Cotton Harvest Safety Pack

Transcription

1 Cotton Harvest Safety Pack The following fact sheets contain safety information relevant to cotton harvesting activities. Further safety information can be found at essentialenergy.com.au/safety including: - Order form for free safety stickers and DVDs - Our cotton harvest safety film - Electrical hazard awareness for rural workers film Like us or follow us for safety tips and information during power outages. Contact us Contact us Essential Energy Essential Energy PO Box 5730 PO Box 5730 Port Macquarie NSW 2444 Port Macquarie NSW 2444 General enquiries General Enquiries Supply interruptions Power Outages essentialenergy.com.au/safety essentialenergy.com.au/safety

2 THIS HARVEST, STAY SAFE ON THE LAND Stay safe on the LAND: L lways be Aware. Check the location and condition of poles and wires. A Need to Know. Know the height of your machinery in both raised and lowered positions. Don t Disembark. If your machinery contacts overhead powerlines, stay in the vehicle, if it s safe to do so. ook Up and Live. Overhead powerlines should be identified and marked at ground level. Emergency escape Identify hazardous areas If your vehicle makes contact with overhead or underground powerlines: Visit essentialenergy.com.au/overhead to request a map* showing the general location of Essential Energy s overhead electricity network for your property to help you identify potentially hazardous areas. *Imagery may not be available for all areas. Mark powerlines on your property Essential Energy can provide advice on how you can improve visibility of powerlines on your property, including using line markers, pole markers and marking powerlines at ground level. For overhead powerline markers fill out an enquiry form at essentialenergy.com.au/overhead. For other marker information public.safety@essentialenergy.com.au or call General enquiries Power outages essentialenergy.com.au/safety Look up and live Stay in your vehicle and call 000 immediately If escape is absolutely necessary, jump well clear to avoid contact with the vehicle and ground at the same time When you jump land with your feet together. Do not touch the vehicle, fall or allow your feet to step apart You must shuffle or jump, with your feet together until you are at least 8 metres clear of the vehicle, powerlines or anything else in contact with them Once clear, do not return to the vehicle for any reason C all Essential Energy on Remember to never approach a vehicle to assist in an evacuation and always treat powerlines as if they are live. Order safety collateral Fact sheets, films and free safety stickers can be ordered online at essentialenergy.com.au/safety You can also register to receive safety updates via . If you have any safety questions call and ask to speak to Essential Energy s Public Safety Team. Like us or follow us for safety tips and information during power outages.

3 Overhead Electrical Network Maps Overhead electrical network maps Maps showing the general location of our overhead electricity network are available on request to individuals and groups involved in activities including: > aerial spraying, aerial mapping, aerial inspections > l eisure activities such as hot air ballooning, gliding or parachuting > farming > general aviation > general water activities > operating high machinery For information regarding the location of the underground electricity network when excavating, please contact Dial Before You Dig on 1100 or visit Overhead maps can help identify potential electrical hazards* A long powerline spans D B access to silos and storage sheds Ca ccess routes to paddocks, sheds, silos and other farm buildings D loading ramps B C A *Overhead maps provided by Essential Energy show approximate powerline locations only they will not highlight risk areas or locations as provided in this example. It is the responsibility of the requestor to review the maps and identify risk areas. Look up and live LAND How to use overhead network maps Safety first on the Assessing the location of powerlines overlayed onto an aerial image of your property could help you identify potentially hazardous locations. Once identified, you will need to take appropriate action to control the risk, which may include advising others of the location of the powerlines on your property. 1. L OOK UP AND LIVE: Overhead powerlines should be noted and marked at ground level. How to request maps Visit essentialenergy.com.au/overhead to request overhead maps for your property. Please note, imagery may not be available for your location. 2. A LWAYS BE AWARE: Check the location of wires and poles in the working area. 3. NEED TO KNOW: Know the height of your machinery, in both the raised and lowered position. 4. DON T DISEMBARK: If your machinery does come into contact with powerlines, stay in the vehicle, if safe to do so.

4 ELECTRICITY AND COTTON FARMING What should I do before commencing any work on a property? - Talk to the person in control of the property about any work areas which may be hazardous - Know the location of powerlines on the property and their proximity to your work - Contact Essential Energy for free maps plotting powerlines against the cadastral or topographic features overhead.maps@essentialenergy.com.au - Be aware of electrical safety - ensure workers are suitably trained, competent and familiar with the relevant sections for work being undertaken, especially the minimum clearance distances between machinery and powerlines as specified in the WorkCover Work near Overhead Powerlines Code of Practice. - Complete a risk assessment to identify and put in place the appropriate control measures to prevent any hazards (including work practices and procedures) which may have the potential to harm the health or safety of a person. This should be completed for each paddock and piece of machinery to be used - Contact Essential Energy about installing visual markers to improve powerline visibility in any areas where electrical hazards are identified prior to commencing work, as vision can be obstructed due to blind spots in machinery - (see Essential Energy s fact sheet Increase visibility of powerlines ) - To warn workers of the presence of overhead powerlines: Mark either side of powerlines at least eight to ten metres with appropriate signage Where appropriate, provide ground barriers. - Carefully monitor weather conditions - powerlines can sway in winds, sag as temperature increases and are difficult to see at dawn and dusk - Be aware of reduced powerline heights as a result of damage, usually indicated by uneven conductors, excessive sag, slack guys or ground that has been built up. Stay well clear of damaged powerlines and report them immediately to Essential Energy on Ensure operators are aware of the height and reach of their machinery in both stowed and working positions to ensure that minimum approach distance to powerlines are maintained (see Essential Energy s fact sheet Work near overhead powerlines for minimum approach distances). Machinery measuring over 4.6 metres has a high risk of an incident involving overhead powerlines and should be closely monitored to ensure required minimum approach distances are maintained. If in doubt contact Essential Energy to confirm the actual height of conductors and arrange for the power to be switched off if required clearances can t be achieved. Do this as early as possible as time will be required to arrange the outage. Figure 1 above Approximately 36ft 8in long and 5.33m high Figure 2 - above Approximately 23ft 4in long and 7.11m high If you are operating machinery over 4.6m high, ensure all areas of operation are assessed prior to the commencement of work. If in doubt, call Essential Energy on for assistance. Don t raise machinery to unload round bales before checking for overhead powerlines. NOTE: Machine should be set to MANUAL regarding auto tip.

5 Safe work habits - Ensure required minimum approach distances are maintained. This is the amount of space required between machinery and anything held by a person and the powerlines in order to prevent electricity arcing to you or the machinery - Ensure sufficient room is allowed when manoeuvring near poles and guys - Assign a competent safety observer to each work team to guide machinery movements near overhead powerlines, in order to warn the person/operator of unsafe conditions and ensure that minimum safe approach distances are maintained - Ensure maintenance of machinery, loading, unloading and pressing activities are carried out well away from powerlines - Lower the ram/tramper to the minimum height - transport position - when relocating cotton module makers every time - Make sure you locate module builder and round bale sites well away from powerlines. Consideration must also be given to the vehicle length when collecting modules, to ensure that approach distances are maintained - Lower the bars on top of cotton pickers when picking and relocating between paddocks or farms. Remember to lower machinery to minimum height before relocating and transporting. What are the minimum safe approach distances when working near powerlines? Workers and their equipment should not approach overhead powerlines any closer than 3, 6 or 8 metres depending on the voltage, when machinery is being operated. See Essential Energy s fact sheet Work near overhead powerlines for more information. What are the minimum safe approach distances when driving under powerlines? An approach distance is the amount of space required to be kept between machinery and the powerlines in order to prevent electricity arcing to you and includes the load, exhaust pipe and attachments such as rotating/flashing lights, rails, radio aerials, etc. The following table provides minimum safe approach distances for fixed height vehicles. Note: Once any operational work is to be performed, such as unloading bales, the minimum safe approach distances when working near powerlines apply - 3, 6 or 8m. Nominal phase to phase a.c. voltage (volts) Low voltage conductors up to 1,000 (Usual supply from transformers to houses, sheds and pumps ) Above LV, up to and including 33,000 (Usual supply to rural transformers on single poles with crossarms) Above 33,000 up to and including 132,000 (Usually two poles or single poles without crossarms) Minimum approach distance (metres) Above: Minimum approach distances required when driving under powerlines For more information Essential Energy s Public Safety team is available to discuss any questions relating to electrical safety and can facilitate Electrical Awareness sessions. These sessions usually take two hours to complete and are free of charge. For more information on electrical safety please call Essential Energy: General enquiries Power outages Follow us or visit essentialenergy.com.au/safety SAFETY FIRST: You can still be injured without directly contacting an overhead powerline, as electricity can arc across open spaces so keep your distance! Be aware that the apparent height of powerlines will vary depending upon the angle which they are viewed Always treat all powerlines as alive even though they may appear to be dead.

6 ELECTRICITY AND AGRICULTURE What should I do before commencing any work on a property? - Know the location of powerlines on the property and their proximity to your work - Provide workers with accurate, up-to-date maps/diagrams showing the location of powerlines on the property, also indicating safe traffic paths to eliminate the possibility of powerline contact - Complete a risk assessment so as to identify and put in place the appropriate control measures to prevent any hazards (including work practices and procedures) which may have the potential to harm the health or safety of a person. This should be completed for each paddock and piece of machinery to be used - Install visual markers in any areas where electrical hazards are identified prior to commencing work, as vision can be obstructed due to blind spots in machinery - Carefully monitor weather conditions - powerlines can sway in winds, sag as temperature increases and are difficult to see at dawn and dusk - Ensure operators are aware of the height and reach of their machinery in both stowed and working positions to ensure that minimum approach distance to powerlines are maintained (see Essential Energy s fact sheet Work near overhead powerlines for minimum approach distances) - Machinery measuring over 4.6 metres has a high risk of contacting overhead powerlines and should be closely monitored to ensure required minimum approach distances are maintained. Safe work habits - Ensure required minimum approach distances are maintained. This is the amount of space required to be kept between machinery and anything held by a person and the powerlines in order to prevent electricity arcing to you or the machinery - Assign a competent safety observer to each work team to guide machinery movements near overhead powerlines, in order to warn the person/operator of unsafe conditions and ensure that minimum safety approach distances are maintained - Lower all machinery to the transport position when relocating. What else can I do to make my property power safe? - Ensure maintenance of machinery and loading/unloading activities are carried out well away from powerlines - To warn workers of the presence of overhead powerlines install appropriate signage at least 8 to 10 metres either side of powerlines. For more information Essential Energy s Public Safety team is available to facilitate Electrical Awareness sessions and discuss any questions relating to electrical safety. For more information on electrical safety please call Essential Energy: General enquiries Power outages Follow us or visit essentialenergy.com.au/safety Essential Energy recommends you familiarise yourself with the latest SafeWork NSW Code of Practice Work near Overhead Powerlines which can be viewed at: or you can purchase a copy of the Code of Practice by contacting SafeWork NSW on SAFETY FIRST: You can still be injured without directly contacting an overhead powerline, as electricity can arc across open spaces so keep your distance! Be aware that the apparent height of powerlines will vary depending upon the angle which they are viewed. Always treat all powerlines as live even though they may appear to be dead.

7 TRANSPORTING HIGH LOADS Transporting machinery around powerlines Overhead powerlines criss-cross the country. Often unnoticed, they are essential to provide electricity to our communities. Anyone engaging in relocating high loads risks serious injury or death as a result of contact with powerlines or electrical flash overs occurring. This fact sheet will assist people involved in high load transportation operations to reduce their risk working near powerlines. Risk is higher for those who tow or transport equipment in the vicinity of powerlines. If the height is more than 4.3 metres but less than 4.6 metres and the travel path is not a designated high vehicle route, you should contact your local electricity network provider to verify overhead powerline heights. Further regulations apply to vehicles where loads are higher than 4.6 metres. Visit rms.gov.nsw.au for more information. Carrier responsibilities and requirements Under New South Wales Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) regulations and guidelines, the carrier must be clearly aware of the load height and the associated restrictions that apply, including the obligation to contact Essential Energy if the load exceeds 4.6 metres in height. Carrier communications with Essential Energy - Where the load height exceeds 4.6 metres and is less than five (5) metres in height and the proposed route is not a designated 4.6 metre high vehicle route the carrier should contact Essential Energy to verify overhead powerline heights. - Where the load height exceeds five (5) metres, the carrier must contact Essential Energy and seek permission for the proposed transport. When contacting Essential Energy The carrier must: - NOTIFY Essential Energy no less than seven (7) working days prior to proposed transport date - PROVIDE written information regarding dates, times, routes, load type and load dimension / height to Essential Energy - RECEIVE written approval from Essential Energy prior to any transport of the high load on the designated routes within Essential Energy s area. High load permit request procedure Initial contact should be to contact Essential Energy s high load coordinator by phoning You can apply for a high load permit online at: essentialenergy.com.au/f_highloadpermit.aspx Know the height of your machinery or load - Understanding how high your machinery will be when it s being transported could prevent an incident - Ensure the machinery is fully lowered before transporting the load - Don t leave rails erected and always ensure materials are secured. WARNING DO NOT attempt to directly measure the height of overhead powerlines DO NOT use conductive metallic objects or measuring devices such as metal tape measures for estimating the height of overhead powerlines. Typical high load operations include: - Machinery walked / driven between properties - Houses being relocated - Transportation of large machinery.

8 When transporting high loads the driver must ensure: - Directives from Essential Energy personnel are followed at all times - At no time may a person climb or ride on the load - Other persons remain at least eight (8) metres clear of the load whilst the load passes beneath live conductors - The vehicle does not remain stationary within three (3) metres of live conductors. When transporting high loads, plan safe travel paths that allow you to maintain the required clearances. Before entering the destination, worksite or property, contact the site manager or property owner for information on the approved safe travel path on site. Visually check all powerlines if you must pass beneath them, and ensure you don t vary from the approved safe travel path. Transit envelope Top of the load, cabin, lights, aerial or exhaust whichever is the highest Maximum height 4.6 metres Transit envelope and minimum clearances The transit envelope is the maximum overall height of the vehicle, the area encompassing normal height and width of vehicles or plant when travelling to or from a work site. Table 1 - Load to Line Minimum Clearances Insulated Low Voltage up to 1, metres volts (only with consultation and insulation verified by an authorised person) Uninsulated Low Voltage up to 1, metres volts High Voltage, up to and including: 33,000 volts 0.9 metre 132,000 volts 2.1 metres Refer to: Essential Energy s fact sheet Work near overhead powerlines. Situational awareness and changing conditions - Essential Energy always attempts to ensure information is correct at the time of issuing. Visual inspections are conducted and the height of powerlines are measured before permits are issued Be aware that since the permit was issued, parts of Essential Energy s electrical infrastructure may have changed due to storms, hot weather, bird strikes or other factors - Changes to any of this infrastructure could reduce the clearances required for you to safely pass under the powerline - Any changes observed should be reported immediately to Essential Energy on What should you do if your vehicle contacts overhead/underground powerlines? 1. Try not to panic, remain calm and stay in the vehicle until the power has been isolated and the powerlines removed, don t risk being electrocuted by attempting to leave the vehicle 2. Advise anyone near the incident site to stay a minimum of eight (8) metres from the vehicle and anything else in contact with the powerlines 3. Contact Essential Energy immediately on to switch off the power and call emergency services (000) to report wires down and a life threatening situation 4. Always treat powerlines and anything in contact with the powerlines as live 5. Only attempt to drive the vehicle if you re not going to create another hazard to yourself or others and ensure you drive a minimum of eight (8) metres from the powerlines and anything in contact with the damaged powerlines. For more information on the emergency evacuation procedure, please refer to Essential Energy s fact sheet Emergency response to a powerline incident. For more information Essential Energy s Public Safety team is available to facilitate electrical awareness sessions and discuss any queries relating to electrical safety. For further information about electrical safety please call Essential Energy: General enquiries Power outages Follow us Or visit essentialenergy.com.au/safety Essential Energy recommends you familiarise yourself with the latest SafeWork NSW Code of Practice Work near Overhead Powerlines, which can be viewed at or you can purchase a copy of the Code of Practice by contacting SafeWork NSW on SAFETY FIRST: Know the height of the machine or load Visually check powerlines before passing under them Ensure a high load permit has been obtained Don t change your identified route.

9 POWERLINE HAZARD ASSESSMENT FOR THE FARM This form can be used to assess your property for potential electrical hazards. For questions 1-7, please tick the box if the answer is Yes. For questions 8 and 9, only tick the box if the answer is No. 1. Do you have any of the following on your property? Powerlines in paddocks, crossing roads or near houses, sheds, loading ramps or silos Trees growing near powerlines Dams or channel banks near powerlines Unsure. 2. Do you use any of the following plant or equipment on the farm? Headers/cotton module makers and harvesters Tippers/trucks Aircraft Excavators/backhoes Spray rigs Irrigation pipes/irrigators General machinery including augers etc 3. Can the plant and equipment extend or be raised above 4.6 metres? Yes 4. Are any of the following activities conducted or proposed for your property? Grazing stock sheep, cattle etc Grain sorghum, wheat, oats, barley, rice etc Cotton Deliveries (transport in and out of fuel, stock, fertiliser, machinery etc) Aerial activities including aerial application, mustering, recreational aircraft, airstrips. 5. Have you reduced ground and No Go Zone* clearances by: Increasing ground levels by building up roads or channel banks Constructing buildings, loading ramps or yards near powerlines?

10 6. Is there any vegetation on your property that is: Planted within 10 metres of powerlines and a variety not suitable for planting near powerlines as per Essential Energy s Planting guide essentialenergy.com.au/trees Higher than the powerlines and, if felled, they would come within 3 metres of the No Go Zone* Visually obscuring power poles making them hard to see? 7. Are you planning on doing any digging on your property (i.e. for irrigation systems, clearing out channels or dams, solar installation etc) using the following methods: Trenching Hand excavation Backhoe Under boring? For the following questions, tick the box if the answer is No. 8. Powerlines on your property and the employee and contractor induction process Have you marked on a plan of your property the actual location of overhead or underground powerlines, guys/staywires, poles and earth cables? Overhead electricity network maps can be requested from essentialenergy.com.au/overhead Have you considered marking overhead powerlines in high risk areas on your property? To enquire about powerline markers visit essentialenergy.com.au/overhead Have you marked on a plan of your property areas of concern especially any areas you have identified as no access areas due to overhead or underground powerlines? Have you placed ground signage in clearly visible locations around your property identifying the presence of powerlines? Do you have an induction process in place for anyone who will be carrying out work on your property? 9. Do all people entering your property know: The correct emergency procedure if an electrical incident occurs That they don t have to make contact with the powerlines for an electrical incident to occur electricity can arc to them or their equipment if they encroach the safe approach distance The required clearances for No Go Zones* when working near powerlines The required clearance distances to pass machinery or plant under powerlines? *For information on No Go Zones, see the latest SafeWork NSW Code of Practice Work near Overhead Powerlines which can be viewed at: or purchased by contacting SafeWork NSW on If you answered any of the above questions by ticking a box, please visit our website at essentialenergy.com.au/safety or call and ask to speak to a member of the Public Safety team to find out what you can do to stay safe when working around electricity on your property.