Tractor Towed and Hitched Implements Safe Operating Procedures | General information | Almond farms 0:04 Before you start This video provides general information for workers on almond farms. Before you start work, your host employer will explain the exact safe operating procedure, machine instructions and personal protective equipment required at your site. This video supports training. It does not replace practical training, assessment, supervisor sign-off or a training record. English is the authoritative version. 0:39 Step 1 Training/Safety Potential risk. Workers unsure of the process may lead to unwanted events which may result in injury, fatality or damage to equipment Risk treatment. At the end of this training which includes the practical component if you are unsure of the process do not proceed contact your Supervisor and the Orchard Manager immediately If at any time during this process you feel unsafe you are authorised and expected to stop Contact your Supervisor and the Orchard Manager immediately 1:21 Step 2 Pre-start/safety meeting Potential risk. Employees not aware of traffic management requirements may lead to serious collision resulting in injury to operator and damage to equipment Poor communication when machinery is moved from block to block Employees with language barriers may not understand traffic management plans Employees taking short cuts through headlands may lead to collisions resulting in injury to employees and damage to equipment Risk treatment. Employees MUST attend morning pre-starts in front of the orchard activity board host employer management MUST communicate daily work plan and safety information which includes but not limited traffic management Team supervisors MUST reiterate daily work plan and safety matters their teams If there are language barriers an interpreter MUST be used to communicate information If traffic management changes throughout the day host employer management and supervisors are responsible for communicating changes to employees and updating the orchard activity board. 2:40 Step 3 Complete pre start operational check list for tractor Potential risk. Workers injured due to equipment failure. Damage to equipment Risk treatment. Workers to wear Hi Viz clothing , safety glasses and all required PPE. Check and clear area of obstacles. If possible complete all checks from ground level. Ensure all windows are clean and visibility is unobstructed. Check operation of all machine controls including air conditioner and 2 way radio. Ensure the seating is in good condition and suitable for the task All faults MUST be reported to the Maintenance Controller immediately 3:26 Step 5 Complete pre start operational check list for tractor. Potential risk. Workers injured due to equipment failure. Risk treatment. Workers to wear Hi Viz clothing , safety glasses and all required PPE. Check and clear area of obstacles. Complete all checks from ground level. Ensure all windows are clean and visibility is unobstructed. 3:53 Step 6 Climb into tractor. Apply handbrake, depress clutch, put into neutral gear, start engine and allow minimum 5 minutes to warm up. Potential risk. Other workers impacted / crushed by moving tractor. Slips, trips and falls to workers Risk treatment. Use three points of contact when climbing into and out of tractor. Ensure tractor has handbrake firmly engaged. 4:24 Step 7 Check operation of all machine controls including air conditioner and 2way radio. Confirm channel and do radio check. Potential risk. Equipment failure Risk treatment. If an issue is identified that may affect the safe operation of the tractor then the tractor must be tagged out and Supervisor notified of issue. 4:49 Step 8 Set the seat according to operator requirements Potential risk. Uncomfortable ride Unable to operate safely Risk treatment. Adjust seat 5:08 Step 9 Attach implement or equipment to be towed and operated. Confirm correct setup and secure all hitch points with pins Potential risk. Hand injury. Crush injury. Uncontrolled movement of implement. Unguarded PTO. Risk treatment. Check implement is in good condition,correctly fitted and secure. Check load rating is suitable. 5:35 Step 10 Fit seat belt, activate flashing light or turn on headlights as applicable and travel to work area. Ensure you are aware of current days traffic management arrangements. Adhere to rules set out in Traffic Management Plan Potential risk. Workers injured in traffic accidents. Workers speeding with tractor. Poor visibility of operator due to dust and tree canopy. Travelling with doors open can cause damage to doors and windows. Risk treatment. Instruct/indicate to all other workers of intention to move vehicle and to vacate the immediate area. Operator must wear use seat belt at all times and be aware of all other machinery or people in area. Operator to travel at sensible speed at all times. Ensure travel is via main tracks and headlands. 6:33 Step 11 Commence working/operation. When traveling, adapt speed to compensate for heavier load on three point hitch Potential risk. Other workers impacted / crushed because of poor visibility when operating tractor. Other workers impacted /crushed when towed machinery not correctly attached. Losing control over tractor due to new balance and handling caracteristics Risk treatment. Operator to use seat belt at all times. Doors and windows must be shut before the tractor is moved. Operator must be aware of all other machinery and people working in area as well as the traffic management plan of the property. Operator to consider all conditions e.g. inclines, weather and travel at a sensible speed at all times. Operator must show extreme caution when entering and exiting tree rows. Adapt speed to load dynamics 7:41 Step 12 When entering a headland or driving down one stay as far from trees as possible. When approaching end of row to enter headland, slow down and sound horn When entering a block were it is known other operators are present, anounce yourself by radio. Potential risk. Collisions at end of rows leading to workers injured or equipment damage Risk treatment. Sound horn when crossing Headland. Announce yourself to known operators in the area. Mark own and check location of other operators on Operational Map in Hubb 8:21 Step 13 At completion of shift or task return tractor to designated parking area. Shut down and secure tractor. Perform quick check over machine to look for issues that may affect next shift. Potential risk. Workers injured in traffic accidents. Workers injured due to equipment failure. Risk treatment. Park tractor on firm, even ground. Apply hand brake. Check over machine, report issues 8:56 Qualifications and experience Qualifications and experience. All employees/ workers must be trained, hold relevant licenses, and be assessed as competent before operating any equipment on host employer sites. there must be safety induction records with the workers’ name on the records. where licenses are required a copy of this must be on site file or personal file. 9:24 Duties and responsibilities Duties and responsibilities. All employees/ workers must adhere to host employer policies and procedures and report any concerns and incidents immediately to their manager/ supervisor. it is the responsibility of both host employer onsite management and contractor companies to identify language barriers and provide interpreters where required. 9:54 Training required Training required. All employees/ workers must have been inducted to the site and deemed competent in relevant Safe Operating Procedure and site traffic management plans. site managers must sign off all Safe Operating Procedure before employees/ worker start work on site or equipment. training should be completed by a competent person or training organization. 10:23 Codes of practice and legislation Codes of practice and legislation. All employees/ workers must adhere to codes of practice, standards and guideline, whs and ohs acts and regulations. 10:39 Plant, equipment and PPE Plant, equipment and PPE. Job specific protective personal equipment (ppe) must be identified and worn when required (i.e. positive sealed goggles with a strap when using compressed air). PPE is a shared responsibility between your host employer and Orchard Tech. Your host employer will provide the PPE required for your task. If the required PPE has not been supplied, stop work and contact Orchard Tech. workers to wear all outdoor ppe where required – wear positive sealed eye protection, gloves, hat, sunburn cream, steel capped boots, long sleeve shirts and long trousers. hi viz clothing must be worn at all times. 11:36 Maintenance checks Maintenance checks. If a vehicle, plant, equipment, or machinery is found to be defective or damaged, it must be tagged with ‘out of service’ tag until repaired and isolation register is completed. daily pre-start/ pre-shift checks and post-checks if required are to be completed and recorded in all instances. maintenance teams are responsible for all maintenance on equipment. workers can only undertake maintenance if they have been adequately trained in the relevant process. 12:13 Before work starts This video provides general information. Before you start work, your host employer will explain the exact procedure and provide practical training for your site. This video does not replace assessment, supervisor sign-off or a training record. If you do not understand something, use the English or talk to your supervisor at the host employer site. The host will provide you with an interpreter. Orchard Tech · hari@orchardtech.com.au · 0439 32 32 32