Preventing falls from livestock trucks

The Victorian Minister for WorkCover, John Lenders, has launched a new WorkSafe campaign to prevent work-related death and injuries caused by falls from livestock trucks.

Speaking to students at the Glenormiston Agricultural College in the state's south-west, Lenders said the new WorkSafe guidelines were part of a WorkCover campaign to prevent workplace deaths from falls.

"Farming can be a dangerous business," Lenders said.

"In the agriculture sector, including the transport of livestock, there has been five deaths caused by falls from heights reported to WorkSafe Victoria in the past four years, and more than 420 claims made between July 1998 and June 2004.

"In the last three years, 26 Victorian workers died as a result of falls, with many more seriously injured."

Lenders said the new guide, 'Prevention of falls in the transport of livestock', was developed by WorkSafe in conjunction with the Livestock Transport Association of Victoria and the Transport Workers Union.

"The guide looks at ways the sector can reduce the occupational health and safety dangers faced by a wide variety of people who work within the livestock transport industry," Lenders said.

"Common hazards include falling from trucks at heights of two metres while inspecting animals, during loading or unloading, cleaning and getting in and out of the truck cabin. Methods for preventing falls include harness-based systems on trucks, and walkways on stock races at the loading and unloading points."

Lenders said the guide also recommended safety improvements to trucks, including retrofitting existing equipment, such as guards on trucks to prevent falls.