Newly formed AgSafe Alberta now has boots on the ground, says extension co-ordinator Donna Trottier.

“There are a couple of things that we want farmers out there to know,” she said at the recent Canadian Agricultural Safety Association conference.

“We have three advisers who are available to come out to your farm and help introduce safety programming on the farm, or help (farmers) assess hazards on the farm and decide where they might need some assistance in building a program that matches the (province’s workplace safety) legislation.”

Because this is a pilot project, the advisers are available at no charge, she said.

“If you want to explore farm safety and safety programming, give them a call and one of our advisers will come out and work with you.”

AgSafe Alberta is an initiative of AgCoalition, which was created by more than two dozen farm groups during the controversy over the Bill 6 legislation on workplace safety on farms. The organization has registered as a society, and is currently exploring funding options, Trottier said in an interview.

It has a board of 12 directors, all farmers drawn from the groups who make up the AgCoalition, and is partnering with the Association of Alberta Agriculture Fieldmen, rural municipalities, and research associations to put on workshops and seminars.

“They have some contacts and we have some resources that we want to get out,” said Trottier, who is based in Red Deer. “Farm safety doesn’t have to be difficult and complicated.”

AgSafe Alberta reps will be attending a large number of producer meetings and community agriculture events for the next several months to talk about safety programs for farm owners and managers.

“Our goal is to prevent accidents and injuries on the farm and create safe work environments for all farms in Alberta,” she said.

For more information, go to www.agsafeab.ca.