Reading Time: 2 minutes Winter is a good time to make your farm safer. “It’s the time of year when some farmers take a step back from their hectic physical farm work and make assessments for the future,” said Kenda Lubeck, a provincial farm safety co-ordinator. Here are some courses you might consider taking: First aid: This is a […] Read more
Sow the seeds of farm workplace safety this winter
Here’s a list of recommended courses for reducing the risk on your farm
Railway funds to deliver safety, leadership programs
4-H Canada is set to launch a new youth leadership program, along with a farm safety fund, thanks to a $600,000 contribution from Canadian National Railway (CN). Executives at 4-H and CN unveiled the 4-H Canada Leadership Excellence Awards of Distinction (LEAD) at Canadian Western Agribition on Wednesday morning. Each year LEAD will award four […] Read more
New Safety Smarts instructor in Peace Country
Reading Time: < 1 minute Carla Richard is the new Safety Smarts instructor at the Farm Safety Centre in Peace Country. The Safety Smarts program teaches rural children from kindergarten to Grade 6 how to recognize and react safely to a wide variety of potential farm hazards. “The program has been running since 1998 and this year it will reach a […] Read more
The ever-present danger on our farms and ranches
A mother and two experts talk about the need to do more when it comes to farm safety
Reading Time: 5 minutes Peter Friesen knew something was wrong as soon as the auger stalled. His warning to his five-year-old son Ernie to stay back and “not come any closer than this,” had gone unheeded. The boy had been running around with a dog nearby, and Peter had warned him to stay back, to “not come any closer […] Read more
Tools for making your farm a safer place
There are many free resources, including fact sheets, videos, training programs, and materials designed especially for children
Reading Time: 2 minutes There are a host of educational materials on safety available for farm families. The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association was created in 1993 to promote farm safety and its vision is “a country where no one is hurt farming.” Its website has dozens of fact sheets that are broken down by topics. Among the 17 topics […] Read more
Community and country rally to help farm family
There’s been an outpouring of condolences and trust fund contributions
Reading Time: 3 minutes The deaths of three young sisters in a farm accident earlier this month has brought an outpouring of support. The tragic deaths of Catie Bott, age 13, and her twin sisters Dara and Jana, both 11, has had a “far-reaching impact” on people both near and far, said Pastor Brian Allan, a close family friend […] Read more
While you’re harvesting, first responders hope they aren’t needed
It’s a dangerous time of year — here are some tips for making it safer
Reading Time: < 1 minute Even as farmers were out in their fields, dozens of first responders from the Foothills Fire Department were preparing for the worst. More than 20 members of the 150-person department attended a training session at Heritage Pointe Fire Station in De Winton earlier this month. Among the sessions was a hands-on practice in which a […] Read more
Minimize your road risk during harvest
Take a moment to review the hazards of taking farm equipment on public roads
Reading Time: 2 minutes According to the Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting program, 13 per cent of farm-related fatalities across Canada are traffic related, and most involved tractors. During the busy fall harvest season, farmers often travel long distances between fields, and this requires transporting equipment on public roads throughout rural Alberta. Farm equipment is oversized and slow compared to […] Read more
Auger accidents happen in a flash
The safety rules are simple, but talking about the dangers and having a buddy system are key
Reading Time: < 1 minute Augers are hazardous, and that’s why safety protocols and talking about the dangers with co-workers are critical. When using an auger, one person should be designated as being in charge of the task, and the equipment should be periodically inspected during operation. While the auger is running: Observe work area restrictions; Keep all safety shields […] Read more
Farm leaders say workers’ compensation coverage is a good thing
Mandatory enrolment could be announced this fall, but leaders say cost and paperwork won’t be onerous
Reading Time: 4 minutes Changes to farm safety regulations are expected soon — and that might not be a bad thing for Alberta farmers, says the president of the Alberta Federation of Agriculture. “Workers’ compensation or private insurance really is a great risk management tool for farms nowadays,” said Lynn Jacobson. “That protection against litigation is one of the […] Read more