Farms and ranches can be safe places to work as long as everyone keeps up to date on their respective safety training, says Kenda Lubeck, farm safety coordinator with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry.
“When it comes to living and working on the farm any kind of education and training is going to be beneficial when it comes to safety,” Lubeck told the Gazette.
“If someone has a job on a farm they should be trained for it. Depending on the nature of the work, often there will be the need for a refresher or ongoing training. (Workers should) have the education and training to work in a safe manner, whether it's with particular equipment or whether it is with a particular task.”
With the 2015 crops in, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry is calling on farmers and ranchers to take time this winter to ensure they are up to date with their safety training and planning.
“It's the time of year when some farmers take a step back from their hectic physical farm work and make assessments for the future,” she said. “Farming is a demanding and frequently hazardous occupation. Keeping safety top of mind is important for all farm owners and workers to make it home safely each evening. Be proactive and use this winter to ensure next season's farm work is injury- and incident-free.”
In a press release, Alberta Agriculture is recommending a number of avenues of safety-related training that farmers and ranchers may want to consider this winter (quoted from the release):
• First aid – This is a must for any farm. It is advisable for all workers to have some sort of first aid training, whether it be first aid on the farm, emergency first aid, standard first aid or higher. There are a few options to access training. St. John's Ambulance has a great program and they are available toll free at 1-800-665-7114.
• Equipment operator's training – This is particularly important for new and young farm workers. Equipment such as skid steers, loaders, and tractors are powerful and have the potential to severely injure workers. Check online or look for courses in your area.
• Chemical-related courses – Farmers working with pesticides, ammonia and in the presence of sour gas will benefit from courses such as pesticide applicators, Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) or H2S Alive. Check with your chemical supply dealer for pesticide applicator training in your area. WHMIS training can be accessed online, while H2S courses are available through safety companies who specialize in oilfield safety courses.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) training – For those handling chemicals, respirator training will be beneficial. For anyone working from heights, a fall protection course is recommended.
• Livestock safety – Virtually any course involving livestock includes aspects of safety. For those using horses to tend cattle, perhaps a horsemanship or ranch hand course will help. Others to consider are stockman courses and horse/livestock hauling. Check with local agricultural societies, livestock clubs and organizations for upcoming clinics.
• Machinery maintenance – Well cared for machinery and equipment means increased safety during use. Take a quick course in how to care for and properly maintain your equipment to decrease the risk of down-time due to machinery failure.
• Fire extinguisher training – There are many types of fire extinguishers, and they can be intimidating to operate. It is a good idea to take this training before you need it.
• Safety systems training – At the basic level, this type of training course will teach participants the value of a safety program and how to get started setting one up. There are many courses aimed at different industries; farmers should look for a generic course provided by a private consultant or a reputable post-secondary institution.
“Winter is a great time to pull out your farm safety plan – or develop one if you haven't already – and decide what kind of training program your family members and employees should take,” she said.
“This can be formal training such as mentioned, or simply going over the plan you have in place along with any farm workplace protocols.”
The province introduced Bill 6, the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act, last week. If passed, it would for the first time bring Alberta farm and ranch workers under the provincial Occupational Health and Safety Act.
"When it comes to living and working on the farm any kind of education and training is going to be beneficial when it comes to safety."Kenda Lubeckfarm safety coordinator
