Two years after her husband died in a farm accident, Lorna Chandler believes farms are no safer today than they were then.
She also believes the Alberta government has no desire to make farms safer by implementing workplace safety laws.
“The Conservatives don’t want to budge on this issue,” Chandler said after listening to a debate on farm safety at the provincial legislature in Edmonton April 28.
“They would rather see the whole issue swept under the carpet and do nothing about it.”
Kevan Chandler died in June 2006 after he was buried in a grain silo at the Morrison family’s Roseburn Ranches near High River, Alta. Two weeks ago, feedlot owner Brian Morrison died when he fell from the top of a grain silo at the family’s Tongue Creek Feeders operation, not far from where Chandler, his employee, was killed.
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Chandler said her husband would be alive if he had used proper safety equipment while working inside the silo.
“If he had that, I’m sure he’d be here today,” she said.
Alberta is one of two provinces that don’t cover farm workers under Occupational Health and Safety, Workers Compensation or Labour Code legislation.
Alberta agriculture minister George Groeneveld said education, rather than legislation, is key to creating safer farms.
Groeneveld said several people attending Morrison’s funeral echoed that sentiment.
“Many people came up to me and said, ‘will you please keep on with the safety and education portion. Legislation won’t save us.’ “
Alberta Liberal leader Kevin Taft said the growing number of farm accidents and deaths show farm workers need more than talk.
“Workers and employees of larger agricultural operations deserve some basic protection and they’re not getting it and they’re dying, at least one or two a month,” Taft said.
In 2006 there were 20 farm related deaths and 1,148 injuries reported.
Twelve farm related deaths and about 1,000 injuries were reported in Alberta last year. Four farm-related deaths have been reported this year.
“We hope it’s a trend and not just an anomaly, and we’ll continue with our education and awareness,” said Laurel Aitken, head of Alberta’s farm safety program.
Education and awareness campaigns are also important in provinces where farm workers are covered by safety legislation, she added.
Taft said the old fashioned farm with Mom, Dad and the kids collecting eggs and milking the cow is long gone. The modern farm is industrialized with workers punching a time clock.
“The Tories are catering not to farm families but to the large industrial farms with who they have a close relationship.”
Premier Ed Stelmach, who is also a farmer, said education is key to keeping farmers and workers safe on the farm.
“I can tell you that when it comes to safety programs, the best program that we could enforce and even actually put more resources into is farm safety education,” he said.
“I learned the hard way on the farm, and you know the ones who kept reminding me not to step over the p.t.o. or walk in front of moving equipment were my children, who actually got better safety training and education.”
Taft said the range of farming operations is no different than other industries covered by proper worker safety legislation.
