Farm Safety Improves Through 'Incremental Gain', Says Birkett
Improving health and safety is about incremental gain rather than a sudden decision, says Leeston farmer and Federated Farmers health and safety spokesman David Birkett.
Besides the financial penalty and milk needing to be thrown away, repeated offences will result in downgrades from the milk company.
Nathan and Lois Smith are dairy farmers in the Turakino Valley, south of Whanganui, milking 400 spring calving cows on the 174ha home block, with a further 200 dairy followers and 100 beef animals on a nearby run-off block.
Always keen to adopt new technology, the clever couple have developed their own solution for bulk tank contamination, with the aptly named VatGuard.
At the heart of the system, a central Hub monitors the position of the main valve on the vat supply line. When the valve is set to the "to vat" position, this is confirmed by a bright green LED light in the milk room, repeated by corresponding green lights along the length of the milking shed.
If the valve is in the closed or divert position a similar bright red, flashing light in the milk room and milking shed draws the operator's attention.
Nathan says the system is "a clear visual prompt to staff that the valve is in the correct position, meaning it's also particularly useful for relief milkers who are not completely familiar with the plant".
Manufactured in New Zealand from high quality, durable components, the systems wireless connectivity between the hub and indicator lights, means there is no wiring, so installs are easy.
The Hub and indicator lights are powered by rechargeable batteries offering run times of around 90 days or 180 milkings.
An external LED display on the exterior of the Hub displays battery health.
Visit www.vatguard.co.nz
