Since passing market testing by the CSIRO and hitting the market in 2012, the SaferGate has been installed in over 100 cattle yards around the country.

In National Farm Safety Week, CSIRO has drawn attention to the innovation which is now saving injuries and lives across Australia.

SaferGate was designed by farmer and inventor Edward Evans, and, as the video below shows, was put to the test using a CSIRO-developed ‘crash test cow’.

Unlike a traditional cattle gate, the SaferGate swings away from the farmer or operator when a beast charges it, preventing injury or death.

In 2011 Edward Evans won the ABC’s New Inventors grand final and was awarded testing and development of the SaferGate by CSIRO.

Australian Agricultural Co’s chief operating officer Troy Setter said the company had installed some SaferGate units last year, which had already prevented potential injury to one of his livestock staff when a beast struck the gate she was attempting to close.

“If it was a normal gate, she would have been hit and possibly seriously injured, however the SaferGate simply folded away,” Mr Setter said. “Stopping just one injury makes the investment worthwhile,” he said.

Read more about the development of SaferGate or get involved in National Farm Safety Week.

Source: CSIRO