Hazard and Risk Management

Please read all General Hazards below and the Hazard Map then read the hazards for the relevant work areas below before you commence work.  

Click here for Workshop Hazards

Click here for Dairy Shed Hazards

If you are going to be using Avon Glen machinery please read about the Vehicle and Machinery Hazards and ensure you receive the appropriate training.

All hazards are subject to change and where possible those changes will be updated on this site and existing contractors notified. However, care must be taken at all times as this is not an exhaustive list. Expect the unexpected and report any incidents or accidents. We will investigate incidents in order to find ways to prevent them happening again. The policies you read here are often the results of previous accidents and incidents including some on this farm. To encourage full and open reporting we operate a 'just culture' where investigations not used to inform disciplinary procedures unless malice is involved. Please also report any changed or new hazards you may notice. You can do so anonymously by clicking here if you prefer. We are open to all suggestions how to make the farm safer.

General Hazards

• Temporary Hazard: hole in W18 where irrigation pod has been removed.

• Cliffs edges and rock fall hazards. Take care in vicinity of cliffs, learn where in each paddock they are. Drive slowly. Don't spend time in rockfall areas unnecessarily - spend minimum time there. High risk.

• Uneven, rough or soft and boggy ground. High risk of losing control, collision or roll-over. These hazards can be anywhere and develop any time. Report any holes or bogs to management. 

• Steep and sometimes slippery slopes - particularly on cow lanes. High risk of slides and collision. If the cow lanes are slippery use a quad bike or tractor rather than ute or two wheeler. Avoid no-go areas. Irrigation or rain will increase the risk of loss of traction.

• Fire - high risk in vegetation, buildings. Note location of diesel and petrol tanks, fire extinguishers, first aid kits and read the emergency plan for Diesel tank fires. High pressure water is available from irrigation offtakes during irrigation season and four water tanks are located above cow shed in W1, accessed adjacent to the sheds at the top of the tanker track. 

• Heavy machinery operating - particularly trucks and tractors. High risk of collision. Keep left on lanes. Use rotating beacon if fitted.

• Milk tankers at any time of day or night. High risk of collision. Keep left and use rotating beacon if fitted.

• Other workers at all times. Their actions may put you at high risk in many ways and vice versa. Communicate. Maintain low speeds, keep an eye out and expect other people to be around.

• Manual Handling - medium risk of lifting injury. Use two people to lift weights over 25kg, except for calves. Bobby calves are lifted to the bobby platform using the front end loader cage to eliminate lifting.

• Blind corners and rises. High risk. Keep left, keep to speed limit.

• Noise hazards - medium risk of hearing loss. Chainsaws, lawn mowers, power tools, tractors without cabs and other equipment exceed the safe level of noise. Hearing protection must be worn if using any loud equipment.

• Chemical hazard - high explosive, fire, corrosive and toxic risks. Storage of hazardous substances in chemical shed, Plateau yard/workshop, dairy shed and petrol tank. SDS and inventory available by clicking here. An emergency plan for Diesel tank fire or Teat X spill can be found by clicking here. The dairy shed and plateau workshop are designated as Hazardous Areas where there may not be ignition sources within 6m. Spraying can take place on the farm including with carcinogenic substances.

  • Store chemicals in original containers with warning labels showing.

  • Avoid contact with chemicals - particularly hormone treatments, anthelmintics and herbicides when pregnant.

  • Use PPE: nitrile gloves, mask, safety glasses, cotton overalls and gumboots.

• Animals. Particularly hazardous when handling in cattle yards - high crushing and kicking risk. When working in the yards be aware of slippery and boggy surfaces. Follow Worksafe guidance. Be firm but quiet when working with animals, have an escape route, keep clear of kicking range and expect them to turn on you at any time.

• Children may be present at any place on the farm and must never be alone. If children are found alone then alert the parents immediately. High risk.

• Motorcross track - only to be used during recreational time. Undulating terrain. Watch for children. 

• Tractor wheels - store laying flat on a pallet or timber to keep it off the ground but unable to fall on children.

• Any heavy objects that may fall on people need to be secured - post drivers, workshop shelves, mole ploughs etc.

• Traffic on Tilverstowe Rd. High collision risk. Follow road rules. Keep left and allow faster traffic past. Be aware of faster traffic catching up. There are blind spots when pulling out of RAPID 91 and RAPID 225. Use care when pulling out with tractors as the front end loader protrudes in front.

• Stock on Tilverstowe Rd. High collision risk. Double check that stock are locked away at night. Use stock signs, rotating beacon and sufficient staff when shifting stock on the road. Notify council.

• Ensure stock are well fed, watered and have good fence power to reduce risk of breakouts.

• Electrical hazards - high electrocution risk. Remain 4m clear of overhead wires and enquire with management over location of underground cables before digging. Note: cables may be anywhere within the width of the trench they are laid in. Browse the Network Waitaki site for public cable location and more safety info.

• High pressure water - medium injury risk. All irrigation infrastructure is high pressure, is often buried and often associated with electrical hazards and made of conductive materials. Always isolate electricity and pressure before working on infrastructure.

• Hydrants - K-Line Hydrants in W8, W9 and W10 and Hard Hose Hydrants in AR1 are a collision risk with the added hazard of high pressure. 

• Hard hose gun - high pressure liquids, rotating parts and finger jamming risk. Hydrants under high pressure. Avoid moving parts and don't use the hydrants unless trained. Maintain the hydrant markers so they don't get run over accidentally. When opening the valve on a hard hose hydrant you must stand on the arms to keep the latches locked until pressure builds and seals the hydrant. High risk.

• Automated irrigation systems which may start at any time. Low risk. Don't park anything on pivot tracks, in the way of the travelling irrigators or too close to the G-Set pods. Pivots may be parked across lanes.

• Pinch points and snag risk - particularly  with dairy shed rotating platform, on silage wagon, and on pivot drive shafts. Keep clear of all of the pinch points unless the machine is off (engine off or red cord pulled). Don't wear loose clothing. 

• G-Set pods - medium collision risk. These can be set low in the ground and be hidden by long grass in the middle of the paddock. Drive slowly, keep an eye out and learn where the pods are in each paddock.

• Overground pipework - particularly drag hose for effluent spreaders and k-line hoses. High risk of falling off two wheelers. Ride slowly and keep an eye out.

• Waterways - various unfenced ponds with soft bottoms present a high drowning risk, as does the Awamoko stream. Children under the age of eight are to be supervised directly by someone over the age of sixteen.

• Wash pad sump - fall risk into shallow water. Medium fall risk.

• Fire extinguishers - while these are a safety feature they are also highly pressurised gas cylinders. To be handled with care. These will be maintained every five years as per law. Medium risk.

• Water troughs - sometimes in the middle of a paddock. Learn the location of each trough. Medium risk. Drive slowly.

• Tape gates - on elastic cord which can cause wire hooks to dig into flesh or eyes if released dangerously. Release carefully. Use safer design for future handles. Low risk.

• Composting pile - dead animals may harbour pathogens. Remain in tractor cabin when burying cows. Hose down bucket when finished. Don't dig into compost manually without PPE. Low risk.

• Fire arms - high shooting risk. Follow seven rules of firearm safety. Only licensed shooters to operate firearms and trained operators to use bolt gun.

• Electric Fences - low electrocution risk. Ensure visitors don't touch fences.

• Environmental hazards - weather; sun, rain, snow, visibility, wind, electrical storms. Wear appropriate clothing, use sun block. High risk.

• Bale stacks - may be unstable and fall. Don't climb. Don't work near them unnecessarily.

• Silos - high risk of suffocation and falls. Do not enter full silo. Only enter silos if someone is outside. Never climb silos without climbing harness, heights training and a buddy system.

• Auger - high risk of entanglement. Keep limbs clear when in use. Turn tractor off if you need to put limbs inside - for example if it needs unblocked. Don't wear loose clothing. The same controls are necessary for electrically operated augers on the silos.

• Effluent pump - may start remotely without warning. Don't remove the shaft guard unless the pump is switched off and cannot be started remotely.

• Digger - only to be operated by trained operators. Don't approach from behind as it may swing without warning. Operators to use spotters where necessary and consider buried electrical cables and high pressure pipes. Consider visibility and check for people near by before rotating. Consider stability of the machine and depth and stability of the hole.

• Stock Crossing - always have at least one spotter to slow traffic and guide stock across.