Almond Elevator and De-sticker Operation 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 and 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 1:17 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 2:34 Step 3 Complete daily pre-start Potential risk. Machinery breakdown of elevator de-sticker. Injury to elevator de-sticker Operator. Elevator not isolated Elevator starting operator being entangled Risk treatment. Ensure starter key is removed and placed in your pocket. Emergency stop is pushed in before completing pre-start. Ensure all PPE Positive Seal Safety glassesGoggles) are taken with you to the elevator site Have all adjustments and maintenance completed by the maintenance department. Retain starter key in operator’s pocket until the machine is ready to be started by the operator. 3:20 Step 4 Grease all points of elevator de-sticker. Potential risk. Excessive machinery wear and breakdown through lack of lubrication. Workers exposed to grease and oils. Workers exposed to slips, trips and falls. Risk treatment. Only maintenance staff are authorised to complete any maintenance on elevators. Ensure the elevator is greased by maintenance greased daily. Operator to thoroughly wash after using oils and grease. All high grease points are to have grease tubes fitted for service at waist height. 4:00 Step 5 Set up elevator Potential risk. Elevator de-sticker moving during operation. Operator being hit by approaching harvest equipment or pinned by elevator wheel when elevator moves due to being hit by harvest equipment. Risk treatment. When elevator is correctly positioned on stable ground ensure the wheels are chocked to prevent the elevator from moving. 4:28 Step 6 Barricading and Bankout waiting zones. Potential risk. Eye injuries to workers who have approached to close to the de-sticker and de-sticker conveyor. Workers being caught in de-sticker and conveyor belts. Operator being hit by approaching harvest equipment or pinned by elevator wheel when elevator moves due to being hit by harvest equipment Collision between bankouts or a bankout and loader Risk treatment. Erect barricade to create exclusion area of 5 m square around stick chute area. Ensure all guards and fall protection rails are in place and firmly fitted. Set up a Bankout waiting zone at the edge of the elevator site (NOTE a maximum of 2 Bankouts at a time should wait at the waiting zone. If more bankouts are waiting then they should tip against a stockpile). The waiting zone should be set up so that the travel path to the elevator does not interact with the loader or any bankouts at the stockpile. Set up an exit point away from the back of the elevator to create a pedestrian zone near to the elevator and truck. 5:50 Step 7 Starting the elevator Potential risk. Workers being caught in conveyor belts. Workers being caught by and dragged into de-sticker. Workers falling into elevator de-sticker hopper. Workers are unaware that elevator de-sticker is about to commence operation. Operator working in dusty conditions. Operator exposed to load noise. Eye injuries to workers. Risk treatment. Ensure all guards and fall protection rails are in place and firmly fitted. Ensure belt drive controls are in neutral. Ensure all workers are well clear of elevator de-sticker loader at all times. Start engine and allow it to warm up at idle revs. Ensure emergency stops are clearly identified and working. When the elevator is running at idle push the emergency stop to ensure it is operational Faulty emergency stops and other elevator faults must be reported immediately to the supervisor & maintenance department. (Note: do not operate the elevator if any faults are found) Report any faults to the Supervisor immediately. Move in to start elevator only after approaching Bankout has stopped. Operators are not to stand in front of any approaching harvest equipment. When safe to do so, engage drives and increase engine revs to operating speed. 7:27 Step 8 Loading elevator Potential risk. Poor visibility due to dusty conditions. Operator working in dusty conditions. Conveyors and de-sticker jammed by sticks. Operators being hit by moving machinery. Risk treatment. Workers to wear required PPE including dust masks and positive sealed eye protection. Signal to Bankout operator or front end loader operator to unload almonds into hopper. Operators must stand well clear of elevator until Bankouts or loader has come to a full stop before approaching the control panel to start the elevator. Ensure stopping devices are placed at a height and in a position that will prevent Bankouts from entering the area where personnel may be standing. Monitor for sticks jamming conveyors and de-sticker. 8:27 Step 9 Loading trucks or stock pads Potential risk. Uneven loading of truck. Uneven production of almond stack. Truck drivers standing on top of truck to even out load. Falling from a height Risk treatment. Ensure the truck driver remains in the truck at all times. Ensure that almonds are landing in the correct area of the truck or stock pad. Stop elevator and have truck driver adjust position of truck. Never over fill truck No personnel are authorised to stand on top of trucks 9:07 Step 10 Monitor product flow Potential risk. Operator being caught in de-sticker and conveyor belts. Eye injuries from sticks. Cuts and lacerations to workers when clearing caught sticks. Risk treatment. Continually monitor for sticks and almond flow on conveyor belt. If the elevator blocks shut down and isolate the elevator before attempting to clear the blockage. (NOTE: Ensure the emergency stop is engaged and the elevator key is placed in the pocket of the person clearing blockages Workers to wear required PPE including positive sealed eye protection and gloves when clearing sticks. 9:54 Step 11 Empty hopper or full truck Potential risk. Operator working in dusty conditions, exposed to loud noise from engine. Damage to elevator due to incorrect shutdown Risk treatment. When hopper is empty or truck is loaded, reduce engine revs to idle and disengage belt drives. Allow engine to run at idle revs for five minutes and then shut down engine. 10:22 Step 12 End of shift routine maintenance Potential risk. Bites from spiders. Pinch points. Eye injuries. Burns on hot areas Risk treatment. Shut down and isolate elevator Check equipment for oil leaks and any potential maintenance required. Clean entire area of sticks,debris and rubbish Refill elevator in preparation for the oncoming shift Use all required PPE including gloves, long sleeves, long trousers and positive sealed safety glasses. When using compressed air Safety goggles with strap must be worn. Isolate the equipment at the end of shift 11:05 Orchard Tech PPE arrangements Orchard Tech PPE arrangements. 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. 11:27 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