Many families in rural areas are being put at risk because their station wagons, used frequently for carrying heavy and dangerous goods, are not fitted with an approved cargo barrier.

According to Milford Industries, Australia's largest manufacturer of cargo barriers, the family 2WD or 4WD wagon is often ignored when farm safety issues are addressed.

Most families on rural properties use their station wagons for on road and off road travel, and find them ideal for carting farm items such as machinery parts, pumps, toolboxes, chainsaws, stock feed, chemicals, fence posts and tractor tyres. When that stagon wagon is not equipped with a cargo barrier, these items can become lethal weapons in the event of an accident.

The driver and any passengers put themselves at risk of injury or death when travelling in an unprotected vehicle. This includes any farm employees using the station wagon, and is contrary to Occupational Health & Safety requirements because the vehicle is actually a workplace environment.

Milford Industries' Adelaide manufacturing plant produces a huge range of cargo barriers for all the popular 2WD and 4WD station wagons, as well as large and small vans. The cargo barriers are made to Australian Standards, and are available from a network of retail outlets, where they can be installed by trained fitters.

Sales of 4WD wagons continue to rise, especially in country regions, and many buyers are unaware of the risks they take unless an approved cargo barrier is fitted. For further information, visit www.cargobarrier.com or phone free call 1800 683.577.