The Farm Safety Roundup returns with more advice on how to keep you, your farm, and your workers safe. In this episode, host Shaun Haney is joined by Jay Remsik, a health and safety consultant from Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS).
With harvest season in full swing across Canada, safety is critical as farms continue to experience high rates of lost-time injuries. Remsik emphasizes the importance of a shared responsibility, or the “internal responsibility system,” among everyone on the farm, including family members, employees, and visitors.
Remsik says that while employers bear the most significant legal obligations, workers also have a duty to report hazards and near-miss incidents to their supervisors. “[Supervisors] are the eyes and ears of that employer when he or she is not there. But workers need to understand that they’ve got responsibilities as well.”
Another key point he touches on is the importance of being proactive rather than reactive when addressing potential hazards. He recommends conducting hazard assessments throughout different farming seasons, such as during planting and harvesting, to anticipate risks before they lead to accidents. “What potentially could happen to the worker if they’re exposed to those hazards?” he asks, emphasizing the need to assess risks like operating heavy machinery, handling chemicals, or dealing with extreme weather conditions.
Finally, hear about practical strategies for managing risks, starting with hazard elimination and moving down the hierarchy of controls. He highlights the critical role of training and documentation in maintaining safety protocols, urging farms to ensure workers understand both the theory and practical aspects of farm safety. “We always want to start at the top and then work our way down,” he says, stressing that personal protective equipment (PPE) should be a last resort.
For more information about farm safety, including great new safety videos available in four different languages, go to wsps.ca/farmsafety
Suggested resources:
Share with your workers: New agriculture safety resources available in 4 languages
How and why to produce your own short training videos: For Greenhouse Growers
Save time and money: create training videos with your own smartphone
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