Reading Time: 3 minutes Even animal death in a barn fire is one too many. But at first glance, it would seem Alberta has a reasonably good handle on them. A recent study found that during a five-year period (2015-19), Quebec had 141 barn fires and Ontario 121 — but there were just eight barn fires in Alberta. The […] Read more
Barn fires underreported — and far too common, says humane society
Most provinces, including Alberta, lack accurate stats, and that’s part of the problem, says official
It doesn’t take much to reduce fire risk in the farmyard
An easy-to-do cleanup of the yard and area right next to the house is worthwhile
Reading Time: 2 minutes Provincial officials are urging farmers and acreage owners to ‘FireSmart’ their property. Dry conditions have seen wildfires season get off to an early start this year and officials say rural residents can significantly reduce the risk of property damage with some simple measures. Start by walking around your home and examining everything within 1.5 metres […] Read more
Opinion: You say safety is a priority, but the stats tell a different story
Farm accidents will spike in these hectic and stressful months so please give safety more attention
Reading Time: 2 minutes I am sure I am not alone in saying that COVID-19 has dominated my thoughts, conversations, plans, work and social life for the past year. We all hoped we would have moved past this point by now — and while we are getting closer, we are not there yet. With all the (rightful) attention being […] Read more
Be seen and be safe when moving farm equipment on roads
Do everything you can to be visible, and consider taking extra measures, says expert
Reading Time: 3 minutes Think there’s no way a massive piece of farm machinery travelling down a highway can be completely unseen? Consider this story. On the morning of Jan. 4 of this year, a 72-year-old man died when a semi-trailer hit the tractor he was driving on a two-lane highway in southern Manitoba. The driver of the semi […] Read more
Take it personally — and make a commitment, says farm safety expert
Don’t practise on-farm safety because the government says so — do it for yourself and your family
Reading Time: 3 minutes Working safely on the farm is like getting ready to jump out of an airplane. You can’t afford to pack your parachute right only some of the time — you have to do it right every time. That line of thinking is the same producers should be using in their safety procedures every day, safety […] Read more
Is your setup safe? If so, you’re doing all of these things
Reading Time: 2 minutes We often think how we can work our cows to avoid stress and injury to them. But spare a thought for the handlers — whether yourself, employees or your vet. “Some people will definitely put you in harm’s way, and not even know it,” said Dr. Roy Lewis, who was a large-animal vet for more […] Read more
The four ‘whats’ and four ‘hows’ of farm safety
Asking some very simple questions can take you a long way in making the farm safer
Reading Time: 2 minutes Putting farm safety practices in place takes time and commitment. But many best practices don’t necessarily have to be formal or difficult, said Alan Quilley, a safety expert for more than 40 years who has helped some of the biggest employers in Canada build their safety cultures. He calls his model an integrated safety management […] Read more
There’s still a high bar on workplace safety for farm employers, says expert
Farmers with non-family employees need to understand their obligations, says lawyer
Reading Time: 4 minutes The farm safety legislation that sparked a political firestorm in 2015 may be gone — but not entirely. “They say Bill 6 has been repealed, but here’s the thing: It wasn’t a clean break,” said Christopher Spasoff of F2 Legal Counsel, who defends those facing occupational health and safety (OHS) charges. “It wasn’t a full […] Read more
Opinion: Pandemic stress and exhaustion are taking a toll on our farms
Everyone is feeling worn down but on farms, that ups the risk of an accident occurring
Reading Time: 3 minutes January is a weird month. It’s an optimistic time, with a new year bringing resolutions and a sincere hope for life to be better and brighter. But it’s also a dark and slow month on the Canadian Prairies — especially in the rural areas, on the often quieter farms so many of us call home. […] Read more
A routine day, a near tragedy that will never be forgotten
Reading Time: 5 minutes Some days just stay with a person. High school graduation, your wedding day, the birth of your child. For Randy Froese, that day is Aug. 17, 2010. “That’s the day I just about did not make it home,” said the grain farmer from Winkler, Man. That morning started like any other. Froese decided it was […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
