WorkSafe is urging workers on farms with cattle to stay vigilant and not cut corners with their safety.
Cattle handling remains one of the most dangerous jobs on a farm, as workers are often in close quarters with large, heavy animals that can kick, crush or trample with little warning.
This is especially the case during loading and unloading, when animals are often stressed and unpredictable.
Since 2021, there have been four workplace fatalities and more than 240 people have been seriously injured while working with livestock.
Many of these incidents occurred during routine tasks – a harsh reminder that just because something feels familiar doesn’t always mean it’s safe.
WorkSafe healthy and safety director Sam Jenkin said it was critical that farmers paused and assessed the safety of their ramps and loading practices.
“Some red flags to look out for include ramps that are not secured, non-adjustable ramps, ramps with no safety gate at the top, and ramps that don’t separate people and livestock,” he said.
“The most important thing is to start with your safety assessment because when it comes to farm safety – you never know how many second chances you’ll get.”
Farmers who do opt for new ramps are advised to check with the manufacturer whether they meet Australian standards to ensure they are purchasing something both safe and long-lasting.
Safe loading practices include ensuring someone familiar with the cattle is in control, never loading cattle alone, having secure and well-maintained gates, and ensuring everyone working in the yards is trained and experienced.
WorkSafe has made assessing the safety of cattle yards simpler by creating a short animation showing what safe loading looks like.
A new flowchart has also been created to help farmers determine if their ramp is safe, along with updates to existing guidance.
Farmers can contact WorkSafe’s advisory service on 1800 136 089, or apply online for OHS Essentials – a free, independent and in-depth consultation service.
