PROGRAM HELPS FARMERS CUSTOMIZE SAFETY PLANS TO THEIR INDIVIDUAL OPERATION

Manitoba officially made its Safe Farms Check program a permanent fixture last week, after offering it as a pilot project over the past two years.

Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Stan Struthers made the announcement last week as Agriculture Safety and Health Week 2010 kicked off in Manitoba.

“The new Safe Farms Check program will help producers prepare safety plans that will help them anticipate challenges in daily activities and map out ways to avoid potential hazards,” Struthers said in a news release.

The Safe Farms Check program offers farmers a safety and health plan template that can be customized to their individual farms and help identify and control hazards, as well as create emergency preparedness plans, identify safety and health responsibilities for people working on farms and conduct inspections.

The province is also offering farm families a Safe Play Area grant of up to $500 to help cover the cost of creating safe playgrounds on farm properties.

More information on training sessions, along with templates, sample programs and technical assistance for the Safe Farms Check Program, is available at www.manitoba.ca/agriculture/farmsafety,or 1-800-282-8069, ext. 2315.

For more Farm Safety Week coverage turn to pages 28-31.