Cargo Barriers for your Fleet

Are cargo barriers mandatory:  

All employers have a duty of care to provide a safe working environment for staff members. Many businesses require employees to travel for their jobs, thus the obligation to provide safe work vehicles. This obligation to ensure the safety and well-being of your employees is a both a moral and legal requirement. 

Broadening your awareness of these responsibilities encompasses the following excerpts from the updated July 2023 Model Work Health and Safety Legislation Amendment. 

Provide a Safe Work Environment:  

Broadly speaking, Employers must create and maintain a working environment that is safe and free from risks to health, as far as reasonably practicable. 

In general this includes: 

• Providing safe machinery and equipment. 

• Implementing safe systems of work. 

• Ensuring safe use, handling, storage, and transport of plant and substances. 

• Keeping workplaces tidy and free from health risks. 

• Offering suitable welfare facilities for employees. 

• Providing necessary information, instruction, training, and supervision for safe work practices. 

Determining What’s Reasonably Practicable:  

Employers must eliminate risks wherever possible. 

Factors to consider include: 

• Likelihood of the hazard or risk occurring. 

• Potential harm resulting from the hazard or risk. 

• Knowledge about the hazard or risk. 

• Available ways to eliminate or reduce the risk. 

• Cost implications. 

Incident Notification:  

Employers must report all notifiable incidents that occur in a workplace under their management and control to the relevant authorities. 

Additional Employer Duties:  

Employers should: 

• Monitor employees’ health. 

• Monitor workplace conditions. 

• Provide workplace health and safety information in appropriate languages. 

• Keep records related to employee health and safety. 

• Consult employees on matters affecting their health, safety, and welfare. 

• Ensure business conduct does not endanger others (visitors, the public, and other workers). 

Specific Employer Safety Obligations:  

Employers with specific business activities (e.g., handling dangerous goods or designing plant) have additional obligations. 

For more information on your obligations as an employer refer to Safe Work Work Health and Safety Act. 

Are cargo barriers legally required: 

Considering the OHS&W obligations previously mentioned, a cargo barrier is a key feature for any ‘tool of the trade’ as provided by employers. The purpose of a cargo barrier is to enhance safety within a vehicle by creating a partition between the cargo area and the passenger compartment.  

Here are some key reasons why cargo barriers are used: 

Safety for Occupants: 

• In a rapid deceleration or frontal collision, your employees are much more likely to avoid injury when a cargo barrier is installed in a motor vehicle.  

• A cargo barrier prevents loose items from shifting forward during sudden stops or collisions; impacting on the occupants. Unsecured cargo can become dangerous projectiles, posing a risk to all passengers. 

• Cargo barriers offer versatility for transporting various items such as animals and pets, securing luggage or cargo and therefore providing peace of mind for you and your employees. 

What is a cargo barrier: 

The most commonly used cargo barrier is a steel mesh design, welded to a steel tubular frame, however there are other designs available dependant on customer requirements. For example, some vapor partitions and bulkheads are rated to the Australian and New Zealand Standard AS4034. In the case of including drawer systems in the rear of the vehicle, it’s also a worthwhile step to include a cargo barrier for any above floor hazards. 

The specific type of barrier is dependent on the vehicle and its intended use and should be individually tested and rated the the AS 4034. 

Prioritising employee safety benefits everyone and contributes to a productive and healthy work environment.      

Are all cargo barriers safe?: 

When it comes to choosing the right cargo barriers for your team, a reputable and trusted company is a must! Well established among Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM’s) as a preferred accessory manufacturer and having demonstrated outstanding performance, Milford Industries delivers the highest quality and best value for money parts to the Aftermarket industry. Established since 1969, Milford continues with local design, testing and manufacturing in South Australia. As an industry expert, Milford pioneered the occupant protection category and assisted in the creation of the Australian Standard AS4034. 

The Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 4034 outlines requirements for cargo barriers in motor vehicles. Its objective is to protect passengers and drivers in the event of a collision when they are seated in front of cargo. The standard covers technical, material, and testing innovations related to cargo barriers. These barriers must have the design strength to remain intact even when a single mass load of around 60 kg is pushed against them at a force equivalent to a 48 km/h frontal crash.  

All Milford testing is performed onsite in their NATA Certified Testing Laboratory . The National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) are Australia’s leading national accreditation body, recognised by government to assess organisations against a number of international standards for laboratories, inspection bodies, proficiency testing scheme providers and reference material producers. 

NATA provides accreditation services to conformity assessment bodies which facilitate stakeholders having confidence in test, measurement and inspection data and enabling them to gain national and international acceptance of their products and services.  

What Are Australian Standards: 

• Australian Standards are published documents designed to provide guidance on safety, performance, and reliability. 

• They cover specifications for goods, services, and systems. 

Conformance to Standards: 

• While Standards are not laws, some specific Standards are mandatory under certain regulations. 

• The Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws require conformance with a limited number of Standards. 

• If a law mandates compliance with a particular Standard, failure to do so may result in a breach of the WHS laws. 

• Courts may consider conformance to a Standard when assessing whether a duty holder has met their WHS obligations. 

Relevance to WHS Laws: 

Under the WHS Act, a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) must ensure health and safety. 

Australian Standards vs. International Standards: 

• Australian Standards are tailored for local workplaces, accounting for factors like load conditions, environment and climate. 

• Remember that adhering to relevant Australian Standards contributes to safer workplaces and protects both workers and others.  

AS/NZS 4034.1:2001 Motor vehicles-Cargo barriers for occupant protection - Cargo barriers (saiglobal.com) 

Why choose a Milford cargo barrier: 

Benefits of choosing Milford cargo barriers for your workforce include the following: 

• Single and dual position cargo barrier fitment options 

• Superior strength reinforcements 

• Patented load absorption mounting straps 

• Heavy duty steel mesh construction 

• Hand operated Milbolts for ease of use and removal 

• Protected by ArmoTex high performance pre-treatment and coating 

• Covered by Milford’s lifetime warranty 

More reasons Milford is the best in the industry!  

Milford’s extensive range of Cargo Barriers provides the ultimate in occupant protection. These barriers are designed and manufactured to the highest Australian and international standards. Each product represents Milford’s commitment to ensuring a safe driving experience for vehicle occupants. 

Engineering Excellence: Milford holds a vast portfolio of Australian and international patents, designs, and trademarks. Certified to IATF16949, ISO9001, ISO14001, and ISO 45001, engineering excellence is at the core of what they do. 

Trusted Reputation: Known and trusted for over 56 years, Milford is the number one choice for Cargo Barrier, Towbar, and Roof Rack Solutions. With products covering passenger vehicles, LCV’s, SUV’s and sport utility vehicles. 

Finally, when it comes to the purchase and installation of cargo barriers in your fleet, Milford can assist in finding a reputable fitter to streamline the process and make it as simple as possible. For help with your fleet vehicles email us: fleet@milford.one