ACT Territory and Municipal Services Domestic Animal Services
Urban Animal Management Pods for field based rangers
Domestic Animal Services (DAS) has created Urban Animal Management Pods for field based rangers which incorporate solutions to risks to staff. Field based rangers at DAS work alone in the field, attending to duties including the capture of roaming or attacking dogs, transportation of injured and dead animals and general enforcement activities under the Domestic Animals Act 2000.
The former design of the caging systems in the vehicles presented a level of risk to field based workers. The vehicle design required staff to engage in heavy lifting of live and deceased animals, there was inadequate storage areas for protective equipment and lack of access to workplace tools.
A risk assessment process incorporating a risk matrix method was used to identify and rate the risks within the workplace. A staff working group made suggestions to management to address the identified risks.
A cab chassis based custom designed ‘pod’ was designed to meet the identified occupational health and safety risks. The pod’s modular design focussed on creating an efficient and OHS sound workplace for field rangers. Issues of heavy lifting were addressed by the addition of an electric crane. Isolation of ranger personal protective equipment was addressed through appropriate shelving. The design promotes working on the passenger side of the vehicle with high visibility lighting and signage which promotes a safer workplace, especially at night.
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Page last updated: 16/03/2008