Street Sweeper Safe Work Method Statement

Street sweeper operators have severely restricted sightlines to areas around the machine due to hopper bulk, brush housings, and equipment mounting positions creating large blind spots. Pedestrians, cyclists, and workers on foot are not visible when positioned beside, immediately in front of, or behind the sweeper. Side brushes extending 0.5-1.5 metres beyond vehicle body strike pedestrians who are not aware of brush position. Children attracted to machinery, workers focused on other tasks, and pedestrians using mobile devices enter blind spots without operator awareness. Camera systems and mirrors provide partial visibility enhancement but do not eliminate blind spots. Slow operating speeds create false perception of reduced hazard whilst vehicle mass of 3,000-15,000kg generates catastrophic impact forces even at walking pace.

Consequence: Fatal crush injuries from contact with sweeper body or brushes, traumatic amputations from rotating brush contact, severe fractures and internal injuries from impact, and fatalities particularly when pedestrians are trapped between sweeper and fixed objects.

Reversing street sweepers have extremely limited rearward visibility with operators unable to see ground-level hazards, people, or objects directly behind the machine. Hopper bulk blocks direct vision, and reliance on mirrors or camera systems provides incomplete coverage with blind spots remaining. Workers, pedestrians, or cyclists positioned behind reversing sweepers are not visible to operators. Reversing alarms alert people to machine movement but do not prevent entry to the hazard zone. Construction site reversing occurs in congested areas with multiple vehicles, mobile plant, and pedestrian movements creating complex hazard interactions. Operators focused on brush positioning during reversing pay inadequate attention to rearward clearances.

Consequence: Fatal crush injuries from contact with reversing sweeper, traumatic crushing injuries if person trapped between sweeper and structures or other vehicles, and serious fractures or head injuries from being struck and knocked down by reversing machine.

Street sweepers have elevated centres of gravity due to hopper positioning, with rollover risk increasing substantially when hoppers are full. Operating on side slopes exceeding the machine's rated capability (typically 15-20 degrees), soft or unstable ground subsidence, driving along excavation edges, and excessive speed during turning increase rollover likelihood. Construction sites present particular hazards with temporary surfaces, trenches covered by plates not rated for sweeper weight, stockpiled materials creating uneven ground, and soft edges adjacent to excavations. Full hoppers add 1,000-5,000kg elevated mass that shifts during turning or slope traversing. Impact with fixed objects including bollards, kerbs, or drainage structures can cause directional instability leading to rollover.

Consequence: Severe operator injuries including fractures, crush injuries, and head trauma even when ROPS is fitted, potential fatality if operator ejected from cabin, hopper spillage creating contamination hazard, and significant property damage to the machine and surrounding infrastructure.

Main broom assemblies rotate at 80-200 RPM creating powerful entanglement hazard if operators access mechanisms whilst operating. Side brushes rotating at similar speeds draw in loose clothing, gloves, or body parts if contacted during operation. Operators attempting to clear brush blockages, retrieve trapped debris, or adjust brush positioning whilst equipment energised risk catastrophic entanglement. Drive belts, chains, and mechanical linkages present crushing and entanglement hazards during maintenance access. Hydraulic cylinders controlling brush deployment generate substantial force capable of crushing hands or fingers caught in pinch points. Guarding systems protect against accidental contact during normal operation but operators bypassing guards during maintenance or blockage clearing remove these protections.

Consequence: Traumatic amputations of fingers, hands, or limbs drawn into rotating machinery, severe crush injuries from hydraulic pinch points, degloving injuries from entanglement in rotating components, and fatal injuries if operator becomes fully entangled in main broom mechanisms.

Street sweeping operations disturb accumulated dust and fine particulates including crystalline silica from concrete and masonry materials, asbestos fibres if sweeping demolition areas or older road surfaces, diesel particulate matter, brake dust containing heavy metals, and construction chemicals. Water suppression systems reduce airborne dust during collection but do not eliminate exposure. Hopper discharge operations create substantial dust clouds as collected material is dumped, with operators in downwind positions experiencing high exposure. Construction site sweeping in areas where cutting, grinding, or demolition has occurred presents extreme silica and asbestos exposure risks. Cabin filtration systems provide protection if properly maintained, however open-cab sweepers and discharge activities create direct operator exposure requiring respiratory protection.

Consequence: Silicosis from crystalline silica exposure causing progressive lung damage, asbestosis and mesothelioma from asbestos fibre inhalation, COPD from diesel particulate exposure, metal toxicity from heavy metal inhalation, and acute respiratory irritation from dust and chemical exposure during sweeping operations.

Street sweepers operating at 5-15 km/h in traffic lanes designed for 50-60+ km/h create substantial speed differentials with normal traffic flow. Following vehicles attempting to pass sweepers in unsafe locations cause head-on collisions with oncoming traffic or striking sweepers during passing manoeuvres. Inadequate advance warning signage fails to alert approaching drivers to slow-moving equipment ahead. Night sweeping operations compound risks with reduced visibility, driver fatigue, and difficulty seeing warning signs or traffic control devices. Sweepers working in active construction zones interact with heavy vehicle movements, deliveries, and mobile plant creating congestion and collision risks. Operators focused on sweeping operations may not notice approaching traffic or respond appropriately to dangerous situations developing around the machine.

Consequence: Fatal or serious injuries to sweeper operators from rear-end or side-impact collisions, injuries to occupants of other vehicles involved in collisions whilst attempting to avoid or pass sweepers, and secondary collision chains involving multiple vehicles in high-traffic areas.

Street sweepers utilise high-pressure hydraulic systems operating at 2,000-3,000 PSI controlling brush deployment, hopper tipping, conveyor operation, and steering mechanisms. Hydraulic hose failures from wear, abrasion, or exceeding pressure ratings cause violent whipping action and high-pressure fluid spray. Operators checking for hydraulic leaks using hands or attempting to tighten fittings whilst system pressurised risk high-pressure fluid injection injuries. Hydraulic fluid spraying from failed hoses contacting hot exhaust components creates fire risk. Hydraulic fluid leaking onto ground creates slip hazards and environmental contamination. Inadequate maintenance including failure to replace hoses at manufacturer-specified intervals increases failure likelihood. Emergency hydraulic releases allowing brush retraction or hopper lowering during system failures may not be understood by operators.

Consequence: High-pressure injection injuries requiring emergency surgical intervention and potential amputation, severe burns from hydraulic fires, environmental contamination from hydraulic fluid spillage, loss of steering control if hydraulic steering fails, and equipment damage from uncontrolled hopper lowering or brush deployment.

Rotating brushes contacting debris including stones, metal fragments, timber offcuts, and hard construction materials propel these objects at high velocity as projectiles. Pedestrians, cyclists, workers, or vehicle occupants in the trajectory path are struck by ejected materials. Side brushes operating close to building facades, parked vehicles, or pedestrian areas create projectile hazards in these directions. Larger debris including bricks, concrete chunks, or metal components become dangerous missiles when struck by main broom assemblies. Brush wear reduces containment effectiveness allowing more material to be ejected rather than directed into collection hood. Operating at excessive speeds increases debris ejection velocity and distance.

Consequence: Eye injuries including corneal abrasions, embedded foreign bodies, or penetrating trauma potentially causing permanent vision loss, facial lacerations and dental injuries, vehicle windscreen damage from ejected debris, and soft tissue injuries to bystanders struck by larger projectiles.

Street sweeper diesel engines and high-capacity vacuum fans generate continuous noise exposure exceeding 85 dB(A) at operator position. Operators conducting full-day sweeping operations accumulate noise exposure exceeding daily limits without adequate hearing protection. Enclosed cabins provide some noise attenuation but open-cab sweepers expose operators to full noise levels. Pedestrians and workers near operating sweepers experience temporary high noise exposure. Extended shifts during night operations increase cumulative exposure duration. Vacuum system operates continuously during sweeping creating sustained noise exposure rather than intermittent exposure allowing recovery periods.

Consequence: Progressive noise-induced hearing loss from prolonged exposure, tinnitus (persistent ringing in ears), reduced ability to hear warning signals or communications affecting safety awareness, and temporary threshold shift causing reduced hearing sensitivity at end of shifts.