Australian Government - Comcare

Frequently Asked Questions - Plant


What items are considered to be 'plant'?

Plant is defined by section 5 of the OHS Act as 'any machinery, equipment or tool, and any component thereof'.  This is a broad definition covering a wide range of items, ranging from complex installations to portable equipment and tools.  Comcare considers that plant may include:

  • boilers and other pressure equipment
  • power presses, packaging machines, shrink-wrap machines and de-palletisers
  • trains, tractors and earthmoving machinery
  • electrical generators
  • cranes, forklifts, hoists and elevated work platforms
  • vehicles used for work purposes such as cars, trucks, motorcycles and bicycles
  • industrial robots
  • lasers
  • scaffolds
  • amusement structures
  • ships or vessels
  • hand tools (either powered or non-powered) including drills, hammers, saws
  • computer equipment
  • photocopiers and fax machines.
The term 'plant' may include all the machinery and equipment which may be employed at a workplace.  It is not limited to machinery used in production or mechanical or electrical equipment only and may even include items such as a chair which is employed by a person at work.

Refer to Part 4 of the Safety Standards Regulations for the duties of employers, employees, suppliers, manufacturers and erectors or installers of plant.
 


 

Note: where there is a reference to the 'OHS Act', it refers to the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991.  Where there is a reference to the 'Safety Standards Regulations', it refers to the Occupational Health and Safety (Safety Standards) Regulations 1994.


Page last updated:November 14, 2007