HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-03-18, Page 62Pcoae 16A
New safety standards
It's easy to forget just how dangerous figures are available, 120 people were Kill- that children are often injured -- and
agricultural occupations can be, espec. ed in agricultural accidents , in Canada. sometimes killed — in agricultural ac-
ly those that involve drivingg-a tractor Seventy-five per cent were machinery- cidents. In Ontario alone,. 95' children have
operating other heavy machinery. But i related deaths. been killed in the past 12 years. Forty-
' 1984, the most recent year for which . Often forgotten as well, is the sad fact sVen percent of these
ac-
cidents involving tractors anther- heavy -
farm machinery:
But now, a new series of international
safety standards for tractors and other
heavy machinery could go a long way _
towards reducing the number of accidents
and .deaths that occur in - Canadian
agriculture each year.
to combat accidental deaths
It's a fact that in Canada, almost 75 percent of agricultural -related deaths were caused by
machinery. In order to curb the number of farm deaths -which occur in the country, a new
series of safety standards have been developed which focus on safety around tractors and
other heavy machinery.
75% of farm deaths
machinery -related
industry worth $2 billion a year. In fact,
Mr. Chanasyk says the new ISO safety
standards are already being -used as
guides in developing new North American
safety documents.
While the new standards are voluntary,
their very existence will oblige all North
American manufacturers to follow them
- closely, says Mr. Chanasyk, since they
represent the "state of the art" in
agricultural machinery safety. .
This is also important to manufacturers
for insurance purposes, notes -Mr.
Chanasyk. By building their machine': to
comply with the new standards they can
prove that their equipment meets such
"state of the art" qualities.
"The standards are an important first
step in providing a uniform basis from -
which• manufacturers can start designing
equipment that meets internationally
recognized safety . criterion," says Mr. -
Chanasyk. The standard specifies "all the
little safety features that we take for -
granted as being necessary, but that lots of
manufacturers often don't follow."
Mr. Chanasyk cautions, however, that a
safety -conscious attitude on the part of
machinery operators is still the most impr-
tant element in accident prevention. "Ynu
can't idiot -proof a machine and you can't
design out carelessness," he warns.
The Canadin experts who sit on Mr.
Chanasyk`s committee represent all in-
terests including manufacturers, govern-
ment, universities -and users. Representa- -
tion on this 't and all other ISO committees t.
was organized by the Standards Council of
Canada, the agency responsible fpr coor-
dinating voluntary standardization within
Canada and for ensuring an effective voice
Turn to page 17A
The new series of safety standards, for
tractors and other major pieces of farm
equipment such as sowing and planting
equipment, were developed by the Interna-
tional Organization of Standardization
"Ultimately, the new standards will.
reduce the probability of an accident due
to poorly designed equipment," says Mr.
Larry Chanasyk. Mr. Chanasyk, a farm
equipment engineering manager, chairs
the Canadian advisory- committee brought
together by the Standards Council of
Canada to work on these and other interna-
tional agricultural tractor and.machinery
standards.
He says Canadians were instrumental in
writing the new international standards,
which is reflected in the fact that they cor-
respond closely with North American
practices. This should prove a major ad-
vantage tor Canadian manufacturers in an
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