CALGARY — The theft of a dog from a farm near Cochrane, Alta., has sparked fears by its owner that criminals may increasingly be targeting such animals in rural areas of the province. Such crimes are likely being underreported by producers, said Aynsley Foss of Foss Hollow Farms, whose dog, Dixie, was stolen Nov. 27. […] Read more
Tag Archives farm safety
Owner raises alarm after sheepdog goes missing
Alberta RCMP treat the disappearance as a theft but caution they do not believe an organized crime ring is involved
Producer moves on after serious farm accident
Farmer learned invaluable lessons, which he now passes on to others, after he was caught in a swather reel 20 years ago
A beautiful July day is perfect for swathing. Friday, July 20, 2001, was no exception. Ernie Penney, who operates a mixed farm just outside Moose Jaw, went out before 9 a.m. to swath hay. The day before, Penney had battled the new-to-him used 800 self-propelled John Deere swather that kept plugging on the fine hay. […] Read more
Reducing grain-handling and storage hazards starts with bin preparation, safety plan
Handling and storing grain are dangerous tasks that expose farmers to numerous hazards. Power takeoff entanglements and suffocation from grain engulfment or entrapment are two of the most common incidents involving grain. Keeping stored grain in good condition and following recommended safety measures when working with grain can prevent incidents. To reduce safety risks, farmers […] Read more
Bottle-fed bulls can grow up to be mean
Hand-rearing dairy bull calves in isolation contributes significantly to their behaviour toward humans as adults
Studies have showed that rearing conditions are the key to creating safe or dangerous bulls.
Mental health improves farm safety
Fostering psychologically safe workplaces is also seen as playing an important role in hiring and retaining farm employees
The executive director of AgSafe Alberta says her experience with mental health issues on the farm stretches back to seeing the effect of sky-high interest rates in the 1980s, the difficulties of the hog sector while working with Alberta Pork and now in her current role. “Having a psychologically safe workplace is not something that […] Read more
Think safety when working alone
In recognition of Canadian Agricultural Safety Week March 12-18, here’s a sobering safety fact: 50 percent of farm safety incidents in Canada occur when the victim is working alone. The average farmer and rancher spends a significant amount of time working alone. This leaves us vulnerable to on-farm accidents causing injuries or deaths. It is […] Read more
Rebooting the farm safety message
Farm families do not lack for information when it comes to their children’s safety. There are targeted campaigns, checklists, seminars safety days and free educational materials from colouring books to video. It seems none of these have had much effect, says Will Pickett, a researcher and epidemiologist at Brock University who specializes in the health […] Read more
Farmers need to know occupational health and safety rules
A serious accident at a ranch, farm or feedlot can have ramifications not just to the injured party but the continued operations of the workplace, with health and safety investigators, police and media scrutinizing the situation. Chris Spasoff, lawyer with F2 Legal Counsel specializing in cases involving Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S), said it’s […] Read more
ATV Safety Week covers all the terrain
The number of head injuries related to all-terrain vehicles is dropping but other injuries are increasing
The Saskatchewan All-Terrain Vehicle Association has started a campaign to raise awareness of ATV safety. “We just set up a little bit of an obstacle or slalom course, whatever you want to call it,” said SATVA general manager John Meed. “We’re going to let the media folks have a little bit of a ride to […] Read more
Air rescue service offered guaranteed funding
Helicopter Air Lift Operation was launched as a pilot project in 2007 to provide air rescue service for southeastern Alta.
It’s been a 15-year turbulent lead-up to the Alberta government’s announcement of funding for southern Alberta’s Helicopter Air Lift Operation (HALO). The air rescue service came to the brink of disbanding several times but now that appears to be over. “For the first time, HALO will be offered guaranteed funding and a contract with Alberta […] Read more
