The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is urging parties in the livestock supply chain to follow safer transport practices, following 14 crashes involving livestock in the first four months of 2024.
The NHVR is joining its partners and farmers across the livestock industry in sharing this reminder ahead of National Farm Safety Week which takes place from 14 July to 20 July.
NHVR CEO, Sal Petroccitto, said this year’s statistics are alarming, and the NHVR is working collaboratively with the livestock industry to ensure this trend doesn’t continue.
“If the same rate continues, the number of crashes this year involving livestock could nearly double last year’s total – a devastating outcome for the industry and community,” he said.
“Farm safety is a shared responsibility, and preventing crashes requires attention from all stakeholders in the agricultural and livestock sector.
“During National Farm Safety Week, we aim to raise awareness and promote best practices for safe livestock transport.”
The NHVR has shared the following safety tips for livestock transport operators and the wider supply chain:
When scheduling livestock transport, work with stock agents, primary producers, saleyards, feedlots and abattoirs to ensure that trip planning prioritises driver safety and animal welfare.
Ensure drivers are trained in animal handling and welfare and empower drivers to refuse loads that do not meet expectations and could cause a risk on the road.
Consider ways to deter non-compliance, such as adding excess cleaning fees when animals have not been correctly prepared for transport and reporting non-compliance to appropriate authorities such as the NHVR Heavy Vehicle Confidential Reporting Line.
Never accept a booking that would cause or encourage a driver to speed, skip rest breaks or drive while fatigued.
That being said, the NHVR has partnered with the livestock industry to develop new regulatory advice to improve safety and simplify the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) primary duty and the Chain of Responsibility (CoR).
The advice provides guidance for managing heavy vehicle safety risks and helps ensure all parties, from primary producers and transport operators to facility owners and stock agents, understand their responsibilities.
In other news, the Australian Government is investing $31.9 million into vital road infrastructure upgrades in Queensland.
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