Your Reading List

  • Developing successful health and safety policies for staff

    March 16, 2013 News
  • Keeping kids safe on the farm

    March 16, 2013 News
  • China delays GMO corn, rice to woo the public

    March 16, 2013 Crops
  • German flour mills fined for anti-competitive behaviour

    March 16, 2013 Cereals
  • Grain World: Canadian canola acres shifting into wheat

    March 16, 2013 Cereals
  • News
  • Crops
  • Livestock
  • Markets
  • Weather
  • Farmit
  • Op/Ed
  • Video
  • Digital Editions
  • Classifieds
  • Subscriptions
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Glacier FarmMedia
  • Ag in Motion
  • Western Producer
  • Manitoba Cooperator
  • Alberta Farmer Express
  • Le Bulletin des agriculteurs
  • Weatherfarm
  • Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference
  • Farmtario
  • MarketsFarm
  • MORE
    • Alberta Farmer Express
    • Le Bulletin des agriculteurs
    • Weatherfarm
    • Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference
    • Farmtario
    • MarketsFarm
    • Grainews
    • Farm Auction Guide
    • Country-Guide
    • GrowPro
    • Discovery Farm
    • AgDealer
    • Agricole Idéal
    • Canadian Cattlemen
    • Food in Canada
    • Canadian Outdoor Farm Show
    • Farmzilla
    • Farm Forum Event
Glacier FarmMedia COVID-19 & the Farm
Manitoba Co-operator
Manitoba Co-operator
MENUMENU
  • News
      • Texas ranchers scrambled to keep animals alive during freak storm March 5, 2021
      • Ranchers want cards on the table on land improvement values March 5, 2021
      • MCA focused on research, but being pulled towards policy March 4, 2021
      • CCGA accepting 2021 advance applications March 3, 2021
      View all News
  • Crops
      • The four horsemen of the crop-pocalypse March 1, 2021
      • Chorney given Canola Award of Excellence February 19, 2021
      • Canola foes the same — but different February 17, 2021
      • Calling all farmers: Seed regs review kicks off February 11, 2021
      View all Crops
  • Livestock
          • Ranchers want cards on the table on land improvement values March 5, 2021
          • Grass-fed beef helping grasslands thrive March 3, 2021
          • What to do for a yearling? March 2, 2021
          View all Livestock
        • Livestock Sales
  • Markets
          • When to keep your crop in the bin March 5, 2021
          • Cattle sales recover from February cold snap March 5, 2021
          • Canola’s continuing climb hits profit-taking ceiling March 4, 2021
          View all Markets
        • Markets at a glance
  • Weather
      • Texas ranchers scrambled to keep animals alive during freak storm March 5, 2021
      • Forecast: Spring weather is trying to move in March 4, 2021
      • Explaining the cold snap, ordering a weather station March 2, 2021
      • Forecast: Milder, with a slight chance of snow February 25, 2021
      View all Weather
  • Farmit
      • Grass-fed beef helping grasslands thrive March 3, 2021
      • An education in engagement March 3, 2021
      • Manitoba home of moringa ‘miracle tree’ innovation February 24, 2021
      • Agriculture after the pandemic February 23, 2021
      View all Farmit
  • Op/Ed
      • Editor’s Take: Kitchen aid March 4, 2021
      • Opinion: Dairy producers should be more transparent March 2, 2021
      • Editorial: The carbon credit reality February 25, 2021
      • Comment: The end of cities? February 23, 2021
      View all Op/Ed
  • Digital Editions
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Classified
  • Place Ad
Manitoba Co-operator
Free Newsletter Signup

Your Reading List

  • Developing successful health and safety policies for staff

    March 16, 2013 News
  • Keeping kids safe on the farm

    March 16, 2013 News
  • China delays GMO corn, rice to woo the public

    March 16, 2013 Crops
  • German flour mills fined for anti-competitive behaviour

    March 16, 2013 Cereals
  • Grain World: Canadian canola acres shifting into wheat

    March 16, 2013 Cereals
Manitoba Co-operator
MENUMENU
  • News
      • Texas ranchers scrambled to keep animals alive during freak storm March 5, 2021
      • Ranchers want cards on the table on land improvement values March 5, 2021
      • MCA focused on research, but being pulled towards policy March 4, 2021
      • CCGA accepting 2021 advance applications March 3, 2021
      View all News
  • Crops
      • The four horsemen of the crop-pocalypse March 1, 2021
      • Chorney given Canola Award of Excellence February 19, 2021
      • Canola foes the same — but different February 17, 2021
      • Calling all farmers: Seed regs review kicks off February 11, 2021
      View all Crops
  • Livestock
          • Ranchers want cards on the table on land improvement values March 5, 2021
          • Grass-fed beef helping grasslands thrive March 3, 2021
          • What to do for a yearling? March 2, 2021
          View all Livestock
        • Livestock Sales
  • Markets
          • When to keep your crop in the bin March 5, 2021
          • Cattle sales recover from February cold snap March 5, 2021
          • Canola’s continuing climb hits profit-taking ceiling March 4, 2021
          View all Markets
        • Markets at a glance
  • Weather
      • Texas ranchers scrambled to keep animals alive during freak storm March 5, 2021
      • Forecast: Spring weather is trying to move in March 4, 2021
      • Explaining the cold snap, ordering a weather station March 2, 2021
      • Forecast: Milder, with a slight chance of snow February 25, 2021
      View all Weather
  • Farmit
      • Grass-fed beef helping grasslands thrive March 3, 2021
      • An education in engagement March 3, 2021
      • Manitoba home of moringa ‘miracle tree’ innovation February 24, 2021
      • Agriculture after the pandemic February 23, 2021
      View all Farmit
  • Op/Ed
      • Editor’s Take: Kitchen aid March 4, 2021
      • Opinion: Dairy producers should be more transparent March 2, 2021
      • Editorial: The carbon credit reality February 25, 2021
      • Comment: The end of cities? February 23, 2021
      View all Op/Ed
  • Digital Editions
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Classified
  • Place Ad

Facebook Twitter Instagram

manitoba co-operator | response to covid-19

Special coverage | COVID-19 & the Farm

HOT TOPICS | CORN - REGISTER NOW TO SAVE YOUR SEAT

manitoba co-operator | response to covid-19

Special coverage | COVID-19 & the Farm

HOT TOPICS | CORN - REGISTER NOW TO SAVE YOUR SEAT

Developing successful health and safety policies for staff

By Carolyn Van Den Heuvel
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Published: March 16, 2013
News

Igrew up working long hours on the farm, so I know before I even make this statement that farm managers may cringe when I write that developing health and safety policies is a great way to show appreciation for your workers. There. I said it. Don’t stop reading. I have a point to make here.

Farmers write policies all the time, in employee handbooks, or other policy documents, as a way to communicate responsibilities to their employees. And in fact, employees need to understand their roles and what is expected of them before they step into a tractor or enter the machine shed.

ADVERTISEMENT

But when it comes to health and safety policy statements, it’s a two-way street. Employees need to know that they have a responsibility to conduct themselves in a safe manner, and employers also have a responsibility to communicate their commitment to safety to those who work for them.

Unreported

If you don’t make an effort to see what’s behind door No. 2, you are creating a situation where hazards might go unreported, possibly out of fear on the part of the employee that feedback on safe work practices won’t be taken kindly. This could put everyone who works or lives on the farm at risk.

So when developing safety policies, here’s what you need to do.

Start with a general health and safety policy statement. This statement should outline your health and safety philosophy and the objectives of your safety plan. It should also state that you have made a commitment to preventing injuries and illnesses, and that workers are also responsible for their own health and safety, as well as the health and safety of anyone else who works on the farm.

ADVERTISEMENT

This should be supported by more specific operational policies, which cover standard operating practices, training requirements and records, emergency plans, first aid records, working-alone procedures, and incident investigation processes and followups.

Keep it simple

In working with farmers on policy development, I encourage them to keep it simple. If it isn’t simple, it won’t be implemented. Also, don’t overpromise. Your health and safety policies need to be sustainable to be effective.

Lastly, I come across the fear that employees might abuse the very policies put in place to protect them. If you make health and safety policy development a group activity, all your workers will be invested in its success. This will help weed out unreasonable claims while keeping everyone on the farm protected.

While the task of developing policies and documentation might seem huge, there is a lot of overlap between farm safety plans and on-farm food safety and quality assurance programs, so where relevant, cross-reference.

Stick to the essentials and you could be setting your operation on course towards a safe and productive future that will improve morale, position yourself as a preferred employer, and protect against the risks of injury. For more information on health and safety policies or developing your own written health and safety plan, visit www.agsafetyweek.ca.

About the author

Carolyn Van Den Heuvel's recent articles

  • A little more conversation: Taking action on farm safety March 16, 2013
  • We’re all recovering safety offenders: Recognizing hazards on the farm March 16, 2013
  • Developing successful health and safety policies for staff March 16, 2013

More Articles

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Coverage

News, Canadian Agricultural Safety Association


Silver screen grain entrapment mirrors real-life peril for Winkler farmer

News, Canadian Agricultural Safety Association


Grain bins have regulatory, safety requirements

News, Canadian Agricultural Safety Association


Proper grain storage can prevent entrapments

News, risk management


Risky business? For farmers it’s just another day at the office

News, Canadian Agricultural Safety Association


Thea Green appointed to CASA board

News, risk management


canada flag

CFA seeks risk management reform, financial aid

Comments

explore

Stories from our other publications

  • Farmtario

    National Poultry Show moves virtual

    news

    National Poultry Show moves virtual

  • Farmtario

    Organic seed synergies sustain diversity

    crops

    Organic seed synergies sustain diversity

  • Farmtario

    Satellites to change rural internet delivery

    news

    Satellites to change rural internet delivery

  • The Western Producer

    Volatile market expected this year

    markets

    Volatile market expected this year

GFM Network News

  • U.S. livestock: Pork export sales rise, profit-taking hits hog futures

    22 hours ago
  • U.S. grains: Soybeans jump on inclement South American weather

    1 day ago
  • Feed weekly outlook: Manitoba corn market warms up, rain needed

    1 day ago
More News →

Podcasts

  • between-the-rows
  • This podcast is spreadable, a deep dive into ag reporting, a not so weak week in markets

    March 4, 2021
  • Listen Now →

Special Podcast

Between The Rows

  • Listen » Reflections on pandemic life. How are we doing?

AgCanadaTV

AGCanadaTV: In Case You Missed It – Your National Ag News Recap for the week ending February 26, 2021.

Sponsored By:
More Videos →

Daily Newsletter

Subscribe to the Manitoba Co-operator daily newsletter

You'll receive current daily news every morning free, as well as market updates and special features.

* PERMISSION TO CONTACT YOU BY EMAIL By providing your e-mail address, you confirm that you are providing consent to Glacier Farm Media LP, on its own behalf and on behalf of its affiliates, and carrying on business through its divisions, to receive emails containing news, updates and promotions, including third party promotions, as well as product and/or service information, including that of third parties, that may be of interest to you, and that you understand you may unsubscribe at any time. Please see contact us for more information.


flag
Signup to our Newsletter
  • News & Opinion
  • Crops
  • Livestock
  • Markets
  • Farmit
  • Video
  • Digital Editions
  • Classifieds
  • Subscriptions
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise

Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | © 2021, Glacier FarmMedia Limited Partnership

Banner image Close

With roots going back to 1925, each weekly issue of the Manitoba Co-operator contains production, marketing and policy news selected for relevance to crops and livestock producers in Manitoba.

Subscribe Today!

Free Newsletter Signup