Those already taking action to minimize grain spoilage are also eliminating safety risks, said Robert Gobeil, a health and safety specialist with the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association. Well-conditioned grain is less likely to crust on bin walls or create ‘bridging’ — both of which can result in serious injury if it’s necessary to enter a bin.

Gobeil has other examples, but prefaces them with a disclaimer: Basically, don’t count on generalities. Know your commodity-specific best practices when it comes to conditioning, cycling and monitoring.

“That’s where talking to your commodity groups, your ag associations, things like that, can really be a benefit,” he said.

“When the bin is empty you want to check your mechanical systems to make sure bin sweeps, augers, chutes and aeration systems are maintained and working properly. That way you know you can maintain the product once it is in the bin.”

Check ladders for defects.

“Falls from heights generally do not have a very good outcome and we just want to make sure that if we do need to access the top hatch of the bin, or if we need to enter the bin, that we can enter safely,” said Gobeil.

Also think about children on the farm and those who might visit.

“I would recommend, especially nowadays, to have a locking mechanism on the hatch just to prevent any unauthorized entry into the bin,” he said.

Moving grain around by loading it into a truck and back out again can be a key tool in grain spoilage prevention. However, it can also be time-consuming, especially during harvest season.

Although cycling should be done regularly, Gobeil said even a little bit of grain movement helps fight the ever-creeping threat of spoilage.

“Even just one quick load would make a big difference in keeping the grain in good condition,” he said. “Not everybody has even a spare hour out on the farm but just between other job tasks you may find some time and make a point of doing it.”

Regular monitoring is also critical. Today there’s a whole industry of cables and sensors intended to help growers identify problem spots.

Gobeil said he can only recommend concepts and not specific products, but he is intrigued by sensors that monitor bin conditions and send information to an app in real time.

“From what I understand, some of these technologies are even getting to the point where if things start to heat up or if there’s a spike in the humidity in the bin, you might even get an alert on your phone.”

Of course, no app can do the dangerous task of entering the bin and knocking out crusted or bridged grain.

“If it does go out of condition, there is no easy fix. Sometimes it’s a matter of tinkering around with a bar from up above (to knock out crusted grain). With the larger bins it might be a matter of using internal ladders or stairwells. Hook up a set of fall protection equipment so if you do step on the grain and it gives way, you don’t get entrapped.”

Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) around spoiled binned grain depends a lot on the extent of the spoilage and how close one needs to be. However, rodents and other pests are another reason to wear it.

“With mice, there is concern of hantavirus,” said Gobeil. “There are also concerns about pigeon droppings and insect infestation. All of these things can spoil the product inside the bin as well as cause some fairly serious health concerns potentially.”

Gobeil recommends a properly fitted, double-filtered half-mask. The exact kind of filter may depend on the kind of hazard involved.

But what about exposure to spoilage itself? No one wants to breathe in mould spores that can make them sick.

“If someone were to need to go in the bin because the grain is out of condition, I would strongly suggest wearing some appropriate PPE such as coveralls and using a P100 double-filtered half-mask respirator. At a minimum I would recommend an N95 mask.”

The safety best practices in the world won’t help if they’re not communicated to those working on the farm. It might be worthwhile to do a quick review of proper procedures going into the busy season, said Gobeil.

“As things gear up, I would recommend taking a look at whatever safety documentation you have in place on the farm already. You want to train the people performing those job tasks those procedures and emergency plans.”

– This article was originally published at the Alberta Farmer Express.

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Power takeoff (PTO) entanglements and suffocation from grain engulfment or entrapment are two of the most common incidents involving grain.

Keeping stored grain in good condition and following recommended safety measures when working with grain can prevent incidents.

To reduce safety risks, farmers should prepare grain bins ahead of harvest. The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) recommends removing garbage and clutter from areas around bins to ease unloading and reduce fire and tripping hazards.

James Dyck, crop systems and environment engineering specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), suggests cleaning bins and the surrounding areas thoroughly to remove old grain that could contaminate the new crop and attract insects, mould and rodents.

“You’re trying to give yourself the best opportunity to keep the grain in good condition for as long as possible, and that starts with making sure the bin itself is clean,” he says.

Dyck encourages farmers to look under bin floors at least every five years, and more often in bins that see lots of use. Floor holes may be small but dust and fines move through them and can build up over time.

“Cut a hole a few inches square, stick your phone down and take some pictures to see how deep the fines are,” Dyck says, adding that it’s a good idea to cut the hole on the opposite side from the fan and cover it with a steel plate so it can be used for future checks.

If the buildup is significant, he encourages farmers to pull up the floor and clean it out to remove insects and mould. This will also improve the effectiveness of aeration fans.

It is also important to inspect aeration systems and grain-handling equipment ahead of the busy season. Wiring should be inspected for fraying, corrosion or cracks. Belts on augers, bin sweeps and conveyors should be secure and in good working order.

Rob Gobeil, agricultural health and safety specialist with CASA, says safety guards are often removed for service purposes but any part that came with a guard should have a guard put back on before use.

Moving grain

When operating grain-handling equipment, keep body parts, clothing and hair away from the PTO. Instead of stepping across a rotating power shaft, walk around.

Do not use hands or feet to help grain flow into the auger. If the auger becomes plugged, wait until the machine is shut off and all moving parts come to a stop before clearing the jam.

To prevent dust inhalation when moving grain from combines to trucks or wagons and then into bins, wear respiratory protective equipment (RPE) such as a dust mask or N-95 air-purifying particulate respirator.

Storing grain

When it comes to safe storage, Dyck reminds farmers to pay attention to initial grain quality.

“Grain needs to be dry enough that it’s not going to spoil in the bin,” he says. “If the crop is damp but doesn’t necessarily need a dryer, putting it in a bin and running a good aeration fan can bring it down by a point or two.”

Keeping grain cool and dry prevents spoilage from insects, mould and disease, which is crucial to maintain quality and safety.

“The leading cause of grain entrapment situations is product that has gone out of condition,” Gobeil says.

Out-of-condition grain clumps up, crusts over on the surface and scales up the bin walls. It is likely to clog when handled and that’s often when a farmer enters the bin even when dangerous to do so.

Dyck recommends coring the bin within two days of filling it. This involves removing a cylindrical core of grain, two to three feet in diameter around the unload auger, where most of the fines and damaged grain accumulate.

Aeration fans should be run regularly to keep grain temperature constant and moisture equalized. Using the weather as a gauge, a rule of thumb is to run fans when the outdoor temperature falls by 5 to 10 degrees.

Regularly monitoring the appearance and smell of stored grain is important. If signs of insects or mould arise, Dyck suggests emptying the bin as quickly as possible and choosing a course of action such as cleaning.

Confined spaces

If a bin with grain inside must be entered, CASA recommendations include planning an escape and having one or two people watching outside. The watchers should be aware of the hazards and have clear instructions on what to do in an emergency.

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G3 has partnered with CASA since 2016 for delivery of BeGrainSafe, which offers education about the risk of grain entrapment and provides rescue training and equipment for first responders.

In 2022, BeGrainSafe will train firefighters in Central Canada. For the first time, BeGrainSafe training will be offered in French. G3 is funding the translation of the training material for firefighters.

“Safety is key to everything we do at G3, and that has included providing grain rescue training and equipment to enhance safety in communities across Western Canada,” Don Chapman, G3 president and CEO said.

G3 funding will also support training and rescue equipment for six fire departments in Central Canada. The rescue equipment consists of a pencil auger and a coffer dam. This equipment and training is vital as it gives firefighters the knowledge and equipment to help save lives in grain entrapment situations.

“Making BeGrainSafe training available in French allows BeGrainSafe to reach more firefighters across Canada,” Rob Gobeil, CASA’s agricultural health and safety specialist, said. “As a national organization, CASA strives to make all training and resources available in both official languages, and thanks to G3, BeGrainSafe will make significant impacts on French-speaking rural communities.”

For more information about BeGrainSafe, including firefighter training, please visit casa-acsa.ca/begrainsafe or contact CASA at 877-452-2272 or info@casa-acsa.ca.

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Taking on the role of chief executive officer this last year has given me the opportunity to connect with passionate farm safety champions from across the country. I have learned so much from each of you and been inspired by your dedication.

The impact CASA is making would not be possible without the help of our members, sponsors, and friends.

CASA continues to respond to the safety needs of the agricultural community. CASA programs include the BeGrainSafe program, saving lives through awareness and training on the dangers of grain; Canadian Agricultural Safety Week, CASA’s flagship farm safety awareness event; the CASA virtual conference; safety days for children; work on agricultural standards, and other impactful initiatives. Through this important work, CASA strives to make a difference in Canada’s agricultural sector.

Stay tuned for exciting new initiatives in 2022 that continue to keep farms safe and successful.

As you know, farm safety doesn’t just happen, it requires time and resources. Each gift to the FarmSafe Foundation supports CASA programs, including Back to Ag, a program getting farmers back to what they love – farming, the development of farm safety resources, safety days for children, the BeGrainSafe program, and much more. The foundation is an excellent vehicle for farm safety advocates to support Canadian farmers, farm families, farm workers, and farming communities.

Please consider the FarmSafe Foundation when planning your year-end giving. Donations can be made online, by calling 877-452-2272, or through email at info@casa-acsa.ca.

Best wishes for a wonderful and safe holiday season.

– Andrea Lear is chief executive officer of the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association.

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Farmers know why they take risks, too; risk taking can be rewarding. It’s the name of the game in agriculture.

But risk taking in the farm workplace also injures and kills farmers, their family members and workers, too. Compared with other industrial sectors, farming is the most dangerous occupation in Canada in terms of absolute numbers of fatalities.

Brock University professor and epidemiologist, William Pickett, has devoted his career to thinking about what drives injury rates in Canadian agriculture. His work focuses on examining the injury and death rates in farm and rural populations, and leading studies examining the health behaviours and experiences of these groups.

Certainly, the farm is an unforgiving environment with a myriad of hazards. It’s also a unique work environment, not heavily regulated with respect to occupational health and safety standards, and with highly diverse workforces and farming practices.

What Pickett and his colleagues have long wondered is what else may be at play on the farm, however, including whether the risks farmers take in their job sites are also related to farm culture.

What he sees in injury statistics and other studies of the subject is “an evolution of risk and risk taking” among the farm population, he told the recent Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) online conference.

“Risk starts with the very young,” when small children are brought into the farm worksite and risk taking continues right throughout the lifespan, he said.

Studies show farm teens, especially adolescent boys have high rates of injury and death due to risk-taking behaviours in their formative years. Further along in life, older farmers are also at high risk for injury and fatality in the farm environment.

The vast majority of farm deaths occur among men and boys, an obvious gender-related pattern of injury.

One study that helped researchers better understand how farmers view risk was done in 2018. Farm parents were asked how they decide if, when and how to bring their children into farm work environments.

This was a study done by researchers with the University of Saskatchewan and Queen’s in Ontario, and the U.S.-based Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation. They wanted to understand why parents make those choices, and what it revealed is that farm parents certainly understand the risks associated with having children in their work environment, but weigh those risks against the benefit of having them there, too, said Pickett.

Those benefits were highly valued by the parents, and included things like developing a work ethic in their children and teaching them skills, and an understanding of the farm and agriculture.

Clearly, those are beneficial for the farm and for the family, said Pickett.

“What an outsider might see as a risk bringing a child into the workplace by choice, was… a benefit to the family and child,” he said.

That study provides important insight into how farmers balance risk and reward, and how this informs choices they make throughout their lifetime with respect to work practices, said Pickett.

“There’s something common here that’s unique about farm culture,” he said.

“And that is, risk is sometimes embraced, it’s sometimes rewarded. Farms are rewarded for better productivity for working long hours. They’re rewarded, from a family perspective. Risk taking and our practices can be rewarding both culturally and socially and also economically.”

That’s also where the farm community remains so challenged to reduce its injury and death rates, however.

“The risk taking and the roles that we put people into are, I would argue, driven by culture,” he said.

“And it’s reflected in our injury statistics.”

The post Risk and reward appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

But Canadian farmers also say an injury, or a near miss, hasn’t made them change their work behaviour, nor has it spurred them to put a safety plan on paper.

Those are some of the insights gathered from a recent Farm Credit Canada Insights study done for the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA).

The 2020 survey of roughly 1,200 farmers across Canada produced some key information for the national non-profit organization, including that seven in 10 producers (72 per cent) had, in fact, experienced some kind of incident resulting in an injury or near miss on their operation at some point in their lifetime. A quarter (24 per cent) of producers reported having had one within the last year.

Yet, even after those events, farmers weren’t more likely to access safety information or develop more formal safe work procedures.

Just two out of 10 producers said in the survey that their work is done safely ‘all the time.’

CASA executive director Andrea Lear spoke about the findings at the organization’s virtual conference last week.

“This seems like a real disconnect to me,” she said.

“And we have some work to do,” said Lear. “People say, ‘I do things safely,’ but don’t actually do things to support that. We’ve got to figure that out.”

What that requires is better understanding why farmers aren’t adopting different behaviours, and what holds them back from doing so, other speakers said.

It also requires new kinds of interventions that align with the culture of the Canadian farm, including improving the relevancy clarity and timing of farm safety information delivery, and, importantly understanding the unique culture of agriculture, said Cynthia Beck, a Saskatchewan livestock producer and master’s candidate in clinical psychology.

A fundamental of farm culture is that farmers will always prioritize the workload and will get their job done above and beyond everything else, even at the expense of their health and safety, she said.

“How many of you have ever met a farmer who had a concussion, or a broken leg, or appendicitis and they still went out to get those chores done?” she asked her audience.

Farmers have a vast range of responsibilities, heavy workloads, and their individual management styles, family dynamics and stressors that come from operating the farm can all push thinking about these things to the sidelines. And when you’re stressed and worried about a multitude of things, “challenged mental health is by far the biggest barrier to behaviour change,” Beck said.

FCC survey respondents, meanwhile, also indicate old habits are the primary barrier to the consistent implementation of safe practices and written safety plans.

The survey showed only one in 10 producers (14 per cent) have developed a written safety plan, with 70 per cent of those saying they thought it was effective in preventing injuries.

Nearly as many (60 per cent) said they had unwritten practices and procedures in place.

What stumps groups like CASA is that few producers say they access the farm safety information and training available.

Only one in three have done so in the last year. Twenty-eight per cent of farmers said they’ve never accessed safety training.

Lear said what is important however, is that farmers also told this survey that they are motivated to improve the safety of their operations.

The job for farm safety groups is to understand why farmers continue to make the choices they do, find appropriate interventions that align their attitudes with behaviours, and address gaps between intention and action, she said.

“The important thing to understand is people believe they’re doing things safe, but they’re willing to say they can do things differently,” she said.

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Those entering a storage area containing a grain mass can be sucked under flowing grain, trapped by avalanching grain, and fall through crusted or bridged grain (when gaps occur under crusting). Poorer-quality grain can exacerbate the potential for these issues. Once within the grain mass, the pressure exerted against the body makes movement impossible.

As well, the surrounding environment itself (including trucks, ladders, building materials, and storage spaces) can pose a number of dangers, said Gobeil, agricultural health and safety specialist for the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association.

Bins unstable due to irregular weight distribution (such as wet grain adhered to one side) can collapse. Augers and other machinery used for moving grain can entangle limbs and tools. Gases from decomposing material and dust can cause harm, and in the case of the latter, even explode if there is an ignition source, oxygen, and dispersed fuel within a restricted space.

“These spaces are easy to get into, but not get out of,” said Gobeil. “They’re not a place you want to sit and have your lunch.”

People can be a danger, too.

Individuals who are poorly trained about hazards, proper precautions and what to do if an incident occurs, can cause problems for themselves and others. The same also applies to those who simply assume someone knows what they are doing.

And the risk keeps growing because the amount of on-farm grain storage, the size of bins, and speed of grain movement continues to increase, Gobeil said.

The first step towards preventing injury or death is being aware of what hazards are present — and taking them seriously.

Next is taking practical steps to reduce the risk. These include:

• Keeping operational controls accessible outside of a grain bin so machinery can be quickly stopped.
• Electrical systems (fuse boxes and power controls) should always be locked to prevent power from being turned on while someone is working on a machine or within a storage space.
• Appropriate guards and barriers to moving parts must always be replaced after removal for replacement or servicing.
• It’s critical to have a second person: specifically someone to monitor and keep communication open with an individual working within the storage area. Gobeil said the second individual should never enter the bin, but take exterior actions, including shutting down machinery, turning on exhaust or aeration fans, and notifying first responders. Trained first responders should always be the ones performing a rescue, he said.

Ensuring all present are properly trained and aware of what they are supposed to do, as well as establishing a pre-entry checklist, is also critical. Choosing an assembly point and having someone to direct emergency traffic as it arrives on site is also beneficial.

The right kind of personal protective equipment (such as dust masks and harnesses) must be available — and used.

“It’s one thing to have these procedures in a binder somewhere, but it’s another thing altogether having your workforce trained in these procedures and knowing what to do and how to respond if an emergency occurs,” said Gobeil, reiterating that taking time to assess rather than rush into a situation is also vital.

This article was originally published at Farmtario.

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“We encourage farmers to carry either a jug of water or an extinguisher with them so at least they can slow it down until we get there,” said Dennis Gullet, fire chief in the RM of Oakland-Wawanesa.

Why it matters: With harvest starting under bone-dry conditions, fire safety and prevention are on the priority list for both farmers and local fire departments.

On July 30, the fire department took to Twitter, warning that, in two days, two fires had started while farmers were haying. Gullet later told the Co-operator that it appeared, in both cases, the discbine had struck a rock and the spark ignited the grass.

“Even the green grass burned… It’s all flammable now,” he said.

The damage was limited to burnt grass and a damaged electrical line to a pump and well system, he said, adding, “We were lucky this time.”

Gullet asked farmers to call 911 at the first sign of trouble, even if the fire is small. The fire department can at least wet down the area to prevent any underlying dead grass from smouldering, he said.

With drought gripping the province, fire departments aren’t the only ones concerned.

Landon Friesen, who farms near Crystal City, isn’t taking any chances. He said they’re taking a disc to every field the combine is at and breaking a perimeter around the field’s edge.

That way, if the ditch or someone else’s field ignites, it won’t spread to theirs. Likewise, a fire on their field won’t spread to their neighbour’s.

“We’re trying to protect every bushel we can get off,” he said.

“I can be proactive, I guess and help (the volunteer firefighters) stay at home,” Friesen added. “It’s not easy here. Everyone’s frustrated with the crops and I think I was just feeling for those guys who have to run out in the middle of the night to fight fires and go combine their own crops during the day.”

Friesen said they have a 750-gallon water tank on their service truck standing by and a spray trailer full of water on the home yard. They also do regular maintenance to the combines and headers to ensure no bearings are going.

Near Wawanesa, Jeff Elder said he’s also keeping a water truck close at hand.

“I’m also asking everyone to stay out of the fields with their light trucks and cars. Things are so very dry. We aren’t taking any chances,” he said.

The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association recommends keeping an eye out for built-up crop residue around engines, exhaust systems, belts and chains as well as damage or worn parts on the exhaust system, drive belts, wiring and moving parts or signs of leaking fuel or fluids. Producers should also be alert to the odour of burning electrical wiring.

CASA also recommends allowing engines to cool before refuelling and not using cellphones or other electronic devices while refuelling.

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“A lot of the issues along with safety is just having the conversations, right?” said Robin Anderson, communications co-ordinator at the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA). “And having the awareness and keeping, integrating safety as an everyday, normal part of life.”

CASA, along with chemical giant BASF, is giving out kits including a child-sized, adjustable safety vest, a name badge, Safety Scouts reward badge and membership certificate, a safety-themed activity and colouring kit.

These are free to order on CASA’s website.

The kits can be another tool in parents’ tool kits when teaching kids farm safety, said Anderson. The safety vest may be fun to wear and add an element of visibility in the yard, but also add some gravitas to the conversation.

“When you put on a safety vest, it’s serious business,” she said.

“We still have deaths on the farm, and we still have child deaths on the farm, and if we can work in any way we can, including these great Safety Scouts kits, then that really means that we’re doing our job,” said Anderson.

“I have amazing memories (from growing up on a farm), and work ethic, and love of the land,” she said. “That’s part of growing up on the farm, and we never want to take that away.”

They want to see farm families thriving and continuing to pass the love of farming to their kids, she added.

Find the Safety Scouts kits and many other farm safety resources for kids at casa-acsa.ca/en/resources/for-kids.

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A valued tradition, Progressive Agriculture Foundation (PAF) Farm Safety Days, in partnership with the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA), have helped hundreds of thousands of rural and farm kids learn how to stay safe while working and playing on the farm, especially during busy times like harvest.

Why it matters: Safety awareness can help prevent on-farm tragedies and farm safety groups have had to pivot to virtual learning opportunities.

“There were three cities in Canada that ran a (Farm Safety Day) program in 2020, but of course, they were all in the first two months,” said Robin Anderson, CASA communications lead.

Canada hosts 75 to 90 Farm Safety Days a year on average. Some events may run this fall, but COVID-19 cancelled almost all 2021 events.

“We let those coordinators make those calls on their own for their own community, their own province,” said Anderson. “That’s what makes Farm Safety Day events so great — they are by the community, for the community.”

Anderson encourages organizations to apply for 2022 dates before the July 15, 2021, deadline and is optimistic there will be a return to in-person events by then.

In response to the pandemic, CASA and PAF developed interactive hubs to provide farm families and communities with safety information.

In partnership with BASF, CASA developed an interactive BeGrainSafeGame. They worked closely with the National Children’s Center for Rural Agricultural Health and Safety of Wisconsin to provide up-to-date safety information and linked to PAF’s “Daily Drop” safety videos. People could also borrow farm safety teaching kits for the cost of shipping.

“All kids aren’t the same, but it’s important to understand their limitations when starting to assign farm tasks,” Anderson said. “We recommend taking a look at the Ag Youth Work Guidelines to help parents and caregivers determine what tasks are suitable for each individual.”

Anderson said Cultivate Safety is a valuable resource to keep children safe while at play on the farm.

Statistics from the Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting Child and Youth Agriculture-Related Fatalities in Canada 2006-15 report showed children aged one to four have the highest rate of fatalities. Most involve being run over by a piece of machinery. Children ages 10 to 14 are more likely to die in a rollover.

Children aged one to four also had the highest percentage of drowning fatalities, with half the deaths occurring in dugouts. In all seven of the asphyxiation fatalities, the children were older than four, and 86 per cent involved grain or silage. Two incidents involved deaths of more than one child.

Statistics show two out of every three fatalities involving children or youth are runovers (29 per cent), rollovers (15 per cent), drowning (12 per cent), and asphyxiation (eight per cent).

The numbers are grim, but Logan Hall, PAF communications manager, is optimistic the online platforms featuring 70 health and safety videos developed in 2020 continue to allow the Farm Safety Day program to impact a wider audience of adults and children.

“We are dedicated to educating, training and providing resources until no child would become ill, injured or die from an agriculture-related incident,” said Hall.

Ongoing safety education is even more critical during the pandemic because more children are at home during the day, potentially increasing risk.

Training for volunteers has moved permanently online using a work at your own pace format, with additional booster sessions offered at no extra cost.

The Canadian Safety Day coordinator recently told Hall a virtual Farm Safety Day with 15 participants was held, and despite worries of Zoom overload, the course was a success.

According to reports, the children were engaged and the parents and guardians appreciated the versatility of the information toward the younger audience.

There are 441 approved Safety Days planned for 2021 in North America and 200 applications already submitted for 2022, said Hall.

The Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting (CAIR) Child and Youth Agriculture-related Fatalities in Canada 2006-2015 report showed:

Ag-related fatalities by gender:

• Males – 74 per cent
• Females – 26 per cent

(Children under five represented the highest age-specific rate)

Child fatalities in relation to agriculture-related work:

• 82 per cent (68 children) died as a result of someone else performing agriculture related work.
• Of the 84 ag-related fatalities, 68 per cent were ag-work related. The remaining 32 per cent involved a farm environment such as riding horses and ATVs and falling into dugouts and troughs.

Diana Martin is a reporter with Farmtario. Her article appeared in the June 28, 2021 issue.

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