Few farmers have taken the time to write a formal safety plan, a recent FCC study found.

Safety doesn’t always come first on the farm

Study digs into why Canadian farmers don’t always put rules into practice

Most farmers believe they do their jobs safely and most also say they have unwritten rules on their farm to do the work without anyone getting hurt. But Canadian farmers also say an injury or a near miss hasn’t made them change their work behaviour, nor has it spurred them to put a safety plan […] Read more

Cows that were stranded in a flooded barn at Abbotsford, B.C. are rescued on Nov. 16, 2021 by people in boats and on a jet-ski after rainstorms lashed the province, triggering landslides and floods and shutting highways. (Photo: Jennifer Gauthier/Reuters)

B.C. calls emergency, expects more deaths from 500-year flood

Some livestock die, more are expected to be euthanized

Abbotsford | Reuters — The death toll in Canada from massive floods and landslides that devastated parts of British Columbia is set to rise, with the province declaring a state of emergency on Wednesday. Authorities have so far confirmed one death after torrential rains and mudslides destroyed roads and left several mountain towns isolated. At […] Read more

Community members struggle to rescue stranded cattle from an Abbotsford, B.C.-area farm on Nov. 16, 2021 after rainstorms caused flooding and landslides in the region. (Photo: Reuters/Jesse Winter)

Small navy of farmers rescues cattle in flood-hit B.C.

Abbotsford | Reuters — A flotilla of motorboats, canoes, dinghies and jet-skis helmed by farmers raced to move dozens of trapped cows from frigid waters as floods hit British Columbia. After a month’s worth of rain in two days, the downpours triggered widespread flooding. Mudslides hit cities and towns across the province. Among the worst-affected […] Read more

Bins and grain handling equipment form hazardous environments demand training, procedures, and emergency plans to prevent injury and death.

Don’t be complacent around grain storage hazards

What to watch for when filling bins

There is a plethora of hazards associated with storing and moving grain. Robert Gobeil, agricultural health and safety specialist for the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association, detailed overarching dangers and how to prevent them at a recent virtual event hosted by Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show.  Hazards Those entering a storage area containing a grain mass can […] Read more

Comment: Road safety starts with lighting, signage

Comment: Road safety starts with lighting, signage

Local federation initiatives focus on increasing farm equipment road safety

As the fall season approaches and some normalcy returns to our daily lives, the pace of traffic has picked up. School buses are back on their routes, commuters are home from summer vacation and back to work, and as farmers, some of us are already back on the road with harvest equipment. The Ontario Federation […] Read more


File photo of apple picking in a Canadian orchard. (Martinedoucet/E+/Getty Images)

New B.C. youth work rules: Heavy lifting, ag chem handling out

New standards also lift province's 'general working age' to 16

“Light farm and yard work” are deemed appropriate for workers at ages 14 and 15 under new employment standards taking effect in British Columbia this fall. The province on Wednesday announced changes to its Employment Standards Act, which have been through the development and consultation stages since 2019, have now been finalized and will take […] Read more

A recent report showed children aged one to four have the highest rate of fatalities.

Virtual Farm Safety Days allow broader reach during pandemic

Organizers optimistic 2022 will see a return to in-person programming

The traditional Safety Farm Days are missing from most farm communities’ calendars this year.  A valued tradition, Progressive Agriculture Foundation (PAF) Farm Safety Days, in partnership with the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA), have helped hundreds of thousands of rural and farm kids learn how to stay safe while working and playing on the farm, […] Read more

Cattle in a field can be quiet, but move them into close quarters with humans for processing and that’s where safety can be 
compromised.

When it comes to cattle processing, aim for safety

Moving cattle calmly into the processing system and securing the head correctly can reduce risks

It often takes an accident or a close call before someone shows up at the door of Brussels Agri-Service looking for safer cattle handling equipment. It isn’t one age or any type of producer, it’s a diverse group looking at how they manage cattle better for the safety of the cattle and their human handlers, […] Read more


Five-year phase-in underway for farm boiler inspections

Five-year phase-in underway for farm boiler inspections

Agricultural exemption was highlighted by auditor-general in 2018 and will soon be closed

A five-year phase-in is now underway for owners of pressure boilers used in agricultural applications to bring their equipment into compliance with Ontario regulations. The change affects greenhouse operators and some maple syrup producers, wineries and mushroom growers. Why it matters: Compliance with TSSA regulations will increase safety for farm operators who use boilers. “The […] Read more

Dairy farmers offered free safety vests

Purina is promoting safety on dairy farms by giving away free safety vests through their Be Safe. Be Seen. campaign.  From March 8 through April 8 Canadian dairies can claim up to two safety vests, in various sizes including kids, at Purina ProActiv on Facebook while supplies last. “While a safety vest may not prevent […] Read more