Transport operators and drivers

Hazard 1: The top-dressing material is not free-flowing

Fertiliser that is not free-flowing can, in some situations, completely block the throat of the spreader hopper. This presents a potentially life-threatening hazard for the pilot of the aircraft, particularly when the pilot needs to discharge his payload during an emergency and can not.

Control of contaminants and moisture is vital to ensure flow characteristics are maintained. See Appendix 1: Requirements for fertiliser storage.

Hazard 2: Farm tracks and roads are unsuitable or in an unsafe condition

Controlled by: airstrip owner/farmer

1. Culverts, crossings and bridges shall be able to withstand the gross weight of both the truck and trailer units in use.
2. Farm tracks/roads should be constructed and maintained to a suitable standard.
3. Restrictions may need to be applied as to when farm tracks/roads can be safely used (for example due to weather conditions), and agreed between the transport operator and airstrip owner/farmer.

Hazard 4: Lack of training, information, supervision or communication

Controlled by: employers, employees.

• Staff performing work are not sufficiently trained and/or supervised.
• Staff are not communicating health and safety issues.

Control of moisture and storage

Any fertiliser placed into an aircraft must be completely free from any contaminants, foreign object or debris and be sufficiently dry and in a condition where it will flow freely from the aircraft hopper when discharged during flight.

It is the responsibility of the transport operator not to alter the condition of the fertiliser as it was when uplifted from the manufacturer. Water shall not be added as a dust control measure during transport as this may result in sticky and/or lumpy material.

It is the responsibility of the farmer to store the material in a manner that ensures that the condition of the fertiliser remains free-flowing while in storage and that it continues to satisfy these requirements when being extracted from storage for use.

Truck access bin

Farm tracks and roads: access

The responsibility for the design, construction and maintenance of access ways, such as roads and/or tracks to top-dressing airstrips, rests with the owner of the land on which the top-dressing airstrip, including the loading areas and fertiliser storage areas, is sited. This is regardless of whether the fertiliser being transported and stored is for use on that farm or another farm in the local vicinity.

All farm tracks and roads and access points leading to the airstrip and storage site should be clearly identified by signage at the road gate and at any intersections leading to the airstrip. Gates on access roads should be properly hung and swing freely. Branches overhanging access roads should be cut back to provide a clearway for large vehicles.

Transport of fertiliser, machinery and fuel for top-dressing operations normally requires the use of heavy transport Access to storage areas on or near the top-dressing airstrip should be via a graded and, if practicable, gravelled road that is well drained and maintained. Although some tracks and roads are not gravelled and are used only in good weather conditions, they shall nevertheless be maintained to a standard that ensures safety for the transport operation. For example, besides being graded, all roads and tracks should be sprayed to prevent vegetation growth in wheel tracks, particularly on slopes.

If gravel is used, it should be compacted and the aggregate size should not exceed GAP 65. Information on Gap 65 can be found on the Aggregate and Quarry Association of New Zealand (Inc) website at www.aqa.org.nz/publications.html by clicking on the typical product table link or referring to your local crushed rock quarry.

All culverts, crossings and bridges shall be able to withstand the gross weight of the truck and any trailer.

If there is a reasonable expectation of public access to the fertiliser storage area(s) and the airstrip or where operations are near to a public road, then the whole site should be protected by fencing and signs warning of aircraft operations.

Above and below: Vehicle accidents can and do happen.
Always take all practicable steps.

Transport operator - employer: training and supervision

In the context of this guideline, an employer has a duty of care to ensure that the fertiliser load delivered to a storage facility remains in a fit for purpose condition. This is covered by section 15 of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 - ensuring that no action or inaction of any employee does not harm other people.

Practicable steps that may be taken by the employer of the truck driver include ensuring that:

• the truck driver has the proper licence, training and experience to undertake the work
• the truck/trailer is appropriate for the task with respect to load and access conditions
• the truck driver is aware of the requirement not to add water to any fertiliser load, during transport or after delivery
• the access to the storage facility is safe and of a standard fit for purpose
• the driver is aware of the need for adequate storage of the load, and undertakes steps appropriate for good storage on delivery
• a system is followed for reporting of storage facilities that allow degradation of the load
• a system is followed for communicating to the airstrip owner/farmer, any inadequacies of the storage facility found, and of any inadequacies in respect of access.

Truck drivers: employed and self-employed

The Act requires self-employed persons and employees to take all practicable steps to ensure their own safety while at work and to ensure that no person in their workplace is harmed.

Poor storage factors can affect the condition of the fertiliser loads and the viability of sowing the load in a safe manner. Fertiliser truck drivers can therefore contribute significantly to the safety of the operation.

Practicable steps that may be taken by the truck driver include the following:

• during delivery en route, cover the fertiliser load as appropriate to deny water ingress
• ensuring that the fertiliser does not become wet if transhipped after pick-up from the manufacturer/supplier and before final delivery to the storage facility
• taking appropriate steps to store the load so that it remains in good condition after unloading at the storage facility e.g. ensuring bin doors are closed and/or covers are replaced and secured
• communicating to the airstrip owner/farmer, any inadequacies found of the storage facility
• communicating to the airstrip owner/farmer, any inadequacies found in respect of access.

The truck driver is responsible for the appropriate use of the truck/trailer with respect to the task, load and access conditions.

Process for evaluation of access and fertiliser storage

1. The farmer will assess the condition of the fertiliser storage system, before ordering fertiliser delivery, using the Access and Storage Checklist (Appendix 4), and make good any deficiencies found.
    
2. The transport operator will assess the access ways and storage against the requirements in the checklist prior to delivering fertiliser:

Access ways and storage meet the requirements Fertiliser is delivered.

Access ways OR storage do not meet requirements No fertiliser is delivered.

3. The manufacturer or transport operator will advise the farmer in writing of the reasons for the access way or storage failing to meet the required standards and requesting the deficiencies be made good.
    
4. The farmer will either:

Make good the deficiencies Fertiliser will be delivered.

Not make good the deficiencies No fertiliser delivery is made.

5. A health and safety inspector may be advised by any party if fertiliser is delivered by another transport operator.

Airstrip owner

NOTE 1: A farmer, airstrip owner may be one and the same, or be different entities. Where combined activities are performed by one entity, the sections relevant to both activities apply to that entity.

NOTE 2: See also the definition of 'Principal'.

Hazard 1: The top-dressing material is not free-flowing

Controlled by: manufacturer; transport operator; driver, airstrip owner, and farmer.

1. Moisture can alter the flow characteristics of the material from the hoppers in top-dressing aircraft and in extreme cases, the particles of material can adhere to each other changing the nature of the material from one of freeflowing powder to large chunks of material. In some situations the throat of the hopper can be entirely blocked.
2. When excessive fineness of material is involved, the material may become compacted and immovable.
3. Aircraft hopper throat blockage can also occur due to the fertiliser containing large lumps, or debris from the storage site, for example: stones and rocks, earth clumps, sticks, vegetation and cowpats.

These situations can present a potential life-threatening hazard for the pilot of the aircraft, particularly when the pilot needs to discharge the payload during an emergency and cannot. This requires the fertiliser to be manufactured to, and maintained at a suitable standard until it is applied and it should be free-flowing and free from contaminants when placed in the hopper of the aircraft.

Chain of responsibility

Each party: manufacturer, supplier, transport operator, airstrip owner, farmer, loader driver, aerial operator and pilot, has responsibilities to ensure the fertiliser is in a suitable condition before delivery, while taking delivery, and while handling the product including loading and sowing, to ensure that the product is maintained in a free-flowing condition while in their possession.

Control of contaminants and moisture is vital to ensure flow characteristics are maintained. Appendix 1: Requirements for fertiliser storage covers these issues and provides an important source of information on the storage of fertiliser.

Hazard 2: Farm tracks and roads are unsuitable or in an unsafe condition

Controlled by: airstrip owner/farmer.

1. Culverts, crossings and bridges shall be able to withstand the gross weight of both the truck and trailer units in use.
2. Farm tracks and roads should be constructed and maintained to a standard fit for purpose.
3. Restrictions may need to be applied as to when farm tracks and roads can be safely used (for example due to weather conditions), and agreed between the transport operator and airstrip owner/farmer.

Hazard 3: Airstrip unsafe for use

Controlled by: airstrip owner.

1. Design limitations

The function of an airstrip is affected by numerous things, each of which can impact on the performance of the pilot and aircraft. The design and location of the airstrip may restrict the type of aircraft that can be used, reduce the maximum load that can be carried, or be so affected by weather that operations are restricted to set periods. The decision to use the strip within the airstrip design and location limitations lies with the aerial operator.

2. Inadequate airstrip maintenance

Accidents have occurred through remarkably small but nevertheless important and manageable oversights. Examples are:

• failing to stop on the airstrip because the grass was too long and wet - the aircraft slid off at the run way end point
• aircraft destroyed after its wheel struck a pothole caused by a rabbit
• aircraft hit a tree which had grown into the take-off path.

All of these instances cause severe damage to the aircraft involved and often fatal or serious injury to pilots. Airstrip position, length, slope, direction, surface condition, the proximity of fences and trees and stock and pest control, are all important in the management of airstrips.

Appendix 2: Top-dressing airstrip standards and specifications covers these issues and provides an important source of information needed to manage airstrip safety.

Control of fertiliser storage, access and airstrip condition

Any fertiliser placed into an aircraft must be completely free from any contaminants, large lumps, foreign objects or debris, and be sufficiently dry and in a condition where it will flow freely from the aircraft hopper when discharged during flight.

It is the responsibility of the airstrip owner to ensure that suitable storage facilities are available at the airstrip which will ensure, subject to correct use, that the condition of the fertiliser remains freeflowing while in storage.

The storage facility must, therefore, be capable of maintaining the fertiliser in a clean and dry state. The facility should also allow for the storage of different types of fertiliser to be stored separately.

The airstrip owner is required to manage the hazards on the access ways, airstrip and storage and loading areas in accordance with the guidelines set out above.

This includes:

• Maintaining the fertiliser storage facilities such that the load to be sown is kept in a condition suitable for safe sowing, that is, fit for purpose. The storage area should be checked and, if necessary, repaired prior to use. See Appendix 1: Requirements for fertiliser storage.
• Maintaining the access ways, airstrip, and loading area so that they are in a condition suitable for safe operation. See Appendix 2: Top-dressing airstrip standards and specifications.

Farm tracks and roads: access

The responsibility for the design, construction and maintenance of access ways, such as roads and/or tracks to top-dressing airstrips, rests with the owner of the land on which the top-dressing airstrip, including the loading areas and fertiliser storage areas, are sited. This is regardless of whether the fertiliser being transported and stored is for use on that farm or another farm in the local vicinity.

All farm tracks, roads and access points leading to the airstrip and storage site should be clearly identified by signage at the road gate and at any intersections leading to the airstrip. Gates on access roads should be properly hung and swing freely. Branches overhanging access roads should be cut back to provide a clearway for large vehicles.

Transport of fertiliser, machinery and fuel for top-dressing operations normally requires the use of heavy transport. Access to storage areas on or near the airstrip should be via a graded and, if practicable, gravelled road or track that is well drained and maintained. Although some tracks and roads are not gravelled and are used only in good weather conditions, they shall nevertheless be maintained to a standard which ensures safety for the transport operation. For example, besides being graded, all roads and tracks used should be sprayed to prevent vegetation growth in wheel tracks, particularly on slopes.

If gravel is used, it should be compacted and the aggregate size should not exceed GAP 65. Information on Gap 65 can be found on the Aggregate and Quarry Association of New Zealand (Inc) website www.aqa.org.nz/publications.html by clicking on the typical product table link or referring to your local crushed rock quarry.

All culverts, crossings and bridges shall be able to withstand the gross weight of both the truck and the trailer.

If there is a reasonable expectation of public access to fertiliser storage areas and the airstrip or where operations are near to a public road, then the whole site should be protected by fencing and signs warning of aircraft operations.

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