CALGARY (Staff) – Issuing a challenge to farm families to recognize the dangers of their profession is the theme for farm safety week.
Farm death statistics for 1994 show an improvement over 1993, but the numbers are still grim. There were 15 deaths on Alberta farms. All were males. Four of the victims were children under the age of 17, said the annual Alberta Agriculture farm safety report.
Nine of the fatalities occurred during harvest months and three happened during haying season.
The majority of the accidents involved farm machinery that either rolled over, pinned or struck the victims. ATVs were responsible for the deaths of two children, aged 10 and 17.
Three accidents were caused by farm animals trampling or throwing their victims.
Statistics from Alberta Agriculture showed farming is the most hazardous occupation in Canada. The average death rate of all industries is 11 fatalities per 100,000 workers. Farm death rates are 55 per 100,000. In the 10-year period between 1983 and 1993, Canada recorded 1,365 farm deaths.
The suicide rate on farms is 40.6 per 100,000 compared to 18.1 for the general population.
