This award category acknowledges organisations for the innovation design of a building, structure or plant that eliminates or significantly reduces a workplace risk.

GTS entered their new trailer design, "Load Restraint Trailer", which is being adopted throughout its fleet.

Damien Matthews, Managing Director of GTS is accompanied by his Fleet Manager Ang Rodi and Driver Neville Chamberlain

The Load Restraint Trailer provides a safe and efficient way to handle, load and secure pallets of stock.

Designed and developed primarily for use in the transport industry, it has removed the need for human contact associated with the tying down and stacking of freight. Once the loading of  pallets by a forklift is complete, a scissor lift (located at the rear of the trailer) pushes the pallets to the headboard, providing front-and-back load restraint.

Then the side curtains (with gates attached) are secured by a mechanic ratchet (tentioner) and the centre wall is hydraulically moved towards the curtains, securing the load to provide side-to-side load restraint.

Pictured Left to Right: Damien Matthews [Managing Director - GTS]; John Merritt [Executive Director, Health and Safety - Worksafe Victoria]; Ang Rodi [Fleet Manager - GTS]; and Paul Vawdrey [Managing Director - Vawdreys Australia - Truck Trailer Manufacturer].

The design of the Load Restraint Trailer, with its fully automated movable walls, ensures freight stability while significantly reducing the risk of injuries caused by manual handling and working from heights.

Whilst Mr. Matthews was disappointed that his company did not win, he was proud to have been a finalist and appreciates the recognition given by Worksafe.

Mr. Matthews says "At GTS we strive for improvements in Safety and Innovation on a continual basis. Providing a safe working environment equates to better productivity and reduced costs. Both of which will provide benefits to GTS and our customers."