Young Farm Workers Training Opportunity
Farm Safety
Students and youth looking to gain safety certification or practice hands-on applications for farm safety, should mark April 25, 2008 on their calendars.
On Friday April 25, Safe Communities of Central Alberta will be hosting a day-long event in Olds, Alberta focusing on sessions like Emergency CPR, Fire Extinguisher Training, Safe Livestock Handling, WHMIS (focus on Farm Chemicals), ATV Safety and First Response/GPS Training.
The registration fee is $30.00. However, Green Certificate Students may be exempt from paying the fee and should contact their regional coordinator for more information.
This event follows Canadian Agricultural Safety Week, which was held from March 12 to March 18, 2008. The theme this year was “Manage more than just your back!” which focused on preventing sprains, strains and falls.
“Farming is physically demanding, but it doesn’t need to be physically damaging” says Greg Stewart, Farm Credit Canada President and CEO.
Laurel Aitken with the Alberta Farm Safety Program noted, “Approximately 15 per cent of agricultural-related injuries are back injuries. Livestock operations, particularly beef, showed the highest incidents of injury followed by field crop farms, then greenhouse, nursery and floriculture operations.”
Aitken encourages everyone to work safely and keep their certifications up to date. “This Farm Safety Training Workshop is an excellent opportunity for students and young farm workers to come together to learn, refresh skills, network and socialize,” she says.
The Alberta Farm Safety Program provides resources for events like the Young Farm Workers Training Workshop. For more information about future farm safety training opportunities, please contact Laurel Aitken, Farm Safety Coordinator at (780) 427-4231 or laurel.aitken@gov.ab.ca |