Safety first at livestock markets
Above:
A NEW truck wash facility revealed this week at the Dubbo Regional Livestock Markets (DRLM) will enhance occupational health and safety at what is seen to be one of the riskiest places to work and visit in Dubbo.
“We’re probably one of the highest risk workplaces,” Dubbo Regional Livestock Market manager Ross Mccarthy told Dubbo
pointing to “the very nature of sheep and cattle and people and heavy vehicles”.
Despite those risks, DRLM won the Chamber of Commerce Work Health and Safety Award in 2017 and Mr Mccarthy wants to maintain those high standards.
“To obtain that award, we’ve obviously got a lot of systems in place and doing more of the right things than the wrong things. It’s that continuous improvement that we’re always trying to do. The truck wash is just another step in that journey,” Mr Mccarthy
said.
One of the most significant safety features at the new truck wash bays is the fact power lines are no longer overhead.
“In our bottom truck wash which we’re still using for bigger and longer trucks, like B-triples and road trains, you’ve (potentially) got someone washing down a truck when they’re too close to power lines, and as trucks get bigger and bigger that’s a problem.
“They were originally designed for a semi, so that’s 38 foot in those days. Now, road trains are 38 metres or something like that so they’re hugely different.”
Other safety features include LED lighting for a brighter washing environment, better slopes and better water pressure.
“That means its quicker for drivers to wash out and get back out on the road. It gives drivers more rest time if they can do a particular aspect of their job quicker and more efficiently,” Mr
Right:
The new truck wash at the Dubbo Regional Livestock Markets enhances the region’s biosecurity. Dubbo Regional Livestock Market manager Ross Mccarthy. PHOTOS: DUBBO PHOTO NEWS/KEN SMITH
Mccarthy said.
The older truck wash at the facility required drivers to back their trucks out.
“That’s a risk whenever you’re backing a truck because you cannot see. Whereas with the new facility you drive in, drive out, so that takes another element of risk out,” he said.
Walls in between the bays result in less overspray to help operators and also aid in controlling biosecurity with more weed and disease control.
Dubbo Regional Council mayor Ben Shields said the four-bay facility will improve biosecurity by allowing truck drivers to wash their carriers between sales, reducing the risk of trucks carrying diseases like footrot.
“The new truck wash has enough bays to allow multiple trucks to pass through in a timely manner, so they can get back on the road. Diseases like footrot can have a devastating effect on our agricultural industry, and with the DRLM contributing more than $75 million to the agricultural industry, our producers can rest easy knowing that we have some of the best biosecurity measures in the country,” Cr Shields said.
The $1.6 million project is jointly funded by Restart NSW and Dubbo Regional Council, with DRC contributing $780,000 for the overall project.