This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
Reducing the risks helps to control damage and waste


farmsafety


Propermaintenance and working carefully can minimize injuries and boost productivity.


By Theresa Whalen T


here is no question that key motivators for good farm safety practices are the health and well being of humans and animals, however preventing costly damage and waste are important as well. Most farm operations use a less than formal approach to solving damage and waste problems, yet they may not realize that their costs are proportionately higher than many other industries because they have fewer resources to absorb the losses. Banged doors, damaged conveyers, dust-clogged bearings and gears, and broken or lost tools are but a few of endless possibilities.


Having the right tools to do the job and ensuring machinery is in good working order not only will reduce the possibility of injuries on your farm, it will help to increase productivity and profitability. Here are four fundamentals to help improve farm safety and reduce damage and waste. Educate. Ensure everyone working on your farm understands that an incident is any event that could or does result in unintended harm to people or damage to property. The ‘damage to property’ part is very important – not only because damage is expensive, but also because it could potentially harm people. Emphasize the importance of working carefully to avoid damage and keeping a safe workplace. Identify. Ask workers to point out when something is in need of repairs. This will help them take ownership of their own safety was well as for their co-workers and will assist in keeping the workplace in optimal function.


20 British Columbia Berry Grower • Winter 2011-12


Evaluate. Prioritize your repairs based on risk of injury versus cost. Control. Once a needed repair has been identified, make sure it is fixed in a timely manner. This will show workers that you value their safety as well as their input.


Waste is akin to damage as it can contribute to injuries and is costly to the business. For example, oil leaks not only waste an expensive resource but can also harm people and cause damage.


As profit margins in agriculture get thinner, it makes risk management at all levels a sound business decision. For more information on this and other farm safety topics visit www.planfarmsafety.ca .


— Theresa Whalen is the Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s Farm Safety Consultant.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24