Date: May 12, 2025

The “Reducing Sprains and Strains” project has been named as a finalist in the New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards 2025.

Delivering Practical Solutions for Dairy Farmers
The three-year “Reducing Sprains and Strains” project was launched by DairyNZ in 2021 with the goal of reducing sprain and strain injuries on New Zealand dairy farms. Unlike traditional injury reduction initiatives that primarily focus on awareness and behavior change, this project adopted a co-design methodology to develop tangible, engineering-based solutions.

Collaborative Development
This project brought together a diverse team, including DairyNZ farm systems researchers Dr. Callum Eastwood and Brian Dela Rue, Senior Scientist Dr. Paul Edwards, Marketing Manager Amy Paterson, and QCONZ CEO Chris Leach. Collaborations extended to organisations such as Healthy Lifestyle NZ, Scarlatti, Primary Purpose, and Pāmu farms. Funding was provided by DairyNZ, along with a grant from ACC’s Workplace Injury Prevention programme.

Farmer-Centric Design
Collaboration and a diversity of skills and knowledge were key components of the project, achieved through:

•  Surveys conducted by QCONZ, covering 50 farms during the calving period, which gathered insights from 320 farmers regarding sprain and strain injuries.
• Involvement of farm managers and employees in design workshops and prototype testing on commercial farms.
• Soliciting feedback through events such as the Farmers Forum, National Fieldays, and Dairy Expo.

Engaging Industry Stakeholders
The project also engaged sector stakeholders, including Safer Farms, WorkSafe, Fonterra/Farm Source, and QCONZ auditors, through collaborative workshops. Expertise from ergonomists, physiotherapists, mechanical engineers, and human factors specialists contributed to the development of practical solutions.

Market-Ready Innovations
The co-design approach led by Chris Leach and Brian Dela Rue working with engineers from Kea Trailers, Gallaghers, Wheelco and NZ Mats, resulted in the creation of three commercially available products, with a fourth expected soon. Early engagement with relevant companies facilitated the transition from prototypes to market-ready solutions.

Positive Outcomes and Recognition
An independent evaluation concluded in June 2024 highlighted the project’s effectiveness: “It has been evident throughout the evaluation work of the last three years that something special has been created within this Project.”
The project received notable national and rural media coverage, including features in the NZ Herald, Dairy Exporter, Farmers Weekly, Country Sport Breakfast, and Rural News. There was high engagement during exhibitions at National Fieldays, NZ Dairy Expo, and DairyNZ Farmers Forum. Importantly, six project prototypes were selected for the Prototype Innovation Awards at National Fieldays in 2023.

Projected Impact
The implemented solutions are projected to reduce approximately 120 sprain and strain injuries annually, indicating a significant positive impact on farmer well-being and operational efficiency.