This guideline provides safety information for those in the agricultural and aviation industries who are involved with top-dressing. It covers farm airstrips; the business of producing, carting and storing fertiliser; and how that affects the final application of that fertiliser by a top-dressing aircraft.

Also available separate appendixes

• Appendix 2a: Airstrip risk assessment checksheet
  • pdf [size: 38KB ]
  • word document [size: 46KB ]
• Appendix 4: Access, storage and airstrip checklist
  • pdf [size: 31KB ]
  • word document [size: 35KB ]

Table of Contents

• Acknowledgements
• Forewords
  • Foreword by the Minister for Transport Safety
  • Foreword by Federated Farmers of New Zealand Inc.
  • Foreword by New Zealand Agricultural Aviation Association
• Scope
  • Review of this guideline
• Key definitions
• Introduction
  • Objective
• Industry hazards
  • Hazard 1: The top-dressing material is not free-flowing
  • Hazard 2: Farm tracks and roads are unsuitable or in an unsafe condition
  • Hazard 3: Airstrip unsafe for use
  • Hazard 4: Lack of training, information, supervision or communication
• Manufacturers of fertilisers
  • Manufacturing guidance and information
• Transport operators and drivers
  • Control of moisture and storage
  • Farm tracks and roads: access
  • Transport operator - employer: training and supervision
  • Truck drivers: employed and self-employed
  • Process for evaluation of access and fertiliser storage
• Airstrip owner
  • Control of fertiliser storage, access and airstrip condition
  • Farm tracks and roads: access
• Farmer: (Fertiliser purchaser)
  • Process for evaluation of farm airstrip condition and fertiliser condition
  • Process for evaluation of access and fertiliser storage
• Aerial operator
  • Employer: Loader driver and pilot (and self-employed people)
• Loader driver
• Pilots
  • Pilot checks prior to commencing a top-dressing contract
• Definitions
• Appendices
  • Appendix 1: Requirements for fertiliser storage
  • Appendix 2: Top-dressing airstrip standards and specifications
  • Appendix 2a: Airstrip risk assessment checksheet
  • Appendix 3: Free-flowing fertiliser field test
  • Appendix 4: Access, storage and airstrip checklist
  • Appendix 5: Health and safety in employment farmer (principal) and contractor agreement
• Summary
  • Delivery control
  • Airstrip control
  • Application control