Safety

GrainCorp’s culture prioritises a safety mindset, with a goal of Zero Harm…Safe for Life for our people and our customers.

For the latest updates from GrainCorp on safety across our entire business network, please visit our main site.

Across our network of businesses, employees, partners and customers, we are constantly working together to achieve safe environments. In this section, you can read about some of our safety practices and approaches on site and across our freight networks.

Maintaining safety during COVID-19

We’re reducing contact points across our sites and facilities and have introduced additional hygiene support throughout our networks to limit the spread of COVID-19. Your assistance is appreciated throughout this time. Please comply with any requests from staff around the use of masks or other hygiene or safety protocols and try to limit any unnecessary physical contact with others.

Notes for visitors while on site

Visitors to our sites should take note of the following safety precautions.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - PPE must be worn onsite. This includes a hat/cap, safety glasses, high-vis vests and enclosed footwear. PPE essentials are available on loan from sample stands or site offices.
Dust, Hearing & UV protection – Must be worn when airborne dust is present, or you are instructed to do so. Masks must be at least P2-level rated.
Alcohol and Drugs – Every staff member and visitor onsite must be 100% free from alcohol or illegal, prescription or pharmaceutical drugs that may affect their ability to safely perform their duties.
Children and animals - Must be supervised constantly and always remain in the vehicle when onsite. 
Keep clear of machinery and equipment - Never assist a GrainCorp employee with their duties or machinery use.
Stay alert – Attention is required to onsite traffic flows, at level crossings and at railway lines at all times.
Obey all instructions and signs – at our sites, particularly while around equipment and machinery.
Report any hazards or injuries – at the site office or sample stands.

Notes for truck drivers while on site

All truck drivers loading and unloading grain to GrainCorp sites are responsible for:

Ensuring tailgate chains are fitted.
Opening and closing tailgates and bag chutes at delivery hopper.  
Ensuring vehicles are roadworthy and fit for use.
Observing site speed limits (usually 20km/h) unless otherwise sign posted.    
Following traffic flow signs and instructions from GrainCorp employees.
Watching for overhead power lines.
Remaining outside the danger zone when tipping trailers.
Controlling tipping operations to prevent roll-overs or road hopper damage; maxi brakes must be applied while tipping.   
Do not enter exclusion zones.  
Do not climb on vehicles where a fall may result.  
Do not travel with trailer/tippers in the raised position; they must be fully lowered before departing the grain delivery hopper.  
Do not obstruct traffic with parked vehicles. Use designated parking zones.  
Do not clean trucks on site.  
All tarps need to be fully pulled back prior to arrival at the sample stand.

Note: Convertible tipper-trailers complying with the above points are permitted to deliver.

Chain of Responsibility

Heavy Vehicle National Laws and Chain of Responsibility obligations apply to all participants in the road transport supply chain.

During harvest, mass and fatigue management are two significant areas where growers, road transport providers and receivers of grain could be legally liable for breaches of road transport laws. Both the truck driver and loader can face heavy penalties for a breach. Grain receivers can be required by law to provide detailed information in relation to deliveries received, which can be used to prosecute.

Please refer to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator website for more information about your obligations as part of the Chain of Responsibility.

Fatigue management

Fatigue management laws apply to vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Mass of 12 or more tonnes.

Most truck drivers delivering to GrainCorp sites would operate under ‘Standard Hours’ where they can work a maximum of 12 hours per 24-hour period and must take minimum rest breaks and rest days, as per the table below.

Time	Work	Rest
In any period of...	A driver must not work for more than a maximum of...	And must have the rest of that period of work with at least a minimum rest break of...
5.5 hours	5.25 hours work time	15 continuous minutes rest time
8 hours	7.5 hours work time	30 minutes rest time in blocks of 15 continuous minutes
11 hours	10 hours work time	60 minutes rest time in blocks of 15 continuous minutes
24 hours	12 hours work time	7 continuous hours stationary rest time*
7 days	72 hours work time	24 continuous hours stationary rest time
14 days	144 hours work time	2 x night rest breaks# and 2 x night rest breaks taken on consecutive days

* Stationary rest time is the time a driver spends out of a heavy vehicle or in an approved sleeper berth of a stationary heavy vehicle.

ˆ Night rest breaks are seven continuous hours stationary rest time taken between the hours of 10pm on a day and 8am on the next day or 24 continuous hours stationary rest break.

Further information on fatigue management can be found at the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator website.

Work diaries (log books)

All drivers of regulated heavy vehicles and those who drive more than 100km from their home base, or operate under Basic or Advanced Fatigue Management, must complete a work diary or log book.

However, the National Primary Producer Production Work Diary Exemption (Notice) 2015 allows primary producers to drive 160km from their home base before work diaries are required in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria.

Check your work diary obligations at the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator website. There are electronic work diary options also listed on the site.

Mass management

During harvest, mass management laws apply to growers as well as truck drivers. Mass limits vary state to state. When loading grain, it is important that the mass limit, Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) and Gross Combination Mass (GCM) is known and not exceeded.

The default mass limit is the General Mass Limit (GML). On top of GML, trucks are also able to apply for extra mass limits that fall into the following categories:

Concessional Mass Limits
Class 2 or Class 3 permits
Performance Base Standards
Higher Mass Limits.

Refer to the GTSN Truck Chart and Book for more details at our Road Freight page. Mass limits can be found at the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator website.

Grain Harvest Management Scheme (GHMS)

We work with state regulators to make it easier for growers to load on-farm and deliver to their local site during harvest.

There are some differences between states for overloaded vehicles. The information below is provided to raise awareness of the differences. Truck drivers and growers are responsible to ensure they comply with laws in their local areas and states.

QLD – Increased mass limit up to 7.5% above General Mass Limit for registered trucks, providers and receivers.
Check at AgForce for more information.

NSW – Council participation is optional, so please check the mass limits for your area. Increased mass limit up to 5% above General Mass Limit for most trucks.
Check at RMS for more information.

VIC – Increased mass limit up to 5% above General Mass Limit for complying trucks.
Check at VicRoads for more information.