Schools must consider age, maturity and skill level of students when planning curriculum activities. Adjustments are required for
students with disability to support access and participation in the curriculum. Consult with the parents/carers of students with disability or when appropriate, the student, to ensure risks related to their child's participation in the activity are identified and managed.
Schools must consult current student medical information and/or health plans in accordance with the
managing students' health support needs at school procedure. Record information about any student condition (e.g. physical or medical) that may inhibit safe engagement in the activity and include specific support measures within emergency procedures.
Emergency plans and injury management procedures must be established for foreseeable incidents (e.g. component failure, jack-knifing trailer, unintended uncoupling of trailer, becoming bogged, shut-down procedures injury, provision of
first aid).
Adult supervisors must have:
- emergency contact details of all participants
- a medical alert list and a process for administering student medication
- communication equipment suitable to conditions (e.g. mobile phone) and a process for obtaining external assistance and/or receiving emergency advice.
Safety procedures must be determined for the location (e.g. working in the vicinity of moving/turning/reversing/stationary vehicles) and are to be informed by information provided as manufacturer's instructions, product labels, vendor SDS and standard operating procedure (SOP) as relevant.
Safety procedures must be determined for the location (e.g. location of first aid support and equipment, roll marking, process to rapidly communicate emergency advice to adult supervisors of impending severe events).
Access is required to
first aid equipment and consumables suitable for foreseeable incidents.
For participants with known allergies, schools must comply with the
supporting students with asthma and/or at risk of anaphylaxis at school procedure and the school’s
Anaphylaxis Risk Management Plan (DOCX, 159KB), including an adult supervisor of the activity with
anaphylaxis training.
An adult with current emergency qualifications is required to be quickly accessible to the activity area. Emergency qualifications include:
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HLTAID009—provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
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HLTAID010—provide basic emergency life support
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HLTAID011—provide first aid
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HLTAID012—provide emergency first aid response in an education and care setting
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HLTAID013—provide first aid in remote situations
- or equivalent competencies.
Induction is required for all adult supervisors on emergency procedures (e.g. component failure, jack-knifing trailer, unintended uncoupling of trailer, becoming bogged, shut-down procedures) and safety procedures (e.g. working in the vicinity of moving/turning/reversing/stationary vehicles). If the activity is conducted at an off-site facility, induction is to be informed by advice provided in consultation with expertise at the venue.
Instruction is required for students and adult supervisors on correct techniques (e.g. communication signals, safe and defensive driving techniques, skills to manage unexpected events, etc.) and instruction on the correct use of guarding and other controls.
Supervision
Principals make final supervision decisions for the activity. Sufficient adult supervision must be provided to manage the activity safely (including emergency situations).
For activities with students with a medical condition or disability that may impact on safety during the activity, consultation with parents is required prior to allocating supervision to determine the impact of students' disability on safety during the activity.
The number of adult supervisors required to fulfil emergency and supervision roles must consider the nature of the activity, students' ages, abilities and specialised learning, access and/or health needs.
Before the activity, all adult supervisors:
- must be familiar with the contents of the CARA record
- must assess weather conditions and obtain accurate information and expected conditions prior to undertaking the activity, inspecting the intended location in order to identify variable risks, hazards and potential dangers (e.g. dampen dust during high wind, control slipping hazards after rain).
During the activity, all adult supervisors:
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must be readily identifiable
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must closely monitor students with health support needs
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must comply with control measures from the CARA record and adapt as hazards arise
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must suspend the activity if the conditions become unfavourable (e.g. poor visibility, extreme temperatures, thunderstorms)
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must not allow students under 16 years of age to refuel vehicles.
Supervisor qualifications
Principals make final decisions in determining supervisor capability (competence, relevance and currency) and are responsible for encouraging and enabling school-based activity supervisors to raise their qualifications to improve safety standards.
All adult supervisors must comply with the
working with children authority - Blue Cards procedure and be able to identify, and respond to, risks or hazards that may emerge during the activity.
A registered teacher must be appointed to maintain overall responsibility for the activity.
Adult supervisors must be licensed to drive the towing vehicle with competence (knowledge and skills) in the operation and/or driving instruction of the specific towing vehicle and assessing and supervising safe handling of the vehicle and safe manual handling.
For
medium risk activities:
At least 1 adult supervisor is required to be:
- a registered teacher, or an adult supervisor working under the direct supervision of a registered teacher, who can legally drive the towing vehicle with competence (knowledge and skills) in assessing and supervising safe handling of the vehicle.
For
high risk activities:
At least 1 adult supervisor is required to be:
- a registered teacher who can legally drive the towing vehicle with competence (knowledge and skills) in assessing and supervising safe handling of the vehicle; or
- an adult supervisor, working under the direct supervision of a registered teacher, who can legally drive the towing vehicle with competence (knowledge and skills) in assessing and supervising safe handling of the vehicle and with qualification in the activity (e.g.
AHCMOM205—operate vehicles,
AHCMOM203—operate basic machinery and equipment or similar) or another method determined by the principal.
For
extreme risk activities:
At least 1 adult supervisor is required to be:
- a registered teacher who can legally drive the towing vehicle with competence (knowledge and skills) in assessing and supervising safe handling of the vehicle and with qualification in the activity (e.g.
AHCMOM205—operate vehicles,
AHCMOM203—operate basic machinery and equipment or similar) or another method determined by the principal; or
- an adult supervisor, working under the direct supervision of a registered teacher, who can legally drive the towing vehicle with competence (knowledge and skills) in assessing and supervising safe handling of the vehicle and with qualification in the activity, with qualifications in the activity (e.g.
AHC31918 Certificate III in rural machinery operations or similar) or another method determined by the principal.
Facilities and equipment
The qualified adult supervisor of the activity, in consultation with the principal, determines the requirements for facilities and equipment appropriate to the local context.
Consult
chemicals in curriculum activities for support in assessing the risks of chemicals used with/by students in curriculum activities.
If a CARA record is required in OneSchool, a summary of chemicals, plant, equipment and/or materials used in the activity must be provided by entering directly onto the CARA record in OneSchool or by attaching a summary. Sample templates are provided in
chemicals in curriculum activities and
plant, equipment and materials in curriculum activities.
Location must be suitable for the activity being undertaken. Undertake a reconnaissance of new or infrequently used locations to ascertain suitability. Plan to avoid hazardous terrain (e.g. slopes, hillsides) to reduce the possibility of loss of control, change in weight distribution of loads or rollover. If difficult terrains are unavoidable, provide prior instruction on appropriate techniques to traverse the terrain.
Participants must wear
personal protective equipment as relevant (e.g. appropriate enclosed footwear [steel cap boots when relevant], hearing protection, safety glasses with
Australian Standards specification, breathing protection [e.g. mask] to protect against airborne particles).
Equipment must be sized to match the ability and strength of students.
Machinery must be fit for purpose, in good working order, properly maintained and used in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions and relevant
codes of practice, and
safe operating procedures (SOP).
Pre-operational checks carried out and maintenance schedules conducted to ensure towing vehicles and trailers are compliant with all relevant legal and safety requirements found in the
Safe Towing and
loads and towing. This should include, but is not be limited to, couplings, tow bars, safe work platforms and suitable guardrails (or other edge protection).
A retirement schedule must be developed to replace plant and equipment by manufacturers' nominated expiry date or when significant wear causes a hazard.
Ensure seat belts (where fitted) are worn.
The
size of the load must not exceed the capacity of the trailer and towing vehicle. Size of load and capacity of trailer and towing vehicle to be noted within planning documents and/or in the completed CARA record.
Towing vehicles must be stationary with the engine switched off, or be in a safe park mode with brakes applied, before approaching the vehicle to load/unload or couple/uncouple the trailer.
If privately owned equipment is being used, principal approval and owner consent/insurance details must be obtained prior to the activity.
Common hazards and controls
Further to those listed, include any additional hazards and control measures considering the local context of the activity.
Animal bites/diseases
Stings, poisoning, infection |
Ensure the location is clear of obstacles and wildlife (e.g.
snakes) that may pose hazards.
Control allergen and
disease risks associated with working with animals and with dust, dry matter and airborne organisms in stockyards (e.g.
Q fever).
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Environmental conditions
Weather, surfaces, surrounds |
The school's
sun safety strategy must be followed.
Follow the
managing excessive heat in schools guidelines when participating in very hot or extreme heat conditions.
Drink breaks to occur regularly. Make water available for individual participants between drink breaks.
Clear lines of sight must be maintained when negotiating hazardous terrain.
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Vehicles |
Hitching of trailers to tractors must be performed in accordance with the
safe design and operation of tractors – Code of Practice 2005 (PDF, 524KB).
Safe access to and from the work area when towing a trailer is required, considering the flow of other vehicles, hazards, structures and domestic premises.
Load must be restrained and properly covered and meet safe
projecting load dimensions.
Participants must only approach a vehicle with the explicit and immediate consent of the driver and instructor if the ignition is engaged.
Exclusion zones must be established and enforced when a ride-on mower is in use to reduce projectile hazards.
Towing vehicles must be driven at speeds slow enough to keep control over unexpected hazards and maintain stability of loads.
Mount/dismount of vehicle must only occur when the engine switched off and stationary or in a safe park mode with brakes applied.
Close supervision of students must occur when reversing, coupling and uncoupling the trailer, or hazardous terrain.
Ensure keys and starting devices are removed from vehicle when not in use and stored in a separate locked location.
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Hazardous substances
Chemicals |
Refuel the vehicle safely (e.g. in a well-ventilated area, when the engine is cold, maintain contact between the metal outlet of the refuelling hose and the fuel tank to discharge static electricity). |
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Injury |
Students aware of the location of emergency and first-aid equipment. |
Manual handling
Lifting equipment |
Use correct
manual handling processes when lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling or carrying.
Ensure appropriate lifting equipment is used to lift heavy objects or materials.
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Slips, trips, falls |
Assess and manage potential fall, trip and crushing hazards (e.g. surfaces with poor footing, obstacles, high loads). Consult
preventing slips, trips and falls fact sheet. |
Student issues
Student numbers, special needs, high risk behaviours, medical conditions |
Non-participants kept clear of the tractor driving area and where pinch/crush hazards exist.
Students supervised in a safe location when not actively receiving instruction.
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Visibility |
Ensure staff can easily recognise those students with health support needs and are familiar with their needs.
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