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MARCH 11 - 17, 2012
“Plan • Farm • Safety” is the theme of the three-year Canadian Agricultural Safety campaign which began in 2010. The 2010 campaign promoted "Plan", with safety walkabouts and an emphasis on planning for safety. In 2011, the focus was on "Farm", with highlights on implementation, documentation and training. This year's campaign on "Safety" will launch during Canadian Agricultural Safety Week (CASW), March 11 to 17. The focus is on the assessment, improvement and further development of safety systems.
A farm safety plan is an important part of an overall business plan. The Plan • Farm • Safety campaign has worked with producers and workers as they go through the necessary steps to develop, implement and assess a practical farm safety plan for their own unique operation.
On average, at least 1,500 people are hospitalized and 115 are killed in farm-related incidents in Canada each year, according to the Canadian Agricultural Injury Surveillance Program. In 2006, Statistics Canada notes that almost 14,000 Canadian farms reported one or more medically treated or lost-time injuries. The Census of Agriculture 2001 shows the most frequent causes of farm-related injuries include unsafe use of equipment or material-handling practices, followed by fatigue, trying to save time and miscommunication between workers. Make a difference, become a member of the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association. Click here.
Canadian Agricultural Safety Week (CASW) is delivered by the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) and the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) through the generous support of Farm Credit Canada (FCC) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).
“Everyone has a role to play ensuring there are viable solutions for keeping safe on the farm,” explains Ron Bonnett, CFA President. “Statistics show us that about 85 per cent of farm related incidents are due to human error. This also means farmers can avoid many of these incidents and injuries. Our hope is that during Canadian Agricultural Safety Week, we can provide farmers with practical tools to implement safer work practices.”
To help get started, a variety of farm safety plan resources, tips and teaching kits are available at www.planfarmsafety.ca.
For more information regarding Alberta's Farm Safety Program or Canadian Ag Safety Week; please contact Kenda Lubeck at 780-538-5606 or kenda.lubeck@gov.ab.ca.
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