GPA provides GrainCorp with storage site training for farmers

GrainCorp has signed on to Grain Producers Australia’s site training course. See what’s involved for cropping farmers.

Farmers delivering to any of GrainCorp's east coast grain storages must now be required to complete Grain Producers Australia’s induction course for delivery to receival site.

Farmers delivering grain to GrainCorp storages in eastern Australia are being encouraged to complete Grain Producers Australia’s site induction course to enter receival sites this harvest.

GrainCorp chief operating officer Klaus Pamminger said GrainCorp was adopting the GPA training program to lift safety standards at its storages.

The bulk handler was considering to introduce its own training program but opted to use the GPA’s grain site delivery induction course instead.

“The safety of our staff, contractors, growers and carriers on our sites is of utmost importance to us and ultimately ties back to our company’s goal of ‘zero harm — safe for life’,” Mr Pamminger said.

“For growers, this training adds another level of protection for their staff, their business and themselves.

“It enables them to say they are doing everything they can to ensure we’re all kept safe from harm this harvest.”

GPA southern director Andrew Weidemann said a number of grain storage operators had there own site induction courses, while others had none.

Mr Weidemann said grain growers often had to carry out a number of induction courses, depending on where they delivered their grain.

He said the GPA developed its course a few years ago but was now trying to have its program introduced as the standard used by all storage operators.

“What we’re trying to do is create an industry solution like the NGR (National Grower Registration) where farmers and contractors would do one site induction course and then that would cover all the bulk handlers rather than having to do four or five courses, similar to what we do at the moment,” he said.

“We are really trying to standardise it.”

Mr Weidemann said grain storage site induction had become more important since manslaughter laws were tightened in July, 2018, relating to workplace safety.

He said the induction course was designed to ensure safety was paramount once farmers or their haulage contractors entered a grain storage.

“There is no room for ignorance of the law,” he said.

“This only takes about 15 or 20 minutes to complete online.

“This is a small investment in time pre-harvest, and only a small sacrifice compared to the number of lives and limbs that’ll be saved across our industry,”

Mr Pamminger said the training would allow anyone delivering to GrainCorp this season to access multiple sites on one certification.

“The course also creates greater awareness and understanding of hazard management rules and covers procedures in traffic flow, vehicle standards, driver and site visitor behaviour, and tail gate management,” he said.