LETHBRIDGE – The electrocution of two Edmonton-area farm workers this month has raised demands for improved safety and legislation to protect farm workers.
Alberta Municipal Affairs is investigating the accident, which occurred when the workers were moving a grain auger and made contact with a power line.
The agriculture industry is not covered by Occupational Health and Safety so the accident was handled by Alberta Municipal Affairs, which requires that all incidents related to overhead power line contacts be reported.
Calls for farm safety legislation in Alberta won’t help farmers and ranchers and their families and workers, said Rod Scarlett of Edmonton, executive director for the Wild Rose Agricultural Producers.
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He said producers can purchase Workers Compensation Board coverage for their workers, or buy private insurance plans without legislation.
He said because accidents often happen because a farm worker is doing something he should not have been doing, there is a need for more education about farm safety.
“The farm safety record in Alberta with no legislation is little different from the Canadian provinces, which have enacted farm safety legislation,” he said.
“Legislation and exemptions in legislation is really not the issue. The industry must learn to spend more time and training on farm safety issues.”
Farm safety training “is so far down in the agriculture agenda,” he said.
Alberta agriculture minister Jack Hayden announced a commission on farm safety in November.
Jo-Ann Hall, director for Rural Extension and Industry Development, said a new advisory council, including members from industry and government, will be formed to advise government on how to enhance farm safety education and training.
“This council will bring industry and government together to find ways to reduce farm injuries without increasing the regulatory and financial burden on our producers,” said Hayden. “We need to work together to find solutions.”
The announcement comes following consultations with Alberta Agriculture and Employment and Immigration and more than 20 groups representing about 50,000 Alberta producers.
