A $500 cargo barrier recently saved a courier driver's life in a freak accident in Sydney's western suburbs.

Colin Hempstead, of Richmond, NSW braked suddenly in dense traffic in his Ford Transit van, dislodging a pallet of Italian tiles and sending them forward over a metre towards the driver and passenger's seats.

Colin, who works for Sydney-based Forum Couriers, heard a huge noise, his van filled with dust and the drivers in vehicles around him thought there'd been a nose-to-tail accident but couldn't see one.

The cargo barrier took the force of the impact. The tiles, weighing about one and a half tonnes, hit the barrier and forced it to bend approximately 60mm. The barrier actually touched the driver's seat. Colin said had he not installed the Milford cargo barrier, he is positive he would have been killed or, at least, seriously injured when pinned between the seat and the steering wheel. His delivery trolley, tied behind the cargo barrier, was totally wrecked.

Colin is grateful that Forum Couriers insisted his van be fitted with an Australian Standards approved barrier. He selected a Milford barrier with the optional "walk through" sliding door from St. Marys distributor, Formula Off Road. "It's simply the best money I've ever spent," said Colin, who has had another barrier fitted. "I'm delighted to have received a new barrier from Milford at no cost, under their lifetime replacement policy.

"I realise that nothing would have stopped a fast moving load of this weight, and I'm lucky to have been doing only 20 kph when I had to brake suddenly. I'll be tying down my loads more securely in future," he added. "I'd encourage everyone to fit a Milford barrier to their work van. Most couriers and tradesmen don't realise they're essential under the Occupational Health & Safety and Workcover regulations."

Further details on Milford cargo barriers can be obtained from the Milford website www.cargobarrier.com or by phoning 1800 683 577.