A DairyNZ project aimed at reducing strains and sprains on farm has been named as a finalist in the New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards 2025.
The three-year Reducing Sprains and Strains project 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.
It led to three products becoming commercially available for farmers with a fourth in development.
They include the Easy-Entry Calf Trailer Gate, Easy-Access Calf Pen Gate, Easy-Lift Bucket Trolley, and Cups-On Mat.
The Easy-Entry Calf Trailer Gate is one of the products developed as part of the Reducing Sprains and Strains project.
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.
DairyNZ senior scientist and project lead, Dr Callum Eastwood, said it was an honour to be named a finalist.
“This project has been a true collaboration with our partners and farmers and it’s great to see that recognised,” Eastwood said.
“New Zealand has many different farm types and so the solutions aren’t a one-size-fits-all.
“With the project’s co-design approach using a wide range of expertise, farmer testing, feedback and refinement, we can see the creation of tangible options for farmers to reduce these injuries on-farm.”
This success led to the project bring named as a finalist in the Innovation category as part of the New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards.
The winners will be announced at a gala dinner at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland on 17 June.
The project was funded by ACC’s Workplace Injury Prevention Grants programme, with co-investment from DairyNZ.
Find out more about the project and outcomes online at dairynz.co.nz/sprains-strains
Media contact
Kahlia McNulty
Senior Corporate Communications Advisor
p: 022 854 2451
e: kahlia.mcnulty@dairynz.co.nz
