The Rural Voice, 1990-06, Page 40Mutual 'Fire Insurance Company
264 HURON ROAD
SEBRINGVILLE, ONTARIO
393-6402
• ALL LINES OF FARM & URBAN INSURANCE
AGENTS
Ken Hutchinson 273-2458 Robert Ready .... 393-6965
Doug Jacob 271-7894 R. Allan Fuller 271-6176
BROKERS
McMaster Siemon Insurance Brokers 348-9150
F. A. Campbell & Son Insurance 348-8425
William Dietz Insurance656-2585
Whitehead & Watkins Insurance271-6940
Stonetown Insurance Brokers.. ......................... 284-3321
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Buchanan and Hall Ltd.
615 Huron Road, Stratford, Ontario
271-4793
36 THE RURAL VOICE
Long work hours and exhaustion
contribute to injury and fatality rates."
"The farmer owner -operator," he
adds, "provides 45.5 per cent of the
farm work force, but 59.9 per cent of
the farm work force fatalities. In con-
trast, the hired worker provides 40 per
cent of the farm work force and 26.1
per cent of farm work force fatalities
... the unpaid farm family member
provides 14.5 per cent of the farm
work force and 14.2 per cent of the
farm work force fatalities. Interest-
ingly, the farmer's spouse comprises
less than 2 per cent of fatal farm
accidents."
Rourke notes that steps can be
taken to make the farm workplace
safer. In European countries, for ex-
ample, roll bars on tractors are manda-
tory, which has reduced fatalities
dramatically. Rourke also suggests
safety measures such as back-up warn-
ing beepers, accessible power take -off
switches, and shields for augur intakes
— all of which were recommended in
the 1985 Report of the Ontario Task
Force on Health and Safety in Agri-
culture.
"Surprisingly," he says, "they have
not been implemented."
While noting the efforts of the
FSA in preparing educational material
for farmers, Rourke says another step
has to be taken: more education for
the rural doctor.
He says agricultural medicine is
virtually ignored in medical schools;
most physicians have a limited knowl-
edge of farming -related illnesses,
injuries, and mortality risks. This, he
says, applies even to physicians, like
himself, who grew up on farms.
"We feel that one of the impor-
tant things involved in this is to get the
rural doctor or small town doctor in-
volved in prevention programs. So the
Farm Safety Association has worked
with the Ontario Medical Association
to send out information to the family
doctors who are practising in rural
areas."
"Physicians, particularly those in
rural areas," Rourke adds, "should be
knowledgeable in agricultural medi-
cine, including farm -related illnesses
and injuries, to better understand,
advise, and treat farm families."
Every week, he adds, should be
Farm Safety Week.0