Safety Archives | Manitoba Co-operator

Workers at Seaboard Foods’ pork-processing plant in Guymon, Oklahoma, seen here in a May 2020 file photo,  say line speeds are causing worker injuries.

As pork plant speeds up slaughtering, workers report more injuries

The need for speed seems to be at the expense of employee health

By P.J. Huffstutter, Tom Polansek March 9, 2021

Reuters – One of North America’s leading pig slaughterhouses is running faster than ever as meat packers hustle to keep pork in grocery stores during the COVID-19 pandemic. Plant worker Hector Ixquier says it’s time to slow down. Ixquier said he sought medical treatment in January for tendons he strained in his right arm while

A general view of damage at the site of Tuesday’s blast in Beirut’s port area on Aug. 5, 2020. (Photo: Reuters/Mohamed Azakir)

Crops

North American ammonium nitrate laws best in world, Nutrien CEO says

By GFM Network News, Rod Nickel August 11, 2020

Winnipeg | Reuters — North America’s regulations for handling ammonium nitrate, a potentially explosive product used in fertilizer and in the mining industry, are the strictest in the world, the CEO of Canadian fertilizer producer Nutrien said Tuesday. An ammonium nitrate stockpile exploded last week in Beirut killing at least 171 people, injuring 6,000 and

Livestock, Markets

Livestock auction marts to decide on next steps

Livestock Marketing Association of Canada pondering next move in face of pandemic

By Alexis Kienlen, GFM Network News March 17, 2020

You may want to call first to see if it’s open, but many auction marts in Alberta were still having sales on Tuesday morning. The Livestock Marketing Association of Canada has a conference call set for this evening to discuss COVID-19 safety measures for staff, customers and buyers, said Chance Martin, an LMAC director and

Editorial, Opinion

Editorial: Staying safe on the farm

By Gord Gilmour December 6, 2018

Agriculture regularly tops surveys and studies of dangerous professions. Despite the process of going high tech, every season there’s still a heaping helping of manual labour, heavy equipment, confined spaces and moving parts. Add the exhaustion of long hours and mental stress and it can be a recipe for disaster. This all added up to

Farmers get a better idea of their personal protective equipment options during a Manitoba Farm Safety Program workshop in Brandon Nov. 26.

Local news, News

Gearing up on the farm: the right equipment makes you safer

Make sure your personal protective gear is in place, fits properly and works

By Alexis Stockford December 6, 2018

How would your farm fare if a workplace safety inspector suddenly showed up? If you have a sneaking suspicion you might flunk that test, you’re not alone, according to the Manitoba Farm Safety Program. Morag Marjerison, farm safety consultant with the program, says she expects farms will see more safety inspectors in the future, something

Farm safety consultant Morag Marjerison says owners of larger farms tend to know how safety and health legislation apply. She especially hopes owners of smaller operations will attend her sessions.

Local news

What to expect if the safety inspector visits your farm

The Manitoba Farm Safety Association is hosting no-cost sessions to help farmers understand Workplace Safety and Health legislation

By Lorraine Stevenson June 19, 2018

What’s a sure sign you don’t know that Workplace Safety and Health legislation applies to your farm? Telling the safety officer who’s just arrived to conduct an inspection to leave — maybe with words your mother wouldn’t like. Workplace Safety and Health laws to ensure safe job sites have applied to all farms in Manitoba

Wawanesa-area farmer Simon Ellis says a flying hook’s impact shattered the fibreglass fender of the tractor being used to pull out a stuck truck last spring.

Local news

Stay stuck on safety when stuck in the field

Getting stuck can lead to more than just frustration if the hook slips at the wrong moment. Manitoba’s Farm Safety Program is urging farmers to think twice about safety in muddy fields

By Alexis Stockford May 22, 2018

It happened in a second. Wawanesa farmer Simon Ellis had been attempting to pull a grain truck from a muddy field last year when the tow hook he had been using broke, snapping the rope and it back in a narrow miss of his cab window. Caught on video, Ellis posted about the incident on

Craig Evans, Granny’s Poultry CEO speaks to company staff at Blumenort last week during North American Occupational  Safety and Health Week. The company hosted a SAFEWork on Wheels demonstration event at its southern Manitoba  processing plant.

Local news, Poultry

Stellar safety record at Granny’s Poultry brings WCB premiums way down

Their company has put major effort into educating their entire team on why safe workplace practices are so important, says company CEO

By Lorraine Stevenson May 22, 2018

Granny’s Poultry is proving dedication to a safer workplace can really pay off. Ten years ago the poultry processor’s Workers Compensation Board (WCB) experience rating was $7 per every $100 of payroll — WCB sets rates based on the employer’s track record. A major effort put towards reducing on-the-job injuries has now brought its premium

Country Crossroads

Set an example for the younger generation during Ag Safety Week

Canada’s agricultural population is now made up of more farmers over age 70 than under 35

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff March 14, 2018

With an average age of 53.8 years, Manitoba has the second-youngest population of farm operators in Canada. That means this month’s Canadian Agricultural Safety Week is a way to set an example for the next generation, says Manitoba’s minister of agriculture. “Everyone in our farming community, and especially our young farmers, has the opportunity to

Once-common activities like climbing a ladder can become more risky due to the natural effects of aging.

News

Taking steps to prevent slips, trips, and falls

You can change the environment or change your behaviours to stay safe

By Canadian Agricultural Safety Association March 13, 2018

In theory the prevention of falls is simple. Nearly all falls result from conditions or practices whose hazard is obvious or readily discoverable. In practice, however, prevention is difficult because the detail involved is very great and it is necessary to improve the performance of practically everyone. – From “Safety Subjects,” U.S. Division of Labor

B.C. again waives ag income threshold for farm properties

Flea beetles a nuisance for canola crop

Businesses, U.S. legislators fume as Canada extends travel ban

GFM Network News