Safety Is In The Details

Nova Scotia's farmers are being encouraged to pay attention to the work-related details that can help them reduce the risk of being injured or even killed on the job.

Safety Is In The Details is the theme of Canadian Agricultural Safety Week, March 9-15. The campaign examines the physical considerations of farm work and places a special focus on older members of the farming community.

"The theme for the Canadian Agricultural Safety Week -- Safety is in the Details -- encourages farmers to use due diligence every day," said Chris d'Entremont, Minister, Agriculture and Fisheries. "I urge all farmers to analyze the risks in their workplace and to plan to work safely."

The average Canadian farmer is over 50 years old. Farmers aged 60 and over represent only 13 per cent of the farming population, but suffer 35 per cent of all agricultural fatalities and 24 per cent of agriculture-related hospitalizations, according to a study by the Canadian Agricultural Injury Surveillance Program.

Officials at the surveillance program offer several ideas on how older Canadian farmers can reduce the risk of injuries and fatalities.

They suggest, for example, that senior farmers avoid altogether certain risky activities, such as towing disabled equipment with tractors or dismounting tractors without either shutting off the engine or setting the parking brake.

Safety Is In The Details focuses on other issues too.

In Canada, 61 per cent of farms are run by single operators, meaning farmers routinely work alone. Even with larger family corporations or partnerships, farmers often work in isolation -- it's just the nature of the business.

But many farmers are killed and injured working alone in isolated locations on Canadian farms and ranches. More than half of farm-related fatalities happen while the victim is working alone, says the surveillance program study.

Geographic positioning systems and two-way radios could be one way to ensure rapid response to an injury at an isolated site, as long as communication devices were always kept within reach.

There are other simple precautions, too.

"Farmers can protect themselves by reducing or eliminating many risks," said Don Cox, president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture. "They should always take measures to install roll over protection structures and seatbelts on tractors, properly maintain all equipment, and ensure guards are in place and in proper working order on all moving parts and power takeoffs."

The Nova Scotia Farm Health and Safety Committee recommends that all farmers refer to its publication, entitled Protect Yourself from Livestock Injuries, for tips to reduce livestock handling injuries.

Canadian Agricultural Safety Week is made possible by Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Canadian Agricultural Safety Association, Farm Credit Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. More information on Canadian Agricultural Safety Week is available on the website at www.cfa-fca.ca .