacement that keeps the placing boom in safe working condition.

A control arrangement that stops boom movement as soon as the operator releases the lever or handle, preventing unintended motion.

The force that wind exerts on the boom and pipeline, which increases with boom length and height and can affect stability and concrete placement accuracy.

A designated, contained location where the pipeline and hopper are cleaned and concrete residue is captured so it cannot enter drains or waterways.

Measures such as bunding, sediment fences and covered washout bays that prevent concrete, slurry and fuel from polluting soil, drains and water.

A document tailored to a particular site that records setup position, ground conditions, exclusion zones, services, access routes and emergency arrangements.

The formal evaluation of a person's knowledge and practical skill against the unit of competency before a high risk work licence is granted.