Parks and Regions Group – Safety Bulletin
A new procedure was developed in 2016 governing the use of quad bikes, motorcycles and light utility vehicles (LUVs)
SAFETY BULLETIN: Quad bikes, motorcycles and light utility vehicles (450 KB)
Following the recent sustained wet weather and high river levels, an increased number of mosquitoes has been noted in the region.
In addition, the recent storms left a lot of debris that allowed water to collect, which has created a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
There are a number of mosquito-borne disease that are well established in SA and for which we should be taking preventive measures.
It is always best to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, by following the strategy of ‘Exclusion, Restriction and Destruction’ similar to ‘Slip, Slop and Slap’ for sun protection.
The strategies used to reduce this risk can include the following ...
Download to read more
DEWNR WHS - Mosquitoes (186 KB)
Recently a DEWNR employee attempted to recover a bogged contractor vehicle using two snatch straps joined with a shackle. The weight of vehicles involved (a DEWNR 4WD truck and the contractor’s semi-trailer) exceeded the rated capacity for the snatch straps and as a result a strap broke and the shackle recoiled into the DEWNR vehicle breaking the towing hitch.
The breaking and uncontrolled recoil of a snatch strap and shackle is a very dangerous occurrence with the potential to cause serious injury or even death to members of the recovery team.
Key factors in this instance were the use of snatch straps of insufficient rating for the task at hand and the use of a shackle to join the two snatch straps.
Forthwith, staff and managers must adhere to the following requirements when undertaking vehicle recovery using snatch straps.
1. The snatch straps minimum breaking strength must be at least double the gross vehicle mass (GVM) of the lighter of the two vehicles (plus its load) used in the recovery.
2. A recoil damper must be used in conjunction with the strap. All recovery equipment must be of a known and sufficient rating or strength for the intended recovery.
3. Snatch straps must only be joined by looping together. Under no circumstances are any other devices such as shackles or similar to be used. Only snatch straps can be used together to increase length.
4. Only the manufacturer’s recognised hitching points are to be used (ensure you identify these prior to driving your vehicle). Under no circumstance should any other attachment be used e.g. Tow ball, roo bars etc.
5. Bystanders must be at a safe distance, approximately 1.5 to 2 times the length of an unstretched snatch strap, from the vehicles.
6. Prior to any attempt, staff must be trained and competent in vehicle recovery practices.
While helping others to recover their vehicle(s) staff must not place DEWNR assets, staff, contractors and/or members of the public in jeopardy. Staff should be familiar with any relevant risk assessment and safe work practices, and apply a dynamic risk assessment approach.
If correctly rated and suitable equipment is not available, staff are not to attempt recovery of a vehicle. Under no circumstance should safety be compromised.
DEWNR Contractors should be aware of the foreseeable hazards associated with their work prior to entering into a contract and be able to satisfy DENWR that they have a reasonable capacity to control them. In this case they should carry appropriate equipment to recover their vehicles.
A generic Vehicle Recovery Risk Assessment is available (through DEWNR) but all business units with local procedures or risk assessments are requested to consider this advice and amend any non compliances.
Should you have any questions please contact the Workplace Safety and Wellbeing Unit.
Prepared by:Peter Bercys,
Snr Safety Projects Officer,
Workplace Safety and Wellbeing Unit.
Authorised by:
David Wearing,
Manager Workplace Safety and Wellbeing Unit.
Date Issued: November 2016
Remove from Notice Boards: January 2017
Please find the attached flyer and registration form for the upcoming buffel grass project forum to be held on the 25th and 26th of October 2016 in Adelaide. If you could please post this on your friends of parks website with the other buffel grass content that would be greatly appreciated. Please also feel free to distribute to any other networks that may be interested in attending.
The target audience for the forum is local councils, regional NRM authorities, conservation/volunteer organisations, pastoralists and indigenous ranger groups as well as the mining/transportation industries. I’m planning to have a variety of speakers primarily from SA although also have representatives from WA, NT, Vic and QLD. Topics will include a detailed summary of my project (i.e. Herbicide trials, roadside surveys, criteria based prioritisation tool, strategic response activities etc.) in addition to a number of control case studies and speakers on the impacts on ecology, fire regimes and the use of various herbicides for the control of buffel grass.
The forum is free of charge and will be held at the Plant Research Centre, University of Adelaide Campus , Hartley Grove, Urrbrae South Australia. Refreshments will be provided on the day and there will be a dinner on the first night to provide an opportunity for further networking (at the expense of attendees).
Kind Regards - Troy Bowman
Buffel Grass rego (113 KB)
Buffel Grass Forum (327 KB)
Buffel Grass strategy (1463 KB)
I am working on a project for Biosecurity SA (in partnership with AMLR NRM) trying to eradicate feral Red Whiskered Bulbuls (birds) that have been showing up in the hills. Part of this process is community engagement so that the community is aware of the issue and can cooperate with the program by reporting sightings.
They have been sighted in the vicinity of Houghton/Inglewood, Cudlee Creek and Mt Torrens. We would appreciate assistance from groups and members from these areas: Lobethal Bushland Park, Anstey Hill Recreation Park, Charleston Conservation Park, and Cromer Conservation Park.
P:1800 084 881 | E: www.pir.sa.gov.au
FYI last week (Feb 2016) PIRSA Biosecurity received confirmation of the presence of 2 Red-whiskered Bulbul birds in Houghton, the first sighting since 1993.
Follows a link to the fact sheet for further information about this pest species…
http://pir.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/232023/Red-whiskered_Bulbul.pdf
If you happen to see a Red-whiskered Bulbul, it’s important that your sighting is reported to the National Pest Alert Hotline: 1800 084 881
To help spread the word, please forward this information onto your networks.
Catherine Austin
District Officer – Lower Torrens
Natural Resources Adelaide & Mt Lofty Ranges Region
Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | South Australian Government
P: (08) 8336 0989
M: 0418 810 086
A: 115 Maryvale Road, ATHELSTONE SA 5076
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