Vigilance essential in busy season

 Many contractors will be cranking out their gear for the hay and silage season and this means all over New Zealand rural contractors are hitting the roads with their tractors, balers and silage wagons.

While it would be nice to see all motorists being extra vigilant and patient when approaching rural contractors and their machinery on the road, the reality is this will not be the case all the time. Many motorists, unused to large machinery on the roads, may become frustrated and impatient and take unnecessary risks. 

This means contractors must be conscious of traffic build-ups and allow following cars to get past when and where possible and practicable. Some of our gear can be huge and it may sometimes be hard for operators to see traffic piling up behind. 

The last thing we want to do is hold up traffic, so operators should ensure motorists can pass in a safe and timely manner. 

It’s also worth ensuring that any excess crop or dirt is cleaned off tractors and/or machines before leaving the paddock and hitting the road. 

Remember, we share the road with other motorists so if we can help to keep the highways and byways cleaner and safer it helps us all.

Just like we want motorists to exhibit patience and understanding, so we can all be safe on our roads, contractors need to ensure they and their staff are aware of traffic and compliant with all the correct transport regulations.

Contractors can find and refresh themselves and their staff on all the necessary rules and regulations on the RCNZ website  www.ruralcontractors.org.nz

Meanwhile, as contracting work begins to wind up it is timely that health and safety remains top of mind for all – employers and workers.  Law changes in the Health and Safety Act and the formation of WorkSafe NZ stress that employers and employees need to know their rights and responsibilities in health and safety in the work place.  We need to get to grips with changes to regulations affecting rural contractors, their workers and clients. 

While work can be challenging at this time of year– needing long and irregular hours at certain times – employees still have a right to regular breaks and rests.  Well-rested employees, contractors and others help make the work environment safe. It can also help you reduce the personal, social and financial costs of accidents. 

The penalties for getting it wrong, should anyone suffer a major accident at their workplace, are severe and it is important to watch out for your own and your staff’s wellbeing.

Last month I attended Federated Farmers national conference in Wellington. Rural Contractors NZ (RCNZ) is an affiliated member of the federation and the organisations share a close and mutually beneficial relationship. As important and influential rural lobbies, RCNZ and Feds continue to develop and foster a good relationship, co-operating to achieve the best outcome for the farming sector.

A key issue for farming and contracting is doing all we can to ensure the health and safety of our people. It is the responsibility of all contractors, workers, their workmates and the farm businesses we are working for to ensure a safe working environment. Long may this continue.

• Agricultural contractor Steve Levet, Wellsford, is the president of Rural Contractors New Zealand (RCNZ).