POULTRY industry giant Baiada has ordered a full review of its transport operations and procedures after a statewide police crackdown uncovered dozens of defective trucks at plants including its major Beresfield facility.
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Dawn raids in the Hunter, Tamworth and Griffith on Wednesday also found speed restrictors on eight vehicles had been tampered with, and saw 25 traffic infringement notices handed out.
The widespread safety breaches uncovered at the poultry company, which owns the Steggles factory at Beresfield, follows the death of Jo-Ann Thwaites, 60, at Brookvale on May 20 after she was struck by a company truck.
Inspector Phil Brooks, of Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, said 23 of the defects handed out on Wednesday were for faulty brakes.
He said the latest crackdown on Baiada, which followed 15 defects found immediately following the fatality, was “quite simply not good enough’’.
"The message is that this is the sort of action that will occur in the event of a serious injury or a fatal crash involving heavy vehicles on our roads,'' Inspector Brooks said.
“Non-compliance involving heavy vehicles will not be tolerated.’’
The crackdown included 20 vehicles inspected at Beresfield on Wednesday morning, of which six were found with defects.
That included two defects which police described as major.
One vehicle was allegedly found to have had the 100kmh speed restrictor lifted to allow the vehicle to travel at 108kmh.
Six traffic infringement notices were also handed out following the inspections at Beresfield.
The non-compliance was allegedly detected on vehicles belonging to the company and to sub contractors.
A Baiada statement said the company took responsibility for ensuring all trucks which carried its goods were safe and roadworthy and considered breaches to be “unacceptable’’.
It announced a “full review” of the company’s transport operations and procedures, and would be “rechecking” its fleet to ensure the vehicles were compliant with standards across Australia.
The statement said it was also contacting more than 200 transport companies "seeking evidence that their fleets are safe and meet all legal requirements''.
"Any contractors who do not comply will have their agreement with Baiada terminated,'' the statement said.
