Vic WorkSafe Awards recognise farmers for safety boost

One of Australia’s largest milk producers, Aurora Dairies, has been recognised as part of the WorkSafe Awards for its commitment to boosting the safety on its farms.

WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Narelle Beer said that the award, the ‘Commitment to Workplace Health and Safety on a Farm’ award, was meant to acknowledge farms that have made tangible improvements to their safety.

“Whether it’s everyday achievements, creative thinking or innovative practices, this award recognises farmers who’ve made a significant contribution to the health and safety of their workplace.”

It was honoured for its use of low-cost technology such as geo-fencing and GPS tracking to improve the safety of quadbike operators on 25 of its farms across Victoria. The introduction of this system has led to a decrease in quad bike speeds and has reduced its drivers accessing steep and potentially dangerous terrain.

The runners-up of the award were Stonyhurst Pastoral, which moved to drone-driven cattle and sheep mustering, and Velisha National Farms, for its commitment to improvement how its workers from a range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds understood health and safety.

“It’s so heartening to know that there are so many Victorian workers who are leading the way in workplace health and safety, and setting a positive example for others in their industry,” Beer said.

Eight winners were selected from 23 finalists for the 2021 WorkSafe Awards, out of a pool of 180 total nominees. More information about the awards can be found on the WorkSafe website.

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