Grain farming has its share of potentially deadly hazards. There are some obvious ones and some you may not think about. Augers, PTOs and bin cleaners Almost everyone has seen a video or knows of someone who has been caught by an auger or PTO shaft. We tell our children to stay away from them. […] Read more
Safe grain handling
We know the dangers of augers and PTOs. But we also need to be prepared for drowning in dry grain, or dust fires
Checking-in on the farm
The best way to know for sure your farm family and employees are safe is to make sure you check on them regularly
Communications are critical for safe farm operations. One often overlooked aspect of farm communications is check-in strategies. Farms are getting bigger, they are getting more equipment and doing more value added operations to increase profitability. Even smaller farms are doing their best to stay competitive and that can mean working alone or working in situations […] Read more
Writing a farm safety program
There are lots of economic, practical and common sense reasons to write a safety plan for your farm
You’ve seen the farm safety folks at the farm trade shows and farm events. They’re the loneliest booths there. And they’re a resource that is very under utilized by farmers. In a perfect world, safety would be first. But too often it is “safety third” on our farms. While, like emergency planning, safety planning is […] Read more
Small but still deadly
Nothing is more important than keeping our children safe. Make sure you’re following these suggestions on your farm
So many things on our farms are small in size. Yet their size can hide their danger. This is especially true for our children. Something we would not consider a hazard to an adult can be deadly to a child. Get a new perspective If you look around your home, shop, barn or equipment try […] Read morePersonal safety
Resource development, urban sprawl and new acreages has brought new people to farm country, and also new risks
Personal safety on the farm is something that is becoming more and more of an issue for many of our farmers. Farms are increasingly surrounded by acreages, large lots and growing urban sprawl. We have to learn to get along with our new rural neighbours who come from the city. They don’t know that farms […] Read moreTen steps to working safely alone
Many farmers work alone. Whether in the field or in the shop, there are many dangers for a solo farmer. There are some things we can do for our own safety while working alone. 1. Use technology We have technology on our side in the ongoing struggle to farm safely. Cell phones, iPads and even iPods […] Read more
Family safety in the shop
Sometimes farm safety starts in the workshop. Take these tips to heart and save a life on your farm
We often think of the “big” dangers on a farm. Cows. Tractors. Trucks. Combines. We too often forget that there are small and yet quite deadly dangers lurking in plain sight. Working in your farm shop doesn’t sound dangerous. It may even feel safer than being out in the field. But there are dangers there that […] Read more3 steps to being a good farm guest
If you’re like most farmers, you like to help out when you visit friend or neighbour’s farm. Helping is great, and often truly appreciated. It can also be dangerous and potentially deadly. If you’re helping, being a good farm guest requires setting aside what you know of your own farm and listening to your host’s […] Read more
9 ways to make your farm fire safe
How fire ready is your farm? A google search for “farm fire preparedness” will turn up at least 3 million hits. There are many publications and websites. But how many farmers actually put that information to use? Here are some very basic things you can do to ensure that you’re ready for the worst. Field […] Read more
Keep kids safe on the farm
I’m a rancher, raising cows and riding horses. My husband manages a crop-based farm. We are also parents. Our first and most important job is keeping our son safe. Each year in Canada an average of 115 people are killed and another 1,500 are hospitalized due to farm-related incidents. From 1990 to 2005, 217 children […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
