Almond Pick-Up 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 Morning pre-start 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 traffic routes before the start of each shift Equipment specific supervisors MUST reiterate traffic management plans to their teams If there are language barriers an interpreter MUST be used to communicate traffic management requirements 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. 1:52 Step 2 Complete daily checklist. Potential risk. Machinery breakdown of almond pick up. Injury to almond pick up operator. Injuries to operator because of poor seating and control settings Risk treatment. Adjustments are to be completed by the Supervisor in conjunction with the maintenance department Leave Pick up shut down and isolated whilst doing checks. Confirm correct UHF channel and complete UHF radio check. Report all faults immediately to the Supervisor. Ensure seating and controls are adjusted for maximum comfort and control. Ensure all PTO guarding and chains are present and in good condition 2:44 Step 3 Starting tractor and Pickup Potential risk. Accidents due to slow operation of cold hydraulic systems Uncontrolled movement Damage to equipment Risk treatment. Ensure park brake is applied, start engine and allow 5 minutes warm up time All warm up activities must be completed in a designated area near the workshop before travelling to the block. Assist warm up by operating all hydraulic systems. Ensure no personnel are in the area. 3:21 Step 4 Travel to row Potential risk. Traffic accidents Speeding accidents Injuries to operator Damage to machine Damage to irrigation infrastructure Risk treatment. Sound horn,wait a few seconds, look around for pedestrians and then move off Be aware of travel surface and look out for wash outs, bog holes, uneven ground and irrigation infrastructure. You MUST be aware of the site traffic management plan before entering the orchard. Whilst travelling to work area be aware of all equipment travelling along a headland when exiting tree rows. Travel at safe speed, adhering to any traffic management signs and giving way to all operating machinery. Discuss any known obstacles in work area with the supervisor before the start of the day’s work. Report any obstacles in travel path immediately to Supervisor for rectification. Take into consideration conditions and speed as you are operating multi combination equipment. (NOTE this will affect cornering and jack knifing) 4:40 Step 5 Begin picking up Potential risk. Turning to sharp causing damage to machinery. Jack- knifing double hitch of pick- up and trailer if reversing is required. Crushing of workers whilst reversing pick up and trailer. Leaving a sand row behind the pickup and burying almonds missed. Rough operation causing damage to operating machinery. Rough operating conditions causing injury to operator. Risk of injury to personnel from blower Risk treatment. Ensure no one is within 30 meters when operating the blower Line up the centre of the Pickup head with the almond windrow then lower the head Lower the V - Bar Ensure that V- bar is set at correct height and engaged. Engage PTO drive of tractor when pick up is stationary at idle Increase revs to obtain 540 PTO speed. Select correct gear and begin picking up almonds whilst checking for optimum efficiency of pick-up. Pick up Supervisor must monitor Pick up operations regularly. If sticks or obstacles are present in the row shut down,isolate equipment and remove obstacle (NOTE always apply the park brake and communicate to Bankout operator that you are exiting the tractor.) If required to reverse contact the Supervisor 6:14 Step 6 Check row quality Potential risk. Poor production leaving almonds behind excessive wear to machinery Risk treatment. QA and Pickup Supervisor Must continually check quality of Pickup. If almonds are apparent in the sand row, stop operation immediately and contact Supervisor 6:39 Step 7 mandatory monitoring Potential risk. Rough operation causing damage to operating machinery. Cover dislodging causing the Operator to stand up on the Pickup to put the cover back on. Hot areas and pinch points Operator falling off Pickup trailer Equipment not Isolated Risk treatment. Keep constant check on all drives, belts, chains,and Pickup guard cover. Ensure almonds are continually flowing out of the pickup elevator into the pick-up trailer. If the cover becomes dislodged the Operator must shut down all equipment, isolate the tractor and apply brake. Call for assistance to replace cover as this MUST be a two person job. No one is authorised to stand on the Pickup when replacing the cover Report all faults or concerns immediately to your Supervisor 7:39 Step 8 Filling the Pickup trailer Potential risk. Damage to machinery. Overfilled Pickup trailer Unwanted debris,sand,sticks and leaves can cause the trailer to block up resulting personnel having to enter the trailer. Risk treatment. Do not operate pickup when turning at end of rows. Supervisor and Bankout operator must monitor the nut load in the trailer until such a time the Pickup operator can gauge the load through operating experience. Always beware of other traffic when exiting out of rows When entering the pickup trailer due to blockages ensure the tractor is fully isolated. NOTE: key removed and battery isolated. If emptying the pickup into a bankout ensure the bankout is fully isolated 8:36 Step 9 Unloading of trailer Potential risk. Loss of almonds on to ground. Poor or no communication Damage to machinery through incorrect docking of Bankout Risk treatment. Engage the “trailer empty” lever when Bankout is in position and is to be loaded. (NOTE never bankout on the run.) Remain in constant UHF communication with the Bankout Operator Supervisor to monitor operation constantly. Operators must report to Supervisor when loss of almonds to ground. Pickup operator should constantly ensure emptying operation is smooth and the bankout connection is not causing excessive wear or damage to trailer lever. NOTE: Never allow Bankout operator to ram the trailer empty lever. 9:30 Step 10 Continue Picking up Potential risk. Rough operation causing damage to operating machinery. Cuts and lacerations from jammed sticks. Traffic accidents at headlands. Risk treatment. Continue to the end of the windrow ,stop 20 - 30 seconds to pick up remaining nut. Slow revs to idle, disengage PTO and lift front of Pickup Proceed to the next row of same variety to be picked up repeating Pickup procedure Check for any sticks trapped in the front of the pick-up Pickup must be turned off and isolated before attempting to remove any sticks or debris. Required PPE including cut proof gloves to be worn by operator When exiting equipment apply hand brake stop all engagement equipment. Make UHF radio call when exiting equipment When crossing headlands between blocks, look for other equipment, sound horn, be prepared to stop if necessary. 10:37 Step 11 End of shift routine maintenance Potential risk. Bites from spiders and snakes. Eye injuries. Cuts and lacerations from jammed sticks. Compressed air injuries Machinery catching fire Risk treatment. As each work shift is completed, ensure that all nuts and sticks are removed from the pick-up and the trailer. Blow down units as per Orchard Safe use of Compressed Air Safe Operating Procedure. Securely park machine near the designated maintenance area. If using compressed air, positive sealed goggles with strap must be worn. If required refill equipment in preparation for the next shift.(NOTE this may differ from orchard to orchard.Check with your Supervisor) Isolate the equipment at the end of shift 11:37 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. 12:05 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. 12:34 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. 13:03 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. 13:20 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. 14:16 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 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. 14:55 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