WCB Releases Farm Safety Code of Practice - February 2006

The Workers Compensation Board in cooperation with the Federation of Agriculture and the National Farmers Union, has released a Farm Safety Code of Practice for Prince Edward Island. The Farm Safety Code of Practice was developed to provide practical guidance for farm employers and workers to meet their requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act.

George Stewart, Director of Occupational Health and Safety for the Workers Compensation Board, said that “as of January 1, 2007, the Prince Edward Island OHS Act will apply to all workplaces, including farm operations. The Farm Safety Code of Practice was developed to address specific occupational health and safety issues on Island farms, and is meant to assist farm employers and workers to manage health and safety and meet legal requirements of the OHS Act.”

Each year in Canada there are, on average, 115 deaths and 1500 hospitalizations that occur as a result of farm work. Health and safety on farms is important not just for farm workers but for the owner and his/her family. On farms, 53% of work-related fatalities occur to the owner/operator. Children of farm owner/operators count for the second highest number of deaths on farms followed by farm workers of varying ages.

Dianne Huestis, Farm Safety Specialist for the Workers Compensation Board, said “the idea behind the Farm Safety Code of Practice is to promote a culture of safety on the farm.  A safety culture evolves when both employers and workers do their part to create and maintain a safe work environment. Each person working on the farm is responsible, to the extent of their authority, for the health and safety of everyone on the farm. In other words, farm employers and workers are both responsible for health and safety on the farm.”

The Workers Compensation Board is offering education sessions on the Farm Safety Code of Practice. For a copy of the Farm Safety Code of Practice or more information, please call 902-368-5680.

For more information contact Mark Barrett:

Tel: (902) 894-0362
Email: mabarrett@wcb.pe.ca