All of these risk factors on the farm increase farm workers’ and families’ daily exposure to danger – and increase chances of injury or death. We think it could never happen to us, but it is a sad reality that we all know someone who has had a farming accident where the end result is the pain of an injury or the tragic loss of a loved one.
Research shows that, in general, farmers’ attitudes to safety only change after a serious injury or death occurs. It doesn’t have to be this way because farming accidents are preventable. Attitudes can change with awareness, education and training. Farming is a dangerous job. Why aren’t we talking about it?
Let’s talk about it. Danger is part and parcel of the agricultural industry. Farming accidents happen every day, and tragic headlines in the news bring it to our attention, but we need to take it one step further and actually deal with it.
Farmers understand that to keep their farming business sustainable, they must continually change and adapt to new technology, update business management practices and improve working knowledge in order to remain commercially viable.
And like most successful businesses, farmers recognize that the people who work on their farms are a valuable resource. (This includes family members.)
Farmers can protect their people from venturing down the tragic path of accidents with the help of the Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).
This year celebrates the 10th anniversary of the act applying to the agriculture sector, which was created to help farmers keep their workers and family safe by preventing tragedies. The OHSA outlines the roles and responsibilities of farm employers, supervisors and workers.
For example, a farm employing workers must ensure all staff and visitors are aware of hazards when dealing with animals and equipment and provide them with protective equipment, materials and procedures for use.
Sixty percent of farm deaths are owner-operators, so it’s important for the owners and management to follow protocols as well. The first step in adhering to the OHSA is to ensure everyone on the farm is trained on their responsibilities as outlined specific to employers, supervisors and workers.
The second step is to develop a solid health and safety program inclusive of identifying job hazards with corresponding safe operating procedures. The third step is to train everyone on the safety program and safe operating procedures.
Too often, we hear stories of farming accidents. The supervisor who forgot to tell the herdsperson they needed to make sure they had no loose clothing on when working with the grain silo near the auger.
The result was a tragic, preventable death. Had training on safe operating procedures been in place to remind and guide the supervisor and the worker of safe operating procedures of the auger, this tragedy would not have happened.
The OHSA mandates that workers need to take their own safety seriously, wearing protective equipment, reporting hazards or refusing unsafe work, and reporting it to the employer.
With a small investment of implementing a health and safety program, training and educating owners, supervisors and workers, and appointing a safety representative or committee, the return is huge – a saved life or no injuries.
Now we are talking about it. In a blink of an eye, accidents happen, and death could be a single mistake away, but measures can be put in place to prevent accidents and ensure the benefits of farm life continue uninterrupted. Safety on the farm is everyone’s responsibility and needs to be a priority. 
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Cheryl DeCooman
- President
- People Management Group Inc.
- Email Cheryl DeCooman
