Ag Safety Week proclaimed in Sask

With agriculture being one of Saskatchewan’s largest and most hazardous industries with incidents occuring more often between seeding and harvest, the Saskatchewan government has proclaimed March 12 to 18 as Agricultural Safety Week.

“Working in agriculture means long days during busy seasons like calving, seeding and harvest,” said Agriculture Minister David Marit.

“Agricultural Safety Week serves as a critical reminder that the business of farming is dependent upon healthy people who prioritize safety year-round.”

Fatal injuries occur on the farm every year, most involve machinery and equipment. Most incidents occur in the farm yard.

Everyone can do their part to help make Saskatchewan farms safer. Some tips to remember while farming include:

- Be sure to replace all guards and shields following maintenance and repairs. A few extra minutes might save your life or a limb.

- Watch for overhead lines when moving equipment, augers, bins, and when loading grain trucks and semis.

- Ensure employees and others helping on the farm are properly trained.

- Change jobs peri - odically or take a short walk to help you stay focused.

- If youth are recruited to help with farming, make sure the activities are age appropriate and the youth are properly trained and supervised.

“Keeping those who work in our agriculture sector safe and healthy is vital to a strong and growing Saskatchewan,” said Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Don Morgan. “Learning to spot hazards on the farm can help prevent serious injuries and fatalities.”

Created by Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture (CCHSA) and the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA), Farm Safety Week is a national campaign focused on raising awareness of the importance of safety on all

Canadian farms.

Support is shown by wearing an AgSafe brown ribbon available at Ministr y of Agriculture regional offices acr oss the province. Alternatively, virtual ribbons are available for download from the CASA website.