SAFETY at COTTON HARVEST

This video is for employers, employees and contractors who work on cotton farms during cotton harvest. The aim of the video is to increase awareness of OH&S hazards at cotton harvest. It has been designed to compliment harvest training programs.

OH&S legislation requires all workplaces to have systems in place to identify, control or eliminate health and safety risks (OH&S Act NSW2001 & Workplace Health & Safety Act Qld 1995).

The cotton harvest has a reputation for being a hazardous operation. Power lines, picker heads and module builders have been involved in serious injury and occasionally death.

This video is suitable for both the inexperienced employee new to the industry with little knowledge of the harvest operation, and also to refresh the knowledge of an employee who has many years of experience in harvest operations.

This video has been segmented into individual hazard areas including:
· Drugs, alcohol, fatigue, work attire and presentation
· Power lines
· Machinery and equipment; guarding and operation, repairs and maintenace
· Night work
· Fires
Each farm will have different practices for managing OH&S during harvest operations. The video allows a trainer to pause after each section to outline key hazards, identify control measures and procedures.

Safety at harvest is a team effort, relying on good planning, good communication and diligent adherence to work procedures. Employees, employers and contractors must be familiar with work standards and procedures.

Implementing a hazard and risk management plan will ensure a safe and profitable harvest.

The production of this video has been funded by the Cotton Research and Development Corporation. Project leader was Gus Shaw from NSW Agriculture, and, technical input was provided by Michael Finucane Auscott Limited, David Turner "Macintyre Downs" Goondiwindi, Rob McCutcheon "Mullah" Trangie, Tom Braz from NSW Agriculture was responsible for the camera work and the script. Reference material was supplied by Auscott Limited, WorkCover NSW, NorthPower, and Moree Ag Health Unit.

The video is available to all Australian cotton growers free of charge and is being distributed through the local cotton grower associations and the Cotton Industry Development Officers.