Keeping you Legal
When it comes to making sure your machines are safe to use and kept within the law now has never been so important. At RVT we are an official NSTS spreader and sprayer test centre and LOLER examination centre.
Book before 31st January 2018 & receive 10% off Spreader & Pelleter tests
NSTS Sprayer Test
The full NSTS test consists of 47 test items, the first 30 of which must be satisfied to receive a pass certificate. The subsequent 10 are advisory and the final 7 are optional test elements.
This comprehensive test covers all the application components of the sprayer to ensure the machine is working correctly and efficiently with further considerations of safety for the sprayer operative and the environment.
Major components of the sprayer tested include control systems, hoses and pipework, nozzles and nozzle control systems, filters, pumps, tank, chemical induction systems and booms. In addition it is recommended that computer control systems are checked to maximize efficiency and to satisfy the calibration element of crop assurance schemes.
Tests cost £225+vat up to 24m and £8+vat/m thereafter.
NSTS Spreader Test
The National Spreader Testing Scheme takes on board economic, environmental and compliance issues to deliver this national standard for fertiliser spreader tests. The spreader testing protocol ensures all spreaders; disc, boom and pendulum, are tested to the same exacting standard.
While the immediate impact of inaccurate spreading is financial, it can also affect conservation field margins and lead to contamination of water courses.
According to Defra’s fertiliser manual (RB209), fertiliser spreaders should be regularly maintained and serviced, replacing worn parts as necessary. To check uniformity of spread pattern, trays should be used to produce a coefficient of variation across the full width of spread.
A coefficient of variation above 20% will lead to visible striping in crops. And as this figure increases from 20-30%, crop yields in wheat and oilseed rape for example, are likely to be reduced. Even if there is no visible stripes in the crop, there is no guarantee that fertiliser is being evenly distributed cross the desired working width.
The National Spreader Testing Scheme has been created to promote efficient use of fertilisers and to help growers achieve better yields. Additional benefits of annual testing include; the meeting of cross compliance and NVZ regulation, and ultimately delivering peace of mind that fertiliser application is correct.
Tests cost £225+vat up to 24m and £8+vat/m thereafter.
NSTS Pellet Applicator Test
A well maintained and regularly tested machine helps to ensure pesticide operations are safe for the operator and environment, ensuring efficient and accurate on target application. These measures are a legal requirement. Non-compliance could lead to prosecution and threaten your farm assurance status and single farm payment
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER)
These Regulations place duties on people and companies who own, operate or have control over lifting equipment. This includes all businesses and organisations whose employees use lifting equipment, whether owned by them or not. In most cases, lifting equipment is also work equipment so the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) will also apply (including inspection and maintenance). All lifting operations involving lifting equipment must be properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner.
LOLER also requires that all equipment used for lifting is fit for purpose, appropriate for the task, suitably marked and, in many cases, subject to statutory periodic ‘thorough examination’. Records must be kept of all thorough examinations and any defects found must be reported to both the person responsible for the equipment and the relevant enforcing authority.
For more details of what the test involves click here
Tests cost £125+VAT at our premises. Additional costs may be incurred for on site tests.
