With combines, tractors, grain carts and semi-tractors and trailers back on the fields, it's important to remember these large units are also on our rural roadways and highways while travelling from field to field.
Minto-area farmer, Bill Campbell, is a member of Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), and past president. "It's that time of year when harvest requires you to get the job done and we do the best that we can," shares Campbell, but we just want to ensure that the public is aware of circumstances and equipment moving and late night procedures."
"And we'd like to encourage producers to think safety first and make sure that they look after themselves, and make sure that they come home every safe and sound, so that they can get up and do the same thing the next day!"
Motorists may not realize the size, scale, width and weight of some of these massive units, and one can't stress enough the importance of moving out of the way in a slow and safe manner to keep everyone safe. If you have a field approach or a driveway to pull onto, just to get your own vehicle out of the way and let the larger unit pass, all the better!
"Think safety first!" adds Campbell.
KAP has led the FarmSafe Manitoba initiative to build and expand the culture of farm safety in Manitoba through awareness, education, and program delivery.
"We strive to ensure all farmers across Manitoba have the information and tools available to make their farms a safe place to live and work, building upon existing resources and tools from all our partner organizations," states their website. "The first step on your safety journey begins with being aware of the importance of farm safety and how to recognize the difference between safe and unsafe practices on your farm. Safety is a shared responsibility, so it is important to not only make yourself aware of the risks and hazards on the farm, but also anyone who works or visits."
FarmSafe Manitoba has outline 5 Steps to Better Farm Safety below to help everyone involved in farm activity to be safety-aware by engaging with your team, identifying hazards, assessing risk, establishing control measures, and developing and managing a farm safety plan.
Engage with your Team:
"It is important that individual workers, contractors and visitors are aware of the risks and hazards posed to them on the farm. They should all take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and all those who are on the property with them, ensuring that all who live and work on this farm are kept safe to the best of their combined abilities."
Identify Hazards:
"Take a walk around the workplace to identify hazards. Some will be easy to identify, and some may not. Observe workers and managers completing their work and identify if there’s a safer and more efficient way to complete the job at hand."
Assess the Risk:
"Analyze and decide who might be harmed and identify how they might be harmed. What is the severity of the potential harm? By using our Farm Safety Indicator and Management Plan Template, you can assess the risk and plan for the most likely outcomes."
Establish Control Measures:
"Ensure any controls you implement are reasonable and practicable." Assess how to control a hazard by asking important questions like, are you able to eliminate the hazard? Can you substitute the hazard with something safer? Are you able to isolate the hazard from people?
Develop and Manage a Farm Safety Plan:
"Write down the results on the Farm Safety Indicator (FSI) and Management Plan form or create your own. Consider solutions to manage and mitigate the risks. Allocate resources, people, time, and money, and decide on a Plan of Action to determine who will do what by when."
"Include employees in this process as much as possible and make them aware of any changes that are made at management levels. Keep it simple and succinct."
Please read more details on each of the 5 Steps to a Better Farm Safety, through Farm Safe Manitoba, by following this link!
"FarmSafe Manitoba's goal is to directly speak with and support Manitoba farmers to increase their safety awareness and help them follow both the law and best practices when it comes to farm safety."
It's important to remember:
- Put a safety and health system in place in order to protect your workers, family members, and yourself from injury and illness at work
- Understand that safety and health is a vital part of the day-to-day operations of your farm business
- Learn your basic duties and responsibilities under Manitoba’s Workplace Safety and Health Act, Regulation or Codes of Practice.
For more on FarmSafe Manitoba visit their website, or click HERE!
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