5. Introduction

The primary Midfield Group site is a large workplace with a high volume of pedestrian and traffic movements. It is important that the risks associated with traffic movement of vehicles entering and exiting the site, and vehicles and plant associated with managing the site, processing and maintenance of the site are managed to minimise the risks. These risks are managed through the development and implementation of a detailed Traffic Management Plan.
The common traffic hazards that are required to be managed at the Midfield Site include:

• Pedestrian and Vehicle interaction.
• Vehicle and Vehicle interaction.
• Vehicle and structure interaction.

This Traffic Management Plan will provide information, guidance and communicate the rules and requirements for:

• Managing the desired flow of pedestrians around the site.
• Managing the desired flow of vehicles around the site.
• Complying with and correctly using of barriers, walkways, signs, and general arrangements used to control traffic throughout the site.
• Managing short term, mobile work, and complex traffic situations or emergencies.

This Traffic Management Plan will also set out:

• responsibilities of people involved in managing traffic.
• responsibilities of people expected to interact with traffic in the workplace instructions or procedures for controlling traffic including in an emergency.

This Traffic Management Plan will outline both general rules and requirements that are to be adhered to across all Midfield Sites, as well as rules and requirements that are specific to managing traffic a various section around the site.  This Traffic Management Plan was developed in consultation The Midfield Group Management Representatives, relevant Managers and Supervisors of the various sections of the site, and employees, contractors and suppliers that are required to operate vehicles and move around the Midfield Site/s.  This Traffic Management Plan will be reviewed annually, after significant incident, or after the occurrence of a reportable incident.

6. Responsibility

6.1 Employer – The Employer, and representatives (officers) of the Employer have a general duty to ensure that the workplace and the means of entering, moving about, and leaving it are safe and without risks to health, so far as reasonably practicable.  The Midfield Group have developed this Traffic Management Plan to identify, control and communicate the hazards caused by traffic and pedestrian movements and provide information of the controls implemented to keep everyone in the workplace safe.

6.2 Employees – Employees, while at work, must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions in the workplace. Employees must also co-operate with their employer’s actions to make the workplace safe (e.g., by following any information, instruction or training provided).  The information contained in this Traffic Management Plan will form a part of every new employee induction. This will ensure that every employee is familiar with the information contained within, particularly the information relevant to the area of the business they are employed in.  It is the responsibility of any employee driving or operating a Midfield asset, or moving around the site, to conduct themselves in a manner that will minimise the risk to any passengers of that asset.  It is the responsibility of the employee to present themselves for work in a satisfactory condition to safely operate plant and equipment. This includes drug and alcohol, fatigue, and health and hygiene.

6.3 Visitors – All visitors can only access the site via turnstile at Gate 3 and are required to report to the Main Office upon arrival. Visitors should always be accompanied by a Midfield Representative while onsite. The Midfield Representative is responsible for the Visitor’s safety and should communicate any traffic hazards they are likely to engage, the controls that have been implemented, and what the Visitor needs to do to comply.

6.4 Licencing – All personnel responsible for a vehicle is required to have to correct licencing required to drive each.  Contractors or visitors are required to submit an online copy of their relevant licences, qualifications, and insurances prior to entering the site, as part of their online induction.  If an employee has their licence suspended, cancelled, or lapsed, they are required to inform their supervisor immediately, and they will not be permitted to operate the vehicle in question. This could also lead to termination of employment with Midfield.

6.5 Contactors – It is important to make sure visitors including visiting drivers are aware of the workplace layout, the route they should take and safe working procedures for the workplace.  Contractors or visitors are required to submit an online copy of their relevant licences, qualifications, and insurances prior to entering the site, as part of their online induction. Any contractors who have not completed an online induction will not be permitted to service the site/s.  Online inductions will include information from this Traffic Management Plan, and it is expected that Contractors will fully comply while operating on the Midfield Site/s.

6.6 Accident & Incident Management –  Any driver or operator that is involved in an accident or an incident that occurs on a Midfield Site or while operating a Midfield vehicle, is required to report the accident or incident as soon as possible. Priority needs to be given to the injured, or the immediate wellbeing of all involved.  After any accident or incident, it is advised that the operator gathers as much information as possible (photos) to assist in an investigation. If an accident or incident is deemed a Notifiable Incident (where hospitalisation is required or emergency services are called), immediately after people’s wellbeing has been controlled and the site has been made safe, the scene is required to be preserved as much as possible (if possible).  If any Midfield employee is involved in an accident or incident that involves a member of the public, or damage to property, it is expected that the employee conducts themselves in an acceptable manner, aids others who are involved, exchanges information as required. It is advised for the Midfield Employee to take photos of the scene where possible.

**NOTE: Do not admit liability or fault following an accident or incident. 

6.7 Vehicle Maintenance – Pre-start operational inspections shall be conducted and documented for each forklift, plant, and Heavy Vehicle in accordance with Midfield’s, and the manufacturer’s specifications. Pre-start should always include positioning of mirrors and adjusting seat.  Any vehicle or plant showing any signs of damage, defects, or malfunctions, or show any evidence of safety features being compromised, from the pre-start, or during operation, it should not be operated unless authorised by your supervisor, or operations should cease immediately.

7. Site Access Requirements

7.1 Inductions –
Employee: All incoming Midfield Employees will undergo a comprehensive face to face induction which will include this Traffic Management Plan. Upon deployment to different areas of the business, employees will undergo a further induction specific to the area they are working in. Once the required inductions are completed, they will be provided with ID cards that will give them access relevant to the position/area employed.
Contractor: Online inductions are required for all contractors engaged to service any Midfield Site. This Traffic Management Plan is included in the contractor online induction, and it is expected that Contractors comply with the information contained within. Online Inductions require relevant certificates, licences, and insurances to be uploaded before access will be granted. An individual online induction is required for every member of staff of a contractor company that will be entering the site.
Visitor: Arranged visits are required to be preceded by an online visitor induction. This Traffic Management Plan is included as part of the Visitor Induction. Any visitors who are un-inducted are required to be always escorted by a Midfield Representative.
Pastoral Contractor (anyone entering a farm): Midfield Pastoral Sites are treated the same as all other sites within the business and the requirements for site inductions are the same. Pastoral Managers are required to arrange for inductions to be completed for any new employees, contractors engaged, or visits arranged.

7.2 HI VIS Zones

High visibility clothing/vests are required to be worn in designated high-risk mobile plant areas. These high risk areas are:

• 180 (MMI) tunnel
• 246 (MMP) tunnel
• Cattle Ramps
• Loading Zones
• Truck parking areas

General production employees shall not be required to wear high visibility clothing/vests onsite but are required to always travel within designated pedestrian walkways whilst onsite.  High visibility clothing/vests shall be always worn by pedestrians moving around the transport, truck wash, truck parking storage and beef unloading areas onsite.