Hazards and waste
- Fire Management
- Fuel and dangerous goods - use and storage
- Storage and bunding
- Chemical use
- Managing off-site risks of spray drift and chemicals
- Waste management
- Recycling
- Chemical containers
Fire management
Cane firing must be in accordance with the established permit system
General guidelines for cane firing can be found in the Australian Sugar Industry Handbook
published by CANEGROWERS. The guidelines set out in the handbook have been approved by
the Rural Fire Council.
Make every effort to retain, incorporate orotherwise dispose of tops rather than burning
them.
Adopt green cane harvesting and trash blanketing where this approach is compatible with
profitable cane growing.
Timing of operations and notifying neighbours
Endeavour to time your farm management operations, including cultivation and harvesting,so as to minimise impacts off the farm.
For example, noise causes less of a nuisance to neighbours if operations are restricted to agreed
working hours.
Where practicable, notify any neighbours who may be affected by an operation before you start
work.
Fuel and dangerous goods - use and storage
Adhere to the Code of Practice for Storage and Use of Chemicals at Rural Workplaces. This is
available from the Division of Workplace Health and Safety of the Department of Training
and Industrial Relations. Copies have been supplied to all Queensland cane growers.
Attend an approved chemical accreditation course and participate in refresher courses.
Storage and bunding
Chemical storage should be in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Storage and Use of
Chemicals at Rural Workplaces. Copies of the code are available from the Department of Training and Industrial Relations, Division of
Workplace Health and Safety.
Store chemicals in a well-ventilated, secure and child-proof area constructed of Arc-mesh with
impervious bunding, which has a capacity equivalent to 110% of the largest container being stored. Have equipment available to catch any spillage. Storage facilities should be situated clear of potential flooding.
Storage of diesel and petrol is regulated under the Flammable and Combustible Liquids Regulations.
These state that properties over five hectares in size involved in agriculture are exempt from licensing provisions but in any case, storages of less than 10 000 litres for diesel and 5000 litres for petrol are exempt.
The regulations are administered by local government authorities so you should check with
your local Council on specific requirements. In any event, bunding of fuel storages is recommended
to prevent any spillage contaminating the environment.
Chemical use
Keep comprehensive records of any usage of agricultural chemicals. Make a record each time
you apply chemicals. The CANEGROWERS’ Farm Chemical Record Book is a good example of a suitable book. Click here to download template forms
Remember that the label on an agricultural chemical container is a legal document and, together with the Material Safety Data Sheet for
that product, must be read and followed for every application.
Material Safety Data Sheets are available from your chemical supplier. When you spray, ensure that you:
• do not exceed the label rate of the chemicalor pesticide;
• use equipment which is correctly calibrated and maintained and is as safe as possible; and
• take particular care with application of S7 products, ensuring that all precautions specified
on the label are strictly followed.
Managing off-site risks of spray drift and chemicals
Ensure that people and the environment are protected from potential harm from the use of
agricultural chemicals. You will need to take particular care near sensitive crops, populated
areas and waterways.
In particular:
• prior to spraying, notify neighbours who may be affected;
• take into consideration the time of application;and
• carry out spraying operations under appropriate weather conditions, ensuring that wind
direction and speed will minimise drift.
Ensure that all equipment is calibrated and working effectively. Before each application,
check the following:
• all nozzles are clear and spraying uniformly pressure is according to specification; and
• correct height above the target is maintained.
Mix chemicals, fill chemical spray tanks and wash down equipment in appropriate areas away
from any sites where contamination of watercourses or groundwater could occur.
The Agricultural Chemicals Distribution and Control Act 1966 specifies that persons responsible
for off-site damage to adjacent crops can be prosecuted. It also specifies that maximum
residue limits for chemicals on cane must not be exceeded.
Do you use best practice when handling chemicals?
Notify neighbours
Equipment in good order & checked regularly
Label & material safety data sheet read & followed
Chemicals stored in well ventilated,lockable, bunded area
Records kept
Accreditation kept up to date
Waste management
Do not use creeks as a dumping ground for farm rubbish, empty containers, obsolete equipment
or as a wash-down area for machinery and equipment.
Do not use waste oil for suppressing dust on unsealed roads and other bare areas or for the
control of termites in timber.
Recycling
Commercial recycling options, if available,should be utilised to remove tyres, batteries,
scrap metal, waste oil and any other recyclable wastes from farms. CANEGROWERS will lobby for the establishment of such facilities in
all cane growing areas.
Chemical containers
Where possible, purchase chemicals in a form which will reduce container waste or facilitate
container recycling, eg. granular products or refillable containers.
Remove the lids, triple rinse and puncture all used chemical containers and deliver to recycling
depots or specified council landfills.
Chemical containers and bags must be disposed of as specified in the Code of Practice for the
Storage and Use of Chemicals at Rural Workplaces. Copies of this code are available
from the Department of Training and Industrial Relations Division of Workplace Health and
Safety.
Used chemical containers which require temporary storage prior to disposal should be triple
rinsed, punctured and stored out of reach of flood waters.
