SafeWork SA will begin a compliance campaign in South Australia this month, focusing on the risks associated with livestock handling and transport.
It defines livestock handling as working with livestock in paddocks, laneways, yards, cattle transportation, feedlots, abattoirs, saleyards and activities relating to on-farm sales.
SafeWork SA highlights some of the common injuries faced by workers and other people involved in livestock handling. These include bone fractures, bruising, dislocations, crush injuries, lacerations and in some cases injuries may be fatal.
Data from Safe Work Australia reveals that animals are involved in around 20 per cent of serious injuries in the agriculture sector.
SafeWork SA inspectors will be auditing feedlots, saleyards, abattoirs and livestock exchange facilities to determine if adequate safety control measures are in place to protect workers from injury, including training, manual handling techniques and the provision of appropriate plant and systems of work to separate workers from animals.
SafeWork SA Acting Executive Director, Glenn Farrell said the livestock transport industry is faced with high risk activities and it is vital they are appropriately managed
“SafeWork SA has recently developed guidelines on livestock handling providing information on managing risks associated with handling livestock and safe design for loading ramps and yards.
“I encourage anyone involved with livestock handling and transport to understand their responsibility and ways to make their workplace safe.”