Alberta farms and ranches with paid employees will soon be required to follow a slate of new safety rules, some of which address using seatbelts, operating older equipment and conducting inspections. The province announced the incoming changes today in an effort to strike a balance between keeping farm workers safe while ensuring operators can practically […] Read more
Tag Archives farm safety — page 9
Slow down and be safe this spring
With seeding activity in full swing across the West, safety advocates are reminding producers to take extra care when operating and moving farm equipment. Marcel Hacault, executive director with the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association, said spring and fall are typically the busiest times of the year on prairie grain farms. That means the risk of […] Read more
Alta. farms may soon need safety rep
Alberta producers can expect new rules this summer that require them to have a clear health and safety plan and will also spell out how they should address injuries and dangerous-work refusals. The rules, which come into effect June 1 and apply to farms with paid employees, are part of the government’s plans to update […] Read more
‘It’s no longer whispered about’
As Glen Blahey packed his last boxes and passed on his final files, he looked back on a career that started on the fringes and ended up in the mainstream. That trajectory of farm safety is something he can’t really divide from the trajectory of his own career because he was there for 35 years […] Read more
More automation increases the safety danger
FARM SAFETY Too much automation can reduce operator awareness and contribute to more worker injuries
Today’s farm machinery is bigger, faster, more powerful and more expensive than ever before. And in many cases, it also offers a greater level of automation, taking pressure off the operator to perform mundane tasks accurately and efficiently, such as steering in a straight line between headlands. However, according to University of Saskatchewan researcher Behzad […] Read more
Back pain risks high when riding horseback
FARM SAFETY Research has found that sitting in machinery for too long without a break can also put farmers at risk
A recent study is suggesting farmers may want to take breaks more often to prevent back pain because risks can become high when horseback riding or sitting in cabs for too long. The research, conducted by the Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, analyzed vibration and shock rates when farmers are using equipment […] Read more
‘Third shift’ leads to healthier women
FARM SAFETY Research finds women who work both on and off the farm and care for children are likely to be healthier
In a twist that has surprised researchers, a study has found that farm women who do more work are likely to be healthier than those who do less. Their study, spearheaded by the Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, looks at what they call the third shift. Women who are part of this […] Read more
Implementing farm safety rules not hard: consultant
Some farmers in Alberta are concerned they don’t have enough resources and say they need help to implement programs
As Alberta farmers and ranchers gear up for new safety rules, consultants hope to ease their concerns by providing solutions they say will make the new guidelines workable. For one, a binder on a shelf just isn’t going to cut it, according to Reg Steward, a ranch safety consultant with AgSafe B.C. Instead, he recommends […] Read more
Alta. to extend consultations on farm safety rules
The Alberta government is extending the consultation period on new farm safety rules. Alberta agriculture minister Oneil Carlier said Jan. 15 that farmers, ranchers, local governments and industry groups now have until Feb. 26 to weigh in. “We had a few individuals and municipalities that were looking for a little bit more time,” Carlier said. […] Read more
Farm safety group restructures in Alberta
An organization formed to equip Alberta farmers and ranchers with farm safety information and guidance is now in transition. AgSafe Alberta is an agricultural industry-led group formed after the provincial government enacted the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act, previously known as Bill 6, amid much controversy. Using $500,000 from the federal-provincial Growing […] Read more
