FRANCAIS

March 07, 2006

The province’s agricultural, health and labour sectors will be encouraging and maintaining practices that promote safer and healthier ways of farming during Agriculture Safety and Health Week 2006, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) Minister Rosann Wowchuk, Healthy Living Minister Theresa Oswald and Labour and Immigration Minister Nancy Allan announced today.

"Farm machinery, chemicals and large livestock create a potentially hazardous work environment, but are facts of life for farm families," said Wowchuk. "Working together, we can identify and provide support programs that will help make farms safer for the adults and children who live and work there."

"Every year, many Manitoba children are hurt in accidents on the farm, but there are many things parents can do to keep kids safe and healthy," said Oswald. "I’m thrilled we’ve been able to follow up on the recommendations of the all-party Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures Task Force and develop resources to increase awareness of potential hazards and help promote farm safety."

"Raising awareness of the potential risks and dangers posed by the work environment, whether in a factory or on the farm, is the first step towards keeping the workplace safe," said Allan. "Safety in the agricultural workplace is a unique challenge, but one that can be met with a strong emphasis on educational and safety programming."

The ministers indicated a number of programs will soon be launched to promote farm safety education initiatives targeted at children and youth.

Currently, MAFRI and Manitoba Labour and Immigration are working closely with Healthy Living to develop and deliver programming to address the recommendations of the task force. One of the recommendations includes action on the prevention of child injuries on farm workplaces.

A new print resource called SafeChoices, developed by Manitoba Labour and Immigration and MAFRI, is currently being prepared for farmers and small farm business managers. The resource involves a workbook that will assist decision-makers in recognizing and assessing the impact of safety and health risks in their operations. Farm families are then guided in developing strategies to reduce the risks, making their farming operations safer and lessening the economic impacts that accompany workplace injuries and illnesses.

A new resource called Farm Family Walkabout is being developed jointly by the same two departments. This resource will guide farm families with young children in taking a walk around the farm to identify hazards that children might encounter in their daily farm activities. The guide will also help parents and children discuss how those hazards can be avoided or lessened to permit the children to safely interact with the farming operation.

Through MAFRI and Manitoba Labour and Immigration, the province is also preparing to launch a safe tractor operators’ course for teens. The course will take the new operators through both theory and practical exercises to enhance their understanding of factors which may influence the safe operation of a tractor.

The ministers said all programs will be in place by late spring.

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