The Manitoba Farm Safety Program (FSP), a program of Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), is celebrating Canadian Ag Safety Week (CASW) by holding a free, one-day conference in Morden, Manitoba on March 20, 2020.
“The Manitoba Farm Safety Program is committed to offering accessible and practical learning opportunities to help producers improve safety on their farms. Farming is still one of the highest risk occupations in Manitoba. We want as many producers as possible to gain the skills and knowledge that will keep them safe on their farm”, says Thea Green, KAP’s program manager. “That is why we are making this year’s conference free of charge with a lineup of expert presenters”.
The conference focuses on emergency preparedness and fire safety, and will have concurrent sessions on interest-based topics as well. ABC Fire and Safety and the Office of the Fire Commissioner will present on agricultural fires and prevention strategies. In the afternoon, attendees can choose between two concurrent workshops: Mental Health First Aid with St. Johns Ambulance, or technical training in harness use, chain and strap inspections and lock out tag out with Elite Safety.
Ross Hearing will be on-site all day offering hearing tests to attendees at no charge.
CASW is an annual public awareness campaign focusing on the importance of farm safety. This year, CASW will take place from March 15 to 21 under the theme of “Grow an AgSafe Canada” as part of a three-year farm safety campaign, “Safe and Strong Farms.” The aim of Safe and Strong Farms is to empower farmers, farm families and farming communities to build, grow, and lead the agricultural industry in safety and sustainability.
“Our focus this year is to grow safe and strong farms,” says Marcel Hacault, Executive Director of the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association. “The Friends of Canadian Agricultural Safety Week play a vital role in getting all Canadians involved in growing an AgSafe Canada.”
FSP was established in 2016 to provide workplace safety and health advisory services and training to producers. FSP is hosted by KAP, however confidential safety services are available to all farmers whether or not they are KAP members, and regardless of size and commodity.
