The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has registered the Wine Industry Code of Practice, aimed at ensuring safe and compliant transport of grapes and wine throughout the supply chain.
NHVR Acting Chief Safety and Productivity Officer Paul Daly said the advice, crafted specifically for the wine industry, is designed to help producers, distributors and transport operators keep their operations on track, without spilling over into non-compliance or unsafe practices.
"The Wine Industry Code of Practice covers everything from vehicle maintenance to load management and is a comprehensive practical guide for ensuring smooth and safe delivery of grapes and wine, from vineyard to shelf," Mr Daly said.
"From the movement of raw materials during harvest season and the movement of finished products outside of the season, we know there is a high degree of variability in the processes and equipment used to transform wine grapes into a finished product.
"With this, comes a unique set of risks and hazards, so it's crucial we ensure parties in the industry supply chain are aware of their primary duty obligations under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL)."
The Wine Code outlines the relevant potential risks and hazards for the wine industry, along with recommendations for how to eliminate or minimise them.
"Not only has there been close partnership between the NHVR with the South Australian Wine Industry Association (SAWIA) and Australian Grape and Wine (AGW) in developing the code, but there has also been extensive stakeholder consultation in a bid to assist industry with identifying potential hazards and reduce risk," Mr Daly said.
"The Wine Code is relevant to any business in the wine industry that operates, uses or works with heavy vehicles."
The NHVR encourages all wine industry stakeholders to take advantage of this resource and incorporate the advice into their daily operations, to ensure a smooth ride from start to finish.
