OFA urges farmers to put safety first, releases new farm safety fact sheet
GUELPH – Last week was Canadian Agricultural Safety Week and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is encouraging farmers, farm families and rural communities to make safety on the farm a priority all year long.
To support farmers with practical tools and information, OFA has released a new farm safety fact sheet, designed to help identify risks, start conversations and strengthen safety practices on farms of all sizes and types.
“The farm is more than a workplace, it’s also home,” says Paul Maurice, farmer and OFA executive member. “Safety starts with planning and awareness, not luck.
Taking the time to think through tasks, identify risks and put simple precautions in place can make all the difference in preventing injuries and making sure everyone comes home safely at the end of the day.”
Led nationally by the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA), this year’s farm safety week campaign reinforced the message that farm safety is a shared responsibility and an ongoing commitment, not just a seasonal focus. Its daily themes will focus on machinery safety, emergency preparedness, rail and road safety, livestock safety and women in agriculture.
Common farm safety risks include long days and fatigue, heavy machinery and moving equipment, time pressure from weather and field conditions, road travel with slow-moving vehicles, multiple people working closely together, or working with animals that can behave unpredictably. When fatigue sets in or distractions creep in, the risk of injury rises quickly.
As part of Canadian Agricultural Safety Week, OFA also encouraged farmers to take part in CASA’s AgSafe Ribbon Campaign.
The AgSafe ribbon is a symbol of commitment to farm safety and a way to spark conversations with family, friends and neighbours about why safety matters. Participants are encouraged to share the ribbon on social media using the hashtag #FarmSafetyEveryday.
“Simple actions – like wearing high-visibility gear, maintaining equipment, or taking an extra moment to assess a task – can help prevent life-changing accidents,” Maurice adds.
“Farm safety is everyone’s responsibility, and it starts with each of us knowing what to do to stay safe.”
A few top farm safety tips:
– keep equipment fixed and up to date;
– take a break when you’re tired or fatigued, and don’t cut corners when you’re in a rush;
– shut down equipment before making adjustments or dislodging a blockage and keep safety guards in place;
– don’t let kids play around work sites or near equipment;
– have a first aid kit and emergency contact numbers handy and take a charged phone with you when you head out for the day; and
– when frustration hits because of breakdowns or long hours, take a breath, step back and reassess before moving on.
The full fact sheet is available at ofa.on.ca/resources/tips-for-staying-safe-on-the-farm.
Farmers and rural residents can also access practical safety gear through the OFA online store at store.ofa.on.ca/collections/all, including high-visibility vests and farm safety signage to improve awareness around equipment, roadways and farmyards.
