Reading Time: 3 minutes Paul Wipf has a passion for safety and has always wanted to raise awareness about farm safety on his colony. That prompted the farm manager of Viking Colony to partner with a workplace health and safety consultant to develop a first-of-its-kind safety program specifically for Hutterite colonies. “This has been in my heart and mind […] Read more
Hutterite colony creates first-of-its-kind farm safety program
The Viking Colony is partnering with a safety expert to create a program geared to Hutterite colonies and their diverse enterprises
Have you got a plan to stay safe during Plant 2016?
Do you know the symptoms of fatigue?
Reading Time: < 1 minute Fatigue is your enemy at this time of year. “Too many farmers push themselves, especially during the really busy times,” said Kenda Lubeck, farm safety co-ordinator for Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. Fatigue often creeps up on a person. In addition to feeling sleepy and tired, some common symptoms of fatigue include: Headaches, dizziness, and blurry […] Read more
A life changed forever in just a few moments
Farm Safety Week – March 13-19: Bailey Kemery’s story is one of remarkable determination, but also a chilling warning of how things can go terribly wrong in a moment
Reading Time: 3 minutes Bailey Kemery was four years old, growing up on her family’s farm in Major, Sask. when her life changed forever. On April 20, 1994, she and her brother were playing on a tractor-driven rotary tiller that was parked, but running, not far from where her parents were standing in the yard. “The rototiller shook itself […] Read more
Close call changed family’s attitude to safety
A near tragedy 30 years ago made the entire Racine family realize that much more was needed to make their farm safe
Reading Time: 3 minutes Teaching kids to respect hazards is an important part of raising children safely on the farm and much can be learned from close calls. Growing up on the family farm near St. Malo, Man., the Racine children experienced their own close call while playing in a large truck. All five kids had free range of […] Read more
Alberta ag minister promises to work with farm groups
But coalition of farm organizations still waiting to hear details of its role in shaping new workplace regulations
Reading Time: 3 minutes The governmental gears are grinding over who will be at the table for upcoming Bill 6 consultations, but a coalition of farm groups is stuck in “wait and see” mode over what role they’ll play in the shaping of workplace safety regulations. “We had over 50 nomination forms come to the coalition office to be […] Read more
Bill 6 jump-starts important conversations about farm safety
The FarmSafe program offers a step-by-step guide to create a safety plan tailored to your farm
Reading Time: 3 minutes For “safety geek” Dan Trottier, Bill 6 was the shot in the arm that the agriculture industry needed to start the conversation about farm safety. “Bill 6 raised awareness about safety, and now that we’ve got some awareness, we have the opportunity for extension on how to do safety on the farm,” said Trottier, owner […] Read more
How to keep your kids safe on the farm
Reading Time: < 1 minute The North American Guidelines for Children’s Agricultural Tasks is an excellent resource that parents and caregivers can use to guide decisions about what kinds of farming tasks are age appropriate. These guidelines are intended for children and youth between the ages of seven to 16 and are based on childhood development, agricultural practices, principles of […] Read more
Farm families should sign a farm safety contract
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) is urging farm families to write a “farm safety contract” this year. “Instead of yelling or lecturing farm kids about safety, why not work together to write down the safety rules for your farm?” says the organization, which has a two-page sample contract at agsafetyweek.ca. But before signing the […] Read more
FarmSafe workshops in March
Producers can register by visiting crop commission websites
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Wheat Commission, Alberta Barley, Alberta Canola Producers Commission and Alberta Pulse Growers Commission will host a series of FarmSafe workshops throughout Alberta this March. The free, one-day workshops will provide training and educational manuals to help farmers develop a complete health and safety management system tailored to their unique operation. “These FarmSafe workshops […] Read more
Bill 6 controversy flares again
The province plans to hand-pick who it will consult with
Reading Time: 2 minutes A coalition of Alberta farm groups wants the provincial government to put the brakes on its proposed Bill 6 consultation model. In mid-February, the province held a two-week nomination process to gather names for six separate working groups to consult on Bill 6, the controversial Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act. The problem […] Read more