The Citizen, 2006-03-16, Page 44Brussels Agromart Ltd.
Fertilizer • Crop Protection Products • Seed
131:Til!killuCir
Ograb.
(519) 887-6273
Fax (519) 887-6150
A6' di) ..14,
tp44
ea f ee a~hs(.4
114;
G&114
Auto Parts 4111 Auto Portz Plus
Quality Parts plus Personal Service
Come in and see us for all your
farm & industrial needs
• auto parts & accessories
• tools & equipment
• body & shop supplies
Come in and see us for all
your welding supplies
FARM, AUTO AND HEAVY TRUCK PARTS
235 Turnberry St.
Brussels, ON NOG 1H0
Tel.: (519) 8878002 Bill Glousher
Res.: 523-9023
COMPLETE REPAIR OF ALL FARM EQUIPMENT
Portable and Shop Welding Aluminum Welding
BLAKE'S WELDING INC.
C.W.B.
78 King Street, Clinton, Ontario 519-482-7303
"We are your TRAILER HITCH SPECIALISTS"
Carl!! Agliorizons -
Providing your Complete Crop Care Services
Crop Consulting
Nutrient Management Plans
Chemicals / Fertilizer
Seed / Custom Application
Clinton Farm Supply Center
R.R. 4 Clinton
519-233-3423 or 1-800-387-0811
THE CITIZEN, THURS DAY, MARCH 16, 2006. PAGE A23.
Agriculture 2006
Wanted environmental farm projects info
AGCare has embarked on an
ambitious project to document and
tally all of the good work that
Ontario's farmers have done for the
environment over the past few
decades.
"We know that Ontario's farmers
have invested millions of dollars and
thousands of hours of time in
environmental projects on their
farms", stated AGCare chair, Brian
Besley. "There are also many
government and community partners
who have assisted the farm
community in achieving their
environmental goals."
Jackie Fraser, AGCare executive
director, said that no one has ever
actually documented and tracked all
of this excellent work. "We know the
information will be impressive and
feel it's important to have this
information at our fingertips both to
On average, 115 people are killed
and another 1,500 are seriously
injured by farm-related incidents in
Canada each year - and many more
minor injuries are never even
reported.
Farms and ranches will never be
totally risk or hazard free work
environments, but steps can be taken
to reduce many of the hazards that
exist.
"Farm safety is not an act of fate,"
said Marcel Hacault, executive
director of Canadian Agricultural
Safety Association. "Most farm
related incidents are the predictable
consequence of particular acts or
omissions. If something is
predictable, then it is also
preventable."
Farm-related injuries and fatalities
don't just happen by chance — they
are the result of a chain of events.
The good news is that there are many
opportunities to interrupt the
sequence and break the chain of
events and alter the outcome.
The three key steps to risk
management are to recognize the
hazard, evaluate the potential risk
and then manage that risk. A hazard
is a physical condition or work task
that exposes someone to injury. Risk
is the chance of it occurring. A risk
communicate what we've done and
to plan for future farm
environmental opportunities."
Organizations such as
Conservation Ontario and Ducks
Unlimited are also very enthusiastic
about the project and are offering
support and information.
"Our conservation authorities have
had a long and successful
partnership with the farming
community", stated Conservation
Ontario chair, Peter Krause. "We are
proud of our track record in
facilitating effective on-farm
environmental projects and look
forward to having this information
readily available."
AGCare will collect information
on farm environmental programs to
develop a database and report. A
variety of communications products
that can be used to inform various
assessment is the process of
identifying the hazards of a worksite
and determining the level of risk.
Risk management can be followed
by a five-point process.
RECOGNIZE
The first step is to recognize a
hazard. Ask yourself: Is there a
hazard? What might the
consequences be? What is the
likelihood of an incident occurring?
Visualize the potential and severity
of injury? Who is at risk?
EVALUATE
Risk is determined by estimating
the severity of the hazard.
Evaluation should be based on:
knowledge of similar situations; the
worker's knowledge of the task;
their experience; and if they have
been trained. Only after a hazard has
been recognized and evaluated can a
proper decision be made as to how to
manage it.
MANAGE
There are several ways to manage
hazards. Some hazards may not be
fully eliminated, but can be
significantly reduced by using one or
all of these control points.
Eliminate or substitute —
discontinue dangerous work, remove
the hazard or substitute it with
something less hazardous.
audiences about "Our Farm
Environmental Commitment" will
be produced and farmers, farm
organizations, and partners will
deliver the message.
The full report will contain
detailed information on the money
that Ontario farmers have spent on
environmental improvements and
issues.
It will also highlight time
commitments for these on-farm
activities as well as time spent
attending courses. Any milestones
and documented improvements,
such as reduction in pesticide use,
improvements to water qualify, or
acres under reduced or no-tillage
'will be featured.
If you know of any particular
programs or information that should
be included, please contact Jackie
Fraser of AGCare at 519-837-1326
Engineering controls — if a hazard
can't be eliminated then redesign or
guard it.
Administrative controls — Use of
training, procedures, and safe work
practices.
Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE) — as a final barrier between
people and the hazard.
Risk Assessment using the key
steps of 'Recognize, Evaluate, and
Manage: are important in
determining the root causes of
serious farm-related incidents. This
information can then be used to
develop prevention initiatives to
make your farm as safer workplace
and living space.
"Every farm is different and will
have its own unique set of hazards
and risks." explains Hacault. "That's
why it is so important for each farm
owner and' manager to take
ownership of farm safety on their
farms — and make it their business."
Did you know...
Agriculture is more than food to eat.
Cloth and textiles begin in the
barnyard as wool and in the field
with hemp. Corn is processed into
road de-icers, windshield washer
fluid, ethanol fuel, soap, toothpaste,
paint, varnish and sparkplugs to
name a few.
or jfraser@agcare.org or Bernt
Solymar of Earth Tramper
Consulting at 519-426-7124 or
solymar@ nornet.on.ca
This project has been made
possible by funding in part by
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
through the Agricultural Adaptation
Council's Agricultural
Environmental Stewardship
Initiative (AESI).
AGCare (Agricultural Groups
Concerned about Resources and the
Environment) is a coalition of 17
agricultural groups that represent
Ontario's 45,000 growers of field
and horticultural crops. The
organization provides science -and
research-based information and
policy initiatives on pe/sticide use.
crop biotechnology developments,
nutrient management and other
related environmental issues on
behalf of its membership.
Take steps to reduce risk
of farm-related mishaps