Scott Frail and David Brown from Tumut-based G & J Groves Pty Ltd with Haulage and Sales Supervisor, Bec Torres.
Forest Corp NSW Softwood Division – Snowy Region has undertaken its 2022 Haulage Start Up to engage their staff and contractors to help ensure a safe and efficient start to each year. Source: Timberbiz
The event was designed to combat early-year complacency and encourage operators to discuss safety and operational pressures while highlighting this year’s theme of ‘crown it out’ focusing on load assembly.
This year activities focused on the importance of safe load assembly and loading practices. Snowy Region, Haulage and Sales Manager, Nick Firth says the best way to do this in the bush, while the guys are on the job.
This is where the operators feel most comfortable, and conversations can lead to, “on the job” practical examples of what we want to achieve.
The presenter for the event was Alan Pincott from ATSSS, who worked with the industry to develop a program that focused on best practices and recent legislation changes. The program included an overview of load construction and restraint recommendations in the AFCA Log Haulage Code of Practice.
There was a major focus on the Heavy Vehicle National Law Safety Duties and the duties of all parties in the transport chain of responsibility to ensure safety and compliance in transport activities.
Haulage and Sales Supervisor, Bec Torres was heavily involved, putting her talents into developing a Loader Operator handbook and merchandise to support the program.
The FCNSW Haulage team provided a barbeque breakfast or lunch to operators and drivers in the bush throughout the two-day event. While drivers and operators stopped in to have a feed, FC staff engaged in conversations highlighting this years’ focus and distributing the well- anticipated bucket hats and stubby coolers.
The program was very well attended by a broad range of participants including, contractors, forwarder operators, truck drivers, prentice loader operators and FCNSW staff.
“This is a great way to engage people and share the knowledge and experience we have in the industry” Alan Pincott from ATSSS said.
“It’s important that we all keep working together to keep haulage safety at the front of our minds. Experience has shown us that by doing this we can keep the incident rate at a low level. As always, we learnt a lot from the operators at the recent sessions that we will use in future programs.”
