The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association will receive more than $1 million
The federal government is investing in an organization dedicated to farm safety.
Ben Carr, the MP for Winnipeg South Centre, on Sept. 20 announced a federal investment of more than $1 million over two years for the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) to help the organization work on safety campaigns, resource development, and other initiatives.
“By investing in practical safety resources, we are helping protect the people who work tirelessly to keep food on our tables,” Carr said in a statement. “It gives producers the confidence they need to run their operations while keeping safety at the forefront.”
CASA facilities initiatives like BeGrainSafe, Canadian Agricultural Safety Week, and FarmSafe Kids.
“This funding commitment enables us to deliver programs and resources that help prevent injuries, save lives, and strengthen the safety culture across Canada's agricultural sector. Together, we are creating a Canada where no one is harmed in agriculture,” Sandra Miller, CASA’s executive director, said in a statement.
Working in ag can present multiple dangers.
On Sept. 18, for example, Blue Hills RCMP in Manitoba received a call about a fatal workplace accident involving farm equipment in the RM of Glenboro South Cypress.
In July first responders rescued a person trapped in an Ontario grain bin.
And in June, an ambulance and a sprayer collided near Beiseker, Alta.
Canada’s ag sector has seen a reduction in fatalities in recent years.
Between 1990 and 2005, Canada’s ag sector experienced an average of 110 fatalities per year. From 2006 to 2020, that number dropped to 70 per year, a CASA report says.
CASA’s report also indicates machinery-related incidents are the leading cause of fatalities.