Dairy producer takes home inaugural farm safety award

Victorian dairy farm and one of Australia’s largest milk producers, Aurora Dairies, has received top recognition from WorkSafe Victoria for its dedication to making work on its farms as safe as possible.

The award was handed out at the 2021 WorkSafe Awards held at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne on April 21, 2022.

Aurora Dairies runs 33 dairy farms and six youngstock properties totalling approximately 13,600 hectares, milking over 22,900 cows.

Determined to ensure each worker returns home safe each day, the company utilises low-cost technology such as geo-fencing and GPS tracking to improve safety for quadbike operators on its farms.

Since introducing the new system, the company said it has seen a significant reduction in quad bike speeds and access to steep and potentially dangerous terrain.

WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety, Narelle Beer, said the new award acknowledged those who have made tangible improvements on their farms.

"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,” she said.

Two other finalists for the farm safety award were also recognised for their unique contributions towards workplace health and safety.

They included Stonyhurst Pastoral, which switched to drone-driven mustering of its 13,000 sheep and 500 cattle after a serious motorbike incident, improving both safety and efficiency.

Velisha National Farms was nominated for its commitment to improving understanding of health and safety among culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) workers by setting up an induction program to communicate safety messaging through images and videos.

The celebration of safe and innovative farming practices came as WorkSafe's agriculture campaign It's never you, until it is makes a return to screens.

The campaign uses emotional storytelling to drive home the simple message that a workplace tragedy can happen to anyone who does not prioritise health and safety.

According to Worksafe Victoria, agriculture remains one of the state's most dangerous industries, accounting for about 14 per cent of workplace fatalities while only making up two per cent of the state’s workforce.

Dr Beer said tragically, 26 people had died in on-farm workplace incidents since 2019, including three so far this year.

"These statistics show the dire need for improvement in the agriculture industry, and we hope these success stories encourage more workplaces to think about how they can take a prevention-led approach towards health and safety,” she said.

In total, the 2021 WorkSafe Awards crowned eight winners out of 23 finalists across a number of industries, chosen from more than 180 nominees.

Dr Beer said every winner and finalist should be congratulated for their exceptional efforts in boosting health and safety in the workplace.

"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 positive examples for others in their industry."