Farmers are being offered financial support from the provincial government as they get ready for the induction of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act.
On Dec. 1, agriculture producers across Alberta will be enforcing OHS standards.
In order to help farmers with the financial burden of putting the act in place, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry and Alberta Labour announced in October they’re offering $6-million in funding.
The grant offers financial support of up to 50 per cent of eligible expenses, to a maximum of $5,000 per year, or $10,000 over the life of the program.
Farmers can apply for expenses, such as training or safety equipment costs, dating back to Jan. 1, 2018.
“I think they want to encourage more farmers that do have hired workers, that there are some easy processes they can learn with the grant funding they’re offering,” noted Matt Janz, director of ag and waste services for the MD of Bonnyville.
Eligible expenses are first aid kits, fire extinguishers, warning signage, respirators, eye and hearing protection, health and safety programs, courses, education and training, seatbelt installation, warning lights, and auger guards to improve equipment safety. Receipts must be provided in order to qualify.
Under the act, employers have to ensure the health and safety of workers on the site, while workers are responsible for ensuring they cooperate with their employer in order to keep the workplace safe.
Farms and ranches with at least one paid non-family staff member are required to induct OHS standards by Dec. 1, although for some local farmers, that won’t be an issue.
According to Janz, there are producers already enforcing OHS practices.
“There are a lot of companies that have been doing safety programs forever.”
For those that haven’t gotten to that point yet, it’s simply a learning curve, he added.
“A year ago, I think a lot of farmers were really nervous, just because they were really uncertain in what kind of changes they were going to have to make,” Janz expressed. “I guess with the new clarity that has been told to the farmers, they feel a little bit more relaxed, because there are really only a few of the larger farmers in our area. It won’t affect the average farm that doesn’t have hired workers for everyday.”
OHS gives employees the right to refuse unsafe work, the right to know and understand potential hazards, have access to basic health and safety information, and the right to participate in workplace health and safety.
“That’s going to be a pro. They don’t feel like they have to do any unsafe acts, and legislation is there to protect them. They can’t be let go because of it,” explained Janz.
Janz is hoping that with the act in play, the industry will see less workplace fatalities and injuries.
“Hopefully, with the new act coming in, we will have less farm fatalities and less things that could go wrong on a farm and that the owners of the operation will see there are some things in place to protect their workers and protect their farm livelihood,” Janz added. “It should be a win-win at the end of the day, because there’s no employer that ever wants to see a fatality or serious injury on their job.”
In order to prepare for the enforcement of OHS at local farms, the MD of Bonnyville Ag Society has hosted information events and courses.
Janz said farmers should take advantage of these opportunities when they come up.
“There’s help for farmers out there, they just have to ask for it,” he expressed.
Producers can apply for grant funding anytime before March 2021.
“Through grants like this, government is helping to support a culture of safety on a farm. AgSafe is positioned to be a champion of agriculture in Alberta and a vital partner in advancing the implementation of farm safety,” said Kent Erickson, chair of AgSafe Alberta in a press release.
Alberta Minister of Labour Christina Gray said, “Albertans value the contributions of Alberta’s farm and ranch communities and care about the health and safety of their workers. This program will help farm and ranch employers continue their work to create healthy and safe workplaces and comply with the OHS Code.”
For more information, visit alberta.ca.
