Over 120 regular users of the Saleyards attended inductions this week in Scone, Murrurundi and Merriwa.

Others who regularly attend the Saleyards such as agents, contractors, transporters, buyers and Council employees should undertake inductions before the 30 April, after completing an online certificate.

The safety training is being implemented under the guidance and instruction of SafeWork NSW (formerly WorkCover). 

There have been a couple of incidents, one of which was witnessed by a SafeWork NSW Inspector.

Part of the corrective action outlined in the subsequent SafeWork NSW report was to ensure all workers, agents and Saleyards clients have been inducted to the site. 

The induction process has taken months of work to develop under guidance of Council’s Saleyards Committee, which includes agents, producers, transport providers.

The safety inductions have been endorsed by SafeWork NSW and many Saleyard clients:

“For the safety aspect and for everyone to be able to work together including the Council, Agents, Transport Carriers and all other parties involved at the Saleyards, I am all for it,” said Peter Sawyer of Elders Real Estate. 

“At Stockmaster we are all in favour of safety in the work place, and are happy to work with our customers to help improve this. We all want our employees to come home to their families safely,” said Greg Davidson, Compliance Manager Stockmaster.

Deputy Mayor Maurice Collison who is chair of the Saleyards Committee said the inductions would meet Work Health and Safety obligations with the least amount of disruption to users as possible.

“It is a one-off simple online induction followed by a 30 minute on-site induction,” Cr Collison said.

“Not everyone that attends the Saleyards needs to be inducted. If you go to the Saleyards for a sale, want to inspect cattle and are being escorted by an agent or Council employee and stay in the selling area, or deliver your own cattle when an agent is on site, you do not need to be inducted.

“There will also be an announcement at every sale from 1 May 2016 giving the daily induction brief to visitors.”

Those who have not completed site inductions will have access to the Scone Saleyards restricted from 1 May 2016.

Upcoming Saleyard on-site inductions: Wednesday 13 April 2016 2pm Scone RSL Club, Thursday 14 April 2016 6.30pm Murrurundi Bowling Club, Tuesday 19 April 2016 After the sale (approx. 2.30pm) Selling ring at the Saleyards, Wednesday 20 April 2016 2pm Merriwa RSL Club, Thursday 21 April 2016 6.30 pm Scone RSL Club. 

Council has also engaged with the majority of transport operators and users that do not live locally and made arrangements for the on-site induction package to be provided to them to complete in their own time.  

This includes livestock carriers from both the cattle industry and the horse industry and the major buyers that attend the sales.

Cr Collison said that further improvements to the safety induction process were ongoing.

“Council has also been working with Tocal to develop an online version of the site specific induction,” Cr Collison said.

“Anyone requiring to be inducted in the future will be able to complete the saleyard generic induction and the site specific induction in the one location and all online.  

“It is expected that this will be available by the end of May 2016.”

For more information about inductions for the Scone Saleyards, see Council’s website or contact Council’s Property and Business Coordinator Joanne McLoughlin on 6540 1158 or email jmcloughlin@upperhunter.nsw.gov.au