Accessibility tools | Canadian farmers injured on the job can access funds to help get them back in the fields
OTTAWA — Canadian farmers injured on the job can now apply for up to $10,000 to support their safe return to work.
The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association kicked off the application phase of its Back to Ag Program in Ottawa Oct. 8.
Dean Anderson, agricultural program manager with Workplace Safety and Prevention Services in Guelph, Ont., and incoming CASA chair, said the program will provide accessibility tools such as ramps and lifts to help producers and farm workers return to the agricultural workplace.
He said the program addresses some of the shortfalls experienced by many injured farmers whose special needs are not being met.
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“Farmers can return to the work in a meaningful way, can reduce the financial impact on operations, regain a sense of self-worth and return to what they love doing,” he said.
“An effective return to work program is the best way to manage the impact of injury financially, physically and emotionally.”
A successful two week social media campaign to raise funds and create awareness about the program this spring resulted in 18,000 connections and 2.3 million hits.
CASA created Back to Ag with Farm Credit Canada, which donated $100,000 to the program, and the Rick Hansen Foundation.
Colin Ewart, the foundation’s vice-president of strategic partnerships, detailed his organization’s work supporting injury research and im-proved accessibility to create a more inclusive world.
“Back to Ag will help those with disabilities get back to a high quality of life,” he said of funds for retraining and workplace modifications.
“The program will help injured farmers get back to work and support them in that process.”
Marion Popkin of the Alberta Federation of Agriculture said Back to Ag will allow disabled farmers to stay on their farms.
“Sometimes when farmers are injured, they leave agriculture altogether, but there’s usually always a way they can contribute,” she said.
Assistance can include hand controls on a tractor or adapting a vehicle.
“There’s a lot of ways that it could be applied to make someone’s life more useful.”
The program is a first for CASA, but one Liz Ellis Clark hopes will be the first of more to come.
“Depending on interest, it could continue on,” said CASA’s development officer, who cited the individuals and organizations that have also contributed to the program.
Applicants, who must be 18 years or older and can demonstrate how adaptive technology will help them return to work on the farm, have until Nov. 28 to apply.
A committee will review their applications for funding, ensure that the requested devices would be safe to use on the farm and make its selections by January. Successful applicants will then have nine months to implement or install the devices.
For more information, visit casa-acsa.ca/Back_To_Ag_Program, email backtoag@casa-acsa.ca or call CASA at 877-452-2272.
