Submission on Draft Land Transport Rule, Agricultural Vehicles ...
Submission on Draft Land Transport Rule, Agricultural Vehicles ...
Submission on Draft Land Transport Rule, Agricultural Vehicles ...
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c<strong>on</strong>tractor c<strong>on</strong>ducting a ‘critical agricultural operati<strong>on</strong>’ 5 to apply for a variati<strong>on</strong> to the<br />
work time rules will address this issue.<br />
3.15 Federated Farmers supports the general obligati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> employers and the selfemployed<br />
to take all practicable steps to ensure health and safety in the workplace.<br />
An improved alternative fatigue management scheme will also protect and improve<br />
safety. The ‘Work Time Variati<strong>on</strong> of Critical <strong>Agricultural</strong> Operati<strong>on</strong>s’ applicati<strong>on</strong><br />
process must be user friendly and flexible enough to recognise the needs of the<br />
agricultural industry.<br />
4. COMMENT ON REQUIREMENTS FOR HEAVY AND OVER-DIMENSION<br />
VEHICILES<br />
4.1 There are several changes proposed for heavy and over-dimensi<strong>on</strong> vehicles:<br />
a. Update the <strong>Rule</strong> to reflect the current practice for towing<br />
c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong>s between heavy agricultural motor vehicles.<br />
b. Increase the fr<strong>on</strong>t overhang for an agricultural motor vehicle to a<br />
maximum of four metres measured from the fr<strong>on</strong>t edge of the<br />
driver’s seat.<br />
c. Introduce rule that provides for flexibility of alternative hazard<br />
panels. Allow parts of an agricultural motor vehicle to be painted in<br />
high visibility paint as an alternative to displaying hazard panels.<br />
d. Relax the requirements for agricultural motor vehicles travelling in a<br />
c<strong>on</strong>voy to be accompanied by pilot vehicles.<br />
e. Clarify that forks and other equipment fitted to the fr<strong>on</strong>t of an<br />
agricultural motor vehicle do not have to be removed when the<br />
vehicle is being operated <strong>on</strong> the road, provided the operator<br />
complies with <strong>Land</strong> <strong>Transport</strong> <strong>Rule</strong>: External Projecti<strong>on</strong>s 2001.<br />
4.2 Federated Farmers supports these proposals. A brief comment <strong>on</strong> each of the<br />
proposal follows below.<br />
4.3 Towing c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
4.4 Federated Farmers supports the proposed change to the <strong>Land</strong> <strong>Transport</strong> <strong>Rule</strong>:<br />
Heavy <strong>Vehicles</strong> 2004 to update the current rules around towing c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
4.5 The present rule, which is in line with the <strong>Agricultural</strong> <strong>Vehicles</strong> Guide, has a<br />
minimum requirement of a single safety chain. There are no further specificati<strong>on</strong>s for<br />
the weight, other than that two crossed safety chains should be used if the coupling<br />
fails as it will improve the directi<strong>on</strong>al c<strong>on</strong>trol of the trailer.<br />
4.6 The Federati<strong>on</strong> believes making the amendments to <strong>Land</strong> <strong>Transport</strong> <strong>Rule</strong> listed<br />
below will provide some much needed clarificati<strong>on</strong> and will make it easier for farmers<br />
to be compliant when towing agricultural trailers and implements.<br />
5 ‘Critical agricultural operati<strong>on</strong>’ means work that is required for an agricultural purpose that must be<br />
completed urgently to avoid the adverse impact of a biological event, including a natural ph<strong>on</strong>ological<br />
process, or change in weather c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
6