Be safe, avoid fatigue
Concern about fatigue impacts during a busy season prompted Rural Contractors New Zealand to launch a campaign about the risks. Chief executive Andrew Olsen explains.
Rural Contractors NZ have launched a campaign today against the risks of fatigue in their industry.
RCNZ chief executive Andrew Olsen says because they work seasonally, drive big machines and face weather and crop timing challenges, rural contractors need to manage fatigue risks.
“We are saying there are risks for everyone if you push yourself or others too hard.”
Steve Murray, a second-generation Canterbury rural contractor and former RCNZ president has fronted three short videos. These have been professionally produced by farm machinery supplier Power Farming which has previously worked with Steve and is right behind the campaign. These include one video aimed at employers.
“Rural contractors take their health & safety responsibilities seriously, but the video says they need to talk about the F word – fatigue,” says Andrew Olsen.
“Our members are up against it with the weather, crop deadlines and client expectations but they can put themselves and their staff under too much pressure. They need to build in breaks and pace things so no one gets fatigued which can cause stress and much worse.”
A second video is aimed at employees. “They’ve also got to do their bit to avoid fatigue. That includes not arriving at work really tired or stressed or hungover or unwell; if they are, or see others with such effects, they’ve got to sing out to avoid people are being put at risk.”
The third video gives tips on avoiding fatigue including eating good food, drinking lots of fluids and taking breaks. The videos are supported by more detailed material on the RCNZ website.
Olsen asks all stakeholders to view and share the campaign’s details including farmers and other landowners.
“We all have a role to play. Rural contractors can sometimes be put under too much pressure to meet impossible deadlines especially when the weather plays up and crops need harvesting.
“Big machines may be able to operate 24 hours a day but those behind the wheel need their sleep and breaks to be able to do the job safely.
“The last thing anyone wants is for a fatigued driver to do harm to themselves or someone else. We are saying let’s all work for a safe season by avoiding fatigue.”
Like many manufacturers around the world, European agricultural machinery and tractor manufacturers are currently operating in a difficult market environment. But they are heading to the world’s largest agricultural machinery event in Hanover next month with a degree of cautious optimism.
Established in 2021, the John Deere Technician of the Year Awards champion the important contribution parts and service technicians make to the Australian and New Zealand agriculture, construction and forestry industries.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling on farmers from all regions to take part in the final season of the Sheep Poo Study aiming to build a clearer picture of how facial eczema (FE) affects farms across New Zealand.
New Zealand is closer to eradicating bovine TB than ever before, but possums remain a threat, says Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.
The ACT Party says media reports that global dairy giant Nestle has withdrawn from the Dairy Methane Action Alliance shows why New Zealand needs to rethink its approach to climate.
OPINION: Ageing lefty Chris Trotter reckons that the decision to delay recognition of Palestinian statehood is more than just a fit…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly recently met someone at a BBQ who works at a big consulting firm who spent…