Autonomous Machinery Safety & Compliance Policy
Vantage NSW Pty Ltd
Effective Date: 1st June 2025
Effective Date: 1st June 2025
1. Purpose
This policy outlines Vantage NSW’s commitment to the safe, lawful, and effective use of mobile agricultural machinery with autonomous or semi-autonomous functions. It provides a governance framework for managing the risks, responsibilities, and continuous improvement requirements that underpin autonomous technology within agricultural operations. Vantage NSW is committed to providing high-quality services and acting with integrity, transparency, and accountability. We welcome all feedback, including complaints, as an opportunity to learn, improve, and maintain strong client and community relationships.
2. Scope
This policy applies to all autonomous or semi-autonomous agricultural mobile fieldmachinery used by Vantage NSW in its service delivery, operations, or client supportactivities. It governs all stages of the machinery lifecycle, including planning, procurement,commissioning, training, operation, maintenance, and incident response.
3. Our Commitment
Vantage NSW is committed to creating a future-focused, safety-first culture that empowers our people and partners to embrace innovation in agricultural technology. We aim to lead by example, ensuring compliance with legislation, reducing workplace risk, and supporting the prosperity of Australian agriculture through trusted governance and high-performing systems.
4. Applicability
This policy applies to:
- All Vantage NSW staff (permanent, casual, and contract)
- Site supervisors, field technicians, and machine operators
- Governance, safety, and compliance personnel
- Equipment suppliers, distributors, and service partners engaged by Vantage NSW
5. Our Objectives
Through this policy, Vantage NSW aims to:
- Protect the health and safety of workers and stakeholders involved with autonomous machinery
- Ensure legislative and regulatory compliance across all operations
- Promote a culture of continual learning, risk awareness, and system excellence
- Support safe innovation in the Australian agricultural sector
6. Acknowledgement of Obligations
Legislative Overview
Vantage NSW acknowledges its legal obligations under:
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW)
- WHS Regulation 2017 (NSW)
- Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994
- Safe Work Australia Codes of Practice, including the 2021 Code of Practice for Agricultural Mobile Field Machinery with Autonomous Functions
- Applicable ISO and Australian Standards for safety, machine function, and automation
Duty of Care
We recognise our duty to:
- Provide a safe system of work for all machinery operations
- Identify, assess, and control hazards through structured risk management
- Train and supervise staff in line with assessed competency
- Maintain operational integrity and system security throughout the machinery lifecycle
7. Operational Controls
Vantage NSW will maintain the following control systems:
- Site-specific WHS Risk Registers for autonomous machinery operations
- Safe Work Procedures (SWPs) based on hierarchy of control principles
- Emergency Management Plans, tested regularly through drills
- Incident Reporting & Investigation Systems to ensure learnings are captured and risks are mitigated
- Controlled Access Protocols for autonomous operating zones
- Change Management Processes to track updates to systems, machinery, and responsibilities
8. Our Governance
Governance at Vantage NSW is based on transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement. We employ a structured governance model with clear role delineation, system audit schedules, and formalised processes for risk, safety, and operational performance review. Our governance practices are industry-aligned and led by a commitment to ethical leadership.
9. Commitment to Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement
Vantage NSW implements continuous quality improvement (CQI) across our autonomous
machinery operations. This includes:
- Routine auditing and verification of operational procedures
- Annual system and policy reviews
- Stakeholder consultation and feedback collection
- Structured reporting mechanisms to inform strategic oversight
9. Commitment to Learning
We believe that safety and innovation are built on education. Vantage NSW:
- Provides competency-based training for all personnel working with autonomous machinery
- Ensures access to up-to-date manuals, codes of practice, and learning resources
- Conducts regular refresher sessions and induction programs
- Validates competency through assessment and supervision
10. Commitment to our Australian Farmers
Vantage NSW serves Australia’s farmers with integrity, innovation, and care. We commit to supporting:
- Safer farming systems through technology-enabled solutions
- Access to best-practice tools and technical advice
- Respect for the unique needs of regional and remote agricultural operations
11. Commitment to our Industry
Vantage NSW actively contributes to the advancement of the agricultural sector by:
- Participating in national forums and technical standards development
- Sharing safety and performance data with industry partners
- Championing ethical and sustainable innovation across agricultural supply chains
Approved by
Michael Casey
Managing Director
Vantage NSW
Managing Director
Vantage NSW
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