Health & Safety Induction Information for Drivers

Welcome to Harvest Logistics Limited

The management of Harvest Logistics Limited welcomes you to the team and values your contribution to the business and to the improvement of our workplace.

To achieve Harvest Logistics Limited’s legal and social responsibilities for health and safety, we have developed this induction pack for your information and general use.

Our vision for health and safety is ‘Striving for Zero Harm’. We value all the skills, qualifications and experience that our contractors bring to the business and to help us to achieve our vision, we ask that all truck drivers play their part for the benefit of all.

As you read through this induction pack, please ensure you contact us if you need clarification on anything, either by email to;

Sign-off is required to ensure you have read and understood the contents of this information and that you agree to abide by the rules and procedures adopted by Harvest Logistics Ltd and as described within this presentation.

Harvest Logistics Limited have a zero tolerance Drug and Alcohol Policy regarding illegal substances being brought into, dealt or used in its workplace. There are no exceptions to these.

If it is suspected or identified that you may be under the influence of alcohol, drugs or other illegal substances, you will not be allowed to start work and may possibly be removed from site until we have received confirmation of a non-negative result.

Harvest Logistics Ltd drug and alcohol policy and procedures allows for pre-employment,random, reasonable cause and post-incident drug testing.

Please click here to read more about Workplace Alcohol and Other Drugs Procedures

Drug and Alcohol Policy

Workplace Drug and Alcohol Procedure

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Health & Safety Responsibilities

Truck Drivers

1. To act in a manner that will not place themselves or others at risk.
2. To be aware of their responsibilities for health and safety and follow all reasonable instructions.
3. To report any hazards, near misses or incidents that they may identify while at work, to their manager or Harvest Logistics using the appropriate incident report form. Hazards such as bad road conditions (for example due to weather conditions or road works), deteriorated forest roads or skids (loss of sufficient traction surface or flooding) or major incidents (major road accidents/civil emergencies) – please report these immediately to Harvest Logistics dispatch.
4. To accurately report and record all injuries as soon as possible.
5. Not to operate a truck without the appropriate licences, endorsements and certification.

1. No passengers allowed unless approved by Harvest Logistics Ltd
2. No operating trucks under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol.
3. Wear PPE that is designated for the forest environment and as discussed in the induction process.
4. To carry out and document daily truck pre-checks and abide by the legal requirements of completing the logbook.
5. Trucks must meet legal requirements at all times.
6. Follow Loading/Unloading, Log Load Securing, Trailer Lifting and other LTSC Industry Standards, Forestry ACOP policies and procedures and any other Harvest Rules or Forestry approved code of practice.
7. Maximum speed limit on Forestry roads is 30 km/hr.

Any person found breaking any of these critical rules may constitute a breach of the Contractor Agreement and the driver may face exclusion from future Harvest Logistic Ltd’s work.

• All drivers shall hold a current driver’s license appropriate to the class of vehicle being driven. If you are operating on a limited work license due to a driver disqualification you must declare this to Harvest Logistics.
• Drivers on roads shall comply with the requirements of the Road Controlling Authority (RCA).
• Drivers on roads shall abide by all road signage.
• Vehicles shall be driven at a speed which allows the vehicle to be stopped within half the length of clear road that can be seen in front of the vehicle.
• All vehicles driven on forest roads shall have the headlights or day running lights on.

The following PPE / Safety Equipment is required in all trucks as a minimum:

• Hi-vis hard hat – Recognised industry colours are dayglo yellow and orange.
• Hi-vis outer clothing
• Gloves
• Lace up, steel cap safety boots or HLL approved High leg pull up safety boots
• Torch
• Fire extinguisher
• First aid kit
• RT radio with correct channels
• Shovel

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Hazards are those events or things that have the actual or potential ability to cause you or others harm. Any task, machinery, equipment, process, near misses or any other event that has the actual risk or potential to cause you harm must be reported to the Contractor Manager as soon as possible.

All injuries must be reported promptly and generally within 24 hours so that it can be investigated and to decide if corrective actions are necessary. Any notifiable incidents, they must be reported to WorkSafe as soon as possible. The descriptions should include what and how the injury occurred. In the event of an injury, the Incident Report form must be completed and the following process followed.

1. Take all steps to prevent further injury.
2. Call 111 or use RT to contact dispatch
3. Give details:
   • Location
   • Forest
   • Road
   • How serious
   • Number of people involved
   • Type of injuries
   • Assistance required
4. Contact your dispatcher and advise them of the situation.
5. Contractor should advise Harvest Logistics immediately.

Without Cellphone Coverage

If radio coverage is available, contact dispatch to relay your message to emergency services. If possible, relocate to a location with cell phone reception.

Note: Unless it is essential for safety, do not move the injured person until you are sure what is wrong and what to do.

Emergency Contacts

Emergency – dial 111

For additional information on rules relating to loading and unloading at yards and mills (outside the forest) refer to the Log Transport Safety Council (LTSC) Loading/Unloading standards.

1. Responsibilities
   Both the truck driver and the loader operator have a responsibility to ensure the load is contained and secured in such a manner that it cannot fall from the vehicle.
   1. The loader operator shall be responsible for:
      • controlling the loading/unloading operation
      • ensuring the safety of truck drivers while loading/unloading
      • the placement of logs within bolsters in accordance with the driver’s instruction
      • temporarily ceasing loading/unloading if the truck driver’s location is unknown or unsafe
   2. The truck driver shall be responsible for:
      • ensuring the load is stowed in accordance with industry standards
      • following any instructions given by the loader operator regarding his/her safety whilst loading/unloading on a harvesting site
      • advising the loader operator if intending to use an alternative safe area, e.g. crew shelter
2. Trailer Lifting
   
   1. No person shall be under a raised trailer
   2. When turning the drawbar, trailers shall be suspended as close to the ground as practicable
   3. Trailer lifting shall be completed by machinery that is suitable for that purpose. The accepted methods of lifting the trailer are:
      • placing the load ring onto a hook on the lifting machine
      • grabbing the load ring or chain
      • non-chain alternatives such as cross beams that can be grabbed by the grapple or forklift pockets built into the trailer
3. Loading Operation
   
   1. All truck drivers (and if applicable passengers) shall remain in a designated safe area during loading. Designated safe areas include:
      • inside the truck cab
      • outside the cab 6 metres forward of the cab guard and on the same side of the truck as the loader
      • an alternative safe area, e.g. crew shelter
   Furthermore, it is recommended that the truck driver stand six metres forward of the cab guard during loading of the truck packet.
4. Loading Zone
   
   
   Diagram 8
   1. The loading zone is deemed to be a minimum of six metres around the truck and trailer. This zone may need to be larger during loading of long logs.

   2. No loading activities shall occur while any person is on the ground within the loading (red) zone (Refer to diagram 8).

      Exception: The truck driver may need to stand at the rear stanchion of the truck to observe and direct the loader operator in the setting of bed logs on the trailer bolster and to make adjustments to the final load position on the trailer as long as no logs are being suspended by the loader. Before loading recommences, the truck driver shall return to a designated safe area.

   3. If any person needs to go into the loading zone, they may only do so with the loader operator’s approval. Loading shall temporarily cease (grapple/forks on the ground), and only recommence when the person has moved out of the loading zone.
   4. At no time is the loader to move into or swing logs over, or into, the truck driver safe area.
   5. Chaining up shall only occur after all loading at the site is completed.
5. Load Placement
   
   1. General:
      • No part of the outside logs of the load shall be loaded above the top of the stanchions or the stanchion extensions.
      • Logs loaded in the middle of the load shall not have more than one-third of the diameter of the log above the adjacent logs (see diagram 9).
      • The top of the load shall be rounded so that the load-securing device will contact as many logs as possible.
   
   Diagram 9

   2. Overhang: Logs shall be loaded so that lower and outside logs overhang the bolster and stanchion edges by at least 300mm.

      Exception: The minimum overhang may be reduced to 150mm provided three chains are used, ie, two bolster chains and one belly chain.

   3. Logs which are shorter than the distance between the bolsters and stanchions shall be nestled between outer rows.

      Exception: Short logs may be placed on top of the load, provided the log end not supported by a stanchion is secured with a tensioned load restraint of equal strength in addition to other restraints required by this Code of Practice.

6. Unloading

   1. Stanchion pins and extensions shall not be removed/lowered until the load has been lowered to a point where no part of any log is above the height of the top of the stanchion.

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1. For additional information on rules relating to loading and unloading at yards and mills (outside the forest) refer to the Log Transport Safety Council (LTSC) Loading/Unloading standards.
   1. Vehicles
      1. Vehicles transporting forest produce on a public road shall:
         • be subject to all aspect of the Transport Act 1998 and associated transport legislation
         • have a valid Certificate of Fitness (COF).
      2. Off-highway cartage vehicles shall hold a current Certificate of Road Worthiness as outlined in the Log Transport Safety Council (LTSC) standards.
      3. Vehicles used to carry logs shall be:
         • rated as to the maximum load the unit shall carry (this information shall be available to on request)
         • operated within the manufacturer’s rated gross vehicle mass and gross combination mass
         • operated within accordance of the manufacturer’s specifications
   2. Cab Guards
      1. Trucks used for the transportation of stem, logs and roundwood shall be fitted with an industry standard cab protection frame between the cab and forward end of the load.
   3. Sawdust, Woodchips & Waste Products
      1. Loose bulk loads carted in an off-highway situation shall be adequately covered by a tarpaulin or net as appropriate where there is a significant risk of material falling from a vechicle.
   4. Securing Loads on Logging Transport
      1. All loads shall be loaded and secured so that no portion of the load can become dislodged or fall from the vehicle.
      2. At log landings, it shall be permissible to move the vehicle up to 100 metres to a safe area away from the landing before securing the load,
      3. Restraining devices shall not be released until the load is ready to be removed. Exception: Log transport may move slowly (20kph) to the unloading area providing:
         • a designated unchaining area has been allocated
         • there is no access way by members of the public.
   Where loads are made up of smaller grade logs under 3.9 metres, belly restraints must be used to prevent these from falling.

All Harvest Logistics Loads must use belly chains, regardless of length!