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NHMA Golden Rules

NHMA Safety Management System provides guidelines to ensure a high level of safety for our activities. The guidelines apply to all participants during all club events and activities. Below is a high-level summary of points essential to ensure compliance with the Safety Management System and maintain your and the public’s safety. 

Rally Co-ordinator – Is responsible for the control of all exhibits and must ensure a documented rally risk assessment is carried out in conjunction with daily toolbox meetings. 

Insurance and Age Limits – The minimum age for machinery exhibitors is 10 years and all exhibitors must have appropriate public liability insurance. 

Clothing – Appropriate clothing and footwear should be worn at all times. 

Exhibit Placement – All powered mechanical exhibits must be fenced. The 1.5 away from the fence and 1 metre between exhibits rule should be followed as a minimum with flywheel and belt operation parallel to the compound fence. 

Unloading and loading- Ensure adequate space and the suitability of winches etc. being used. Do not hold onto suspended loads during loading/unloading exhibits but rather use a tag line. 

Licensing –Where applicable exhibitors and participants must be appropriately high risk licenced and pressure vessels certified. 

Public Entry to Compounds – Non-insured persons may enter compounds at the discretion of the rally coordinator provided that they are appropriately inducted and escorted at all times. 

Exhibit Supervision and Refuelling -Operating exhibits must be attended at all times by a person capable of safely operating the device. Internal combustion engines must not be refuelled while operating. 

Belt Starting -Loose belt starting of an exhibit from a running engine is prohibited. 

Hazard Consideration – Particular care should be given to the potential hazards of displays: 
Drive belts, Drive chains & Drive shafts (Entanglement)
Gearing, cogs, wheels (Crushing & Entrapment)
Blades, spikes, cutters, propellers (Cutting & Crushing) 
Exhausts, cooling water, fuel & other chemicals (Burns)
Excess noise 

Alcohol & Illicit Drugs – Must not be consumed in compounds or while operating machinery. 

Tractor Activities – Only permitted in a public excluded areas. Passengers are not allowed unless there is an allocated seat. Modified tractors are not permitted to take part in NHMA insured tractor pulls. 

Driver Qualification – Tractor operators must be appropriately licenced or accepted as competent by the Rally organisers. 

Moving Tractors In Public Rally Spaces – Restricted to walking pace under a marshal’s supervision. 

Public Roads – Tractors operated on public roadway must comply with State or Territory registration, insurance and licencing requirements. 

Static Tractor Displays – May be displayed outside compounds provided that unauthorized access is managed, and that the vehicle is rendered inoperative and in a stationary condition.