Almond Conditioning 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 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. 2:31 Step 3 Complete daily check Potential risk. Damage to machinery Injury to operator. Risk treatment. Any adjustment changes must be reported to the Supervisor. Adjustments are to be completed by the supervisor in conjunction with the maintenance department. Leave machinery shut down whilst doing checks. When completing checks ensure equipment is isolated. Ensure all controls and seating are adjusted for support and comfort. Confirm correct channel and complete UHF radio check During training ensure operators understand how to make adjustments of controls and seating. Equipment supervisor must monitor pre-start operation Pre-start checks must be documented. 3:26 Step 4 Starting tractor and conditioner Potential risk. Accidents due to slow operation of cold hydraulic systems Uncontrolled movement 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. 3:57 Step 5 Travel to row Potential risk. Travelling with doors open can cause damage to doors and windows. Risk treatment. Fit seat belt, activate flashing light, or turn on headlights as applicable close the door and travel to work area. 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. Ensure that drop gate is closed and V-Bar raised Doors and windows must be shut before the tractor is moved. Report known obstacles in work area with the supervisor before the start of the day’s work. Never take short cuts always travel the designated route communicated and highlighted on the orchard activity board 5:30 Step 6 Begin conditioning Potential risk. Turning to sharp causing damage to machinery. Jack- knifing hitch of conditioner if reversing is required. Rough operation causing damage to operating machinery. Leaving a sand row behind the conditioner and burying almonds missed Rough operating conditions causing injury to operator. Crushing of workers whilst reversing conditioner. Cuts and lacerations from jammed sticks. Traffic accidents at headlands. Risk of in jury to personnel from blower Risk treatment. Ensure no one is within 30 meters when operating the blower Line up the centre of the pick- up head with the almond windrow. Engage PTO drive of tractor, lower 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 520 PTO speed. Select correct gear and begin picking up almonds whilst checking for optimum efficiency of the conditioner. Supervisor must monitor conditioning operations regularly. If large sticks or obstacles are present in the row shut down,isolate equipment and remove obstacle (NOTE always apply the park brake and communicate when you are exiting the tractor.) If required to reverse contact the Supervisor When exiting equipment apply hand brake stop all functions Stop at all headlands and check for traffic before proceeding . Operator to ensure other workers are not in vicinity of conditioner when reversing Supervisor must monitor conditioner operations regularly 7:28 Step 7 Check row quality Potential risk. Poor production leaving almonds behind Unwanted debris,sand,sticks and leaves can cause excessive wear to conditioner Risk treatment. QA and Supervisor Must continually check quality of conditioning. If almonds are apparent in the sand row, stop operation immediately and contact Supervisor 7:56 Step 8 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 and guard covers 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 or get into the conditioner Report all faults or concerns immediately to your Supervisor 8:45 Step 9 Filling conditioning hopper and stick elevator Potential risk. Blockages and jamming Almond damage Risk treatment. Monitor cameras for stick build up and to monitor windrow As the stick belt begins to fill, empty at the end of block in an open area or where instructed by the Supervisor Supervisor to monitor operation constantly. 9:13 Step 10 End of row crossing headlands Potential risk. Loss of almonds on roadways. Dehulled and damaged product Damage to machinery Risk treatment. Engage the lever to close the drop gate evenly while conditioner is moving at the end of row or crossing headlands Do not turn tight at end of rows whilst operating conditioner. Always beware of other traffic when exiting out of rows 9:43 Step 11 End of shift routine maintenance Potential risk. Bites from spiders and snakes. Eye injuries. Cuts and lacerations from jammed sticks. Slips, trips and falls from machinery frames. Compressed air injuries Equipment not isolated Risk treatment. As each work shift is completed, ensure that all nuts and sticks are removed from the conditioner. Blow down unit as per Orchard Safe use of Compressed Air Safe Operating Procedure. Securely park machine in the designated maintenance area. If required refill equipment in preparation for the next shift.(NOTE this may differ from orchard to orchard.Check with your Supervisor) If using compressed air positive sealed goggles with strap must be worn. Isolate the equipment at the end of shift 10:44 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. 11:12 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. 11:42 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. 12:10 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. 12:27 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. 13:23 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. 14:03 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