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By Ashley Lavallee-Koenig

AVOID ROLLOVERS AND FALLS

Agricultural Safety Week: Slow down and make a plan

Mar 19, 2025 | 11:02 AM

This year, March 16-22 marks Agricultural Safety Week in Canada, an annual national event aimed at highlighting the importance of farm safety.

“Canadian Agricultural Safety Week is a good time to remind those working on farms and ranches about the importance of farm health and safety measures to keep operations safe, sustainable and successful,” commented RJ Sigurdson, minister of agriculture and irrigation. “Effective and proactive health and safety measures are an integral part of thriving farming operations.”

Sigurdson recommends that when preparing for the upcoming growing season, farmers and ranchers should take time to create a safety plan before starting any jobs.

Jodie Wacowich, Executive Director, AgSafe Alberta, added that identifying hazards and slowing down are two simple ways to mitigate risk of injury.

“Take the time to walk around the farm and say, “Hey, these are some things that can hurt people and is there something that we can do to control that hazard?’” said Wacowich. This could include putting covers or guards on equipment, or simply picking up an extension cord laying across the yard.

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Wacowich shared that runovers, or rollovers, and falls are the most common injuries seen on farms, as there can be frequent interaction with large equipment, pickup trucks and quads.

According to agriculture sector data from the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB), in 2024 there were 53 falls reported and 45 incidents involving contact with objects or equipment. Additionally, the most common types of injuries reported were leg (47 reports) and back or spine injuries (31 reports).

When it came to the nature of injuries, sprains and strains appeared to have a higher prevalence. Last year, the WCB recorded 79 sprains or strains compared to 54 counts of other traumatic injuries and 52 reported fractures, dislocations or nerve damage.

Overall, however, the WCB approved 570 claims in 2024, a value of $2.94 million. Of these claims, 380, or about 66 per cent, were considered disabling.

AgSafe Alberta is a health and safety association aiding farms and ranches across Alberta. According to its 2023-24 annual report, there were 12 fatalities recorded in 2023, including one youth fatality.

While it’s essential to consider the safety of everyone on the farm, large and dangerous equipment makes it especially important to be aware of where young children in the area are at all times. For example, putting children in a safety vest can make them more visible to everyone on site, Wacowich advised.

Once a family member is old enough to start contributing to the work, she said the best thing to do is consider how you train them. Someone may need to hear something multiple times before it really sinks in, she explained, so remember to be patient about explaining things more than once.

“We all care about the people who are working on our farms. They’re our most important resource in terms of getting things done in agriculture, and it’s making sure that everyone goes home with all their fingers and toes at the end of the day and can come back to work tomorrow,” Wacowich reflected.

All of these considerations are especially important at the forefront of the spring seeding season, she added, as it’s easy to get caught up in the rush of getting the work done.

“As farmers and ranchers prepare for the upcoming growing season, it’s important to remain diligent and focused on safety. I encourage you to take the time to renew your commitment to safety, because even one injury is too many,” added Minister Sigurdson.

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