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A project reducing strains and sprains on farm has won the Innovation category in the New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards 2025.
The three-year Reducing Sprains and Strains project by DairyNZ set out to understand the common causes of injuries on farms and then work with farmers and other workplace experts to develop practical solutions to reduce them.
DairyNZ senior scientist and project lead, Dr Callum Eastwood, says he was thrilled with the win.
“People are at the heart of the dairy sector, and we want to see them thrive,” he says.
“This project focuses on helping lower the risk of injury but also cut down the strain on the body so people can last longer in the industry.
“This award is a recognition of our team's dedication to finding smarter, safer ways of working.”
The project was praised by judges who noted the project had led to tangible outcomes for farmers.
As part of the project three products were developed and became commercially available for farmers with a fourth in development.
They include the Easy-Entry Calf Trailer Gate with KEA Trailers, Easy-Access Calf Pen Gate with Gallagher, Easy-Lift Bucket Trolley with Wheelco, and Cups-On Mat.
These products had a direct impact on risk reduction with modelling conducted as part of an independent evaluation predicting the project’s prototypes would reduce the number of sprain and strain injuries by 120 each year.
Of the injuries that continue to occur, the number of days away from work rehabilitating the injuries reduces by an average of 80 days for all low severity injuries.
The project was funded by ACC’s Workplace Injury Prevention Grants programme, with co-investment from DairyNZ.
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