Viterra reminds its grower and carrier customers of the importance of prioritising safety as its sites get busier with harvest deliveries.
Viterra General Manager Operations, Gavin Cavanagh thanks growers and carriers for their support in ensuring a safe harvest.
“We understand there is added pressure which comes with a challenging season and when the crops are ready and the weather is suitable, growers will want to harvest and deliver as quickly as possible. Our team and sites are fully prepared to safely assist with deliveries,” Gavin says.
“During this time, it is important to continue to prioritise safety by remaining aware of the sort of incidents that can occur, and how we can keep people safe.
“With the assistance of those who attend our sites, we can ensure everyone returns home safe each day.”
Truck incidents present a major risk at Viterra sites and can have significant consequences.
“Incidents which have occurred previously include uncontrolled vehicle movements, collisions with grid structures, and disobeying road rules including speeding and use of mobile phones while operating trucks,” Gavin says.
“These sorts of incidents endanger the driver, our employees, people at our sites and the public.
“As well as following the directions of employees, ways to minimise the risk of a truck incident include following speed limits, ensuring trailers are fully lowered before moving, applying park brakes and maintaining focus.”
Growers and carriers must also understand and comply with heavy vehicle mass management requirements and chain of responsibility obligations.
Gavin says other responsibilities of those attending Viterra sites include wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), holding a valid safety card and following traffic management plans.
“Wearing PPE including high visibility clothing, enclosed footwear, hard hats and eyewear is mandatory in specific locations and an important way to minimise risk of injury.”
“We also ask anyone delivering grain to Viterra to ensure their safety card is valid and review our traffic management plans beforehand, to confirm you are up to date with all safety information and ensure efficient deliveries.”
For more information about safety on site, visit viterra.com.au