A LIVESTOCK transport cross-loading module first featured on Beef Central last year has won an important national workplace safety award.

Ross Fraser, one of the principals of Frasers Transport based in Warwick, Queensland, accepted this year’s award for Best Solution to an Identified Workplace Health and Safety Issue during a ceremony in Canberra last night.

The ninth annual National Safe Work Australia Awards were held in Old Parliament House. This year, 37 finalists from a range of industries competed across four categories, drawn from winners in earlier state and regional workplace safety awards.

Ross Fraser from Frasers Livestock Transport accepts the Safe Work Australia award from Senator Eric Abetz

The national awards recognise excellence in developing and implementing solutions to an identified workplace health and safety issue. Entries may include a product solution, design/engineering innovation, training program, awareness-raising activity or other risk control measures that reduce the risk of work-related injury or disease.

Judges said the Frasers livestock cross-loading module stood out among the 11 category finalists for developing an original and comprehensive solution to a complex issue.

To minimise the risks associated with cross-loading of cattle from roadtrains to B-Double configurations, the company researched, designed and custom-built the cross-loading module.

Transferring or cross-loading cattle between trailers is considered one of the most dangerous activities along the cattle transport supply chain. It exposes drivers to risks like working at heights, confined spaces, poor or no light conditions and unpredictable livestock.

The module eliminates risks in the cross-loading stage within a high-risk industry, and has resulted in dramatic improvements to safety and productivity, the citation said. It incorporates a series of elevated platforms, over-trailer walkways and sliding gates/barriers to greatly improve operational safety.

The unique solution has not only resulted in a dramatic improvement in driver safety, efficiency and staff morale but it has also created a strong interest in the broader Australian cattle transport and grazing industry to build additional cross-loading modules.

Frasers Livestock Transport is a family-owned company that transports around four million head of livestock across nine million kilometres of eastern Australia each year.

The annual Safe Work Australia Awards recognise and celebrate excellence in work health and safety at a national level.

Click here to view Beef Central’s earlier video showcasing the features and application of the Frasers cross-loading module.
Click here to read a profile on Frasers Transport featuring as Number 3 on Beef Central’s recent Top 25 Livestock Transporters feature.