The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is launching an online training program for workers new to the agricultural sector, created in partnership with the University of Guelph — Ridgetown Campus Business Development Centre. The Ontario Agriculture Worker Safety and Awareness Certificate is geared towards helping job seekers become more familiar with on-farm safety, while making […] Read more
Tag Archives farm safety — page 5
New agricultural worker safety course launched
Road rules you might be breaking
MTO officers highlight what can – and can’t – be done when moving farm vehicles on public roads
[UPDATED: Jan. 8, 2021] Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act gives special exceptions, and some additional conditions, for farm equipment. But in an effort to improve overall roadway safety, Ministry of Transportation (MTO) enforcement officers encourage farmers to go beyond minimum safety requirements. Doing so, they say, starts with understanding what’s considered a farm vehicle, why exemptions […] Read more
Technology monitors high-risk barn wiring to help stop barn fires
A project by Trillium Mutual Insurance aims to get 100 monitoring devices installed on farms in a year
An Ontario insurance company is trying to stop barn fires before they start by subsidizing the installation of technology that monitors wiring systems for faults. The sensor-based early warning system is part of a unique collaboration between Trillium Mutual Insurance and PrevTech Innovation. Why it matters: Barn fires create more than a financial loss. They […] Read more
Federal program to protect farms, workers from COVID-19 underway
'Highest-risk' farming operations to get priority, Bibeau says
Applications are now open for a federally-administered $35 million emergency on-farm support fund to help limit the impacts of COVID-19 on farms and on-farm workers. Aimed at farm workplaces and employee living quarters, the fund is being managed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), but cost-shared with participating producers at a 50-50 level. Money is […] Read more
When the farm becomes the school
Farm families with school-age children find ways to make schooling work
Since COVID-19 cancelled school, farmers have been learning how to juggle schoolwork for their children and farm work at the same time. While there’s no one route through the new normal for families with school-aged children, most are happy to have their farm as a backdrop for developing learning and fun activities for their stay-at-home […] Read more
Farm educators change learning strategies to suit new home school life
Companies like AgScape, the voice of agriculture in the classroom Ontario, have had to change how they do business because COVID-19 has closed schools. Unfortunately, the organization hasn’t been able to visit classrooms or use their teacher ambassador program or career competition. “There have been a lot of initiatives that we’ve had to cancel. That’s […] Read more
CASA develops online tool to help families with farm safety
There’s an expectation that there will be more children on the farm this year
Glacier FarmMedia – The Canadian Agriculture Safety Association and BASF are digitally expanding farm safety resources for children. The new resource comes as the COVID-19 pandemic affects family life. With kids at home because of school closures, it’s expected more will be involved in activities on the farm, said Wayne Barton, the manager of research […] Read more
Tire Grabber invention wins farm safety award
Farmer Darcy Goossen invented the Tire Grabber to help farmers safely change large-scale tires. Goossen wanted to make it easier and safer to change his own large tires and do tire repairs on-farm himself. It took him about five years to get the product to the final version. “I originally started this to keep my […] Read more
Take extra steps to keep farm workers safe during COVID-19
Add biosecurity practices, or ramp up the ones you already employ
Farmers concerned about the spread of COVID-19 can learn from the hog sector on the matter of protecting themselves and their workers, says a leading expert on biosecurity in the pork industry. “This is the world of biosecurity that the swine industry deals with on a daily basis,” said Dr. Egan Brockhoff, veterinarian counsellor for […] Read more
AgriCulture – the documentary
Film by Sheridan College student looks at farm hazards
Bailey Regier, a film writing and editing student at Sheridan College in Oakville completed a documentary for school on one the most dangerous professions in the developed world: farming. Her class was assigned in September of 2019 to complete a documentary, about six minutes long, on any topic of their choosing. Bailey Regier says TJ […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
