To protect members of its industry, the New Zealand Groundspread Fertilisers Association (NZGFA) presented a new health and safety manual to delegates at its annual conference in Waitangi.
NZGFA president Stuart Barwood says the new manual had been twelve months in the making.
“It has been a team effort from the entire groundspread membership,” says Barwood. “Members have given their time and expertise freely.
“Groundspreading can be a dangerous business. We must do everything we can to minimise those risks.
“It is also a dynamic business. Trucks are bigger and more powerful and the fertiliser mix changes over time.
“We must have systems in place that can handle those changes and keep our drivers as safe as we can.
“With Spreadmark accreditation drivers are trained to an extremely high standard and trucks are rigorously checked.
“On top of that we now have an easy to read, practical, and detailed health and safety manual,” says Barwood. “It is international best practice and no effort has been spared to achieve that.
