Canadian Agricultural Safety Association

Last updated

CASA was established in 1993 in response to an identified need for a national farm safety networking and coordinating agency to address problems of illness, injuries and accidental death in farmers, their families and agricultural workers. CASA Logo Low Res EN.jpg
CASA was established in 1993 in response to an identified need for a national farm safety networking and coordinating agency to address problems of illness, injuries and accidental death in farmers, their families and agricultural workers.

The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association was established in 1993 in response to an identified need for a national farm safety networking and coordinating agency to address problems of illness, injuries and accidental death in farmers, their families and agricultural workers. Since then, CASA has worked to improve the health and safety conditions of those who live and work on Canadian farms.

Contents

CASA is funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's [1] Renewal Chapter and has applied for similar support under the federal government's Growing Forward [2] program for 2009–2013.

In the past, CASA acted as facilitator and enabler. For instance, in 2007-08, CASA extended $637,365 to 20 organizations for 24 farm safety projects, directly reaching more than 376,000 producers across Canada.

In the future, CASA will operate as a national health and safety initiator and service provider.

Canada's agricultural industry is one of the top three most hazardous industries in which to work. [3] And yet, farmers themselves believe their safety habits are better than fair. Farm Credit Canada [4] recently conducted a national survey [5] to determine farmer's attitudes toward safety. The final report is a self-assessment of how farmers visualize their safety performance. They gave themselves a "B". [6]

CASA has dedicated itself to close the gap between what they believe and what is actually occurring.

CASA has developed a new 5-year strategic plan. The strategic plan includes the following 13 key result activities:
1. Develop and market national training products and resources
2. Develop a national social marketing campaign to promote prevention
3. Identify and support provincial safety and health champions
4. Expand Progressive Agricultural Foundation Safety Days [7] across Canada
5. Play more of a role in guiding research and development of innovations and services to reduce injuries
6. Continue with "Canadian Agricultural Safety and Health Program" (CASHP) [8] granting proposal
7. Develop and offer workplace safety training and instruction (AH&S core competencies) to those working in the agricultural health and safety field
8. Implement a national health and safety communication strategy
9. Promote and implement national prevention initiatives across Canada, such as engineering solutions, case study training, farm safety plans, etc.
10. Partner with Public Health Agency of Canada [9] to facilitate injury surveillance data and conduct injury analysis
11. Continue to update machinery standards through the Canadian Standards Association [10]
12. Act as funding intermediary for Canadian Farmers with Disabilities
13. Seek out additional funding sources.

At CASA's Safety Summit of October 2008, in Saskatoon, there was consensus that CASA must move forward with the proposed strategic plan. Many of the participants committed, on behalf of their organizations, to support the strategy with time and resources.

Recent Successes

Contributing to a sector that is competitive and innovative:

Enabling a sector that contributes to society's priorities:

Building a sector that is proactive in managing risks:

Governance

CASA is led by a seven-person Board of Directors elected for three-year terms by the 32 member Council. The Board elects its Executive annually. CASA Organizational Structure1.jpg
CASA is led by a seven-person Board of Directors elected for three-year terms by the 32 member Council. The Board elects its Executive annually.

CASA is led by a seven-person Board of Directors elected for three-year terms by the 32-member Council. The Board elects its Executive annually. Visit the CASA/ACSA website for information about the current Board of Directors.

Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting (CAIR)

Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting (CAIR) formerly the Canadian Agricultural Injury Surveillance Program (CAISP) - is an integrated national surveillance project of the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association that guides and informs the national agricultural health and safety agenda.

CAISP's latest national report Agricultural Injuries in Canada for 1990–2005 can be downloaded free.

It describes the occurrence of fatal agricultural injuries in Canada by age group and mechanism of injury. There were 1,769 agricultural fatalities in Canada from 1990 to 2005. Overall, more than half of the agricultural fatalities were due to four machine-related causes: machine rollovers, machine runovers, machine entanglements and traffic collisions. The top five causes of agricultural fatalities in Canada were machine rollovers (20.5%), machine runovers (18.6%), machine entanglements (8.3%), traffic collisions (7.3%), and being pinned or struck by a machine (7.0%).

Their recent fifteen-year summary reports on fatal agricultural rollovers, runovers, animal injuries, injuries to older adults and injuries to children can be downloaded here.

Canadian Agricultural Safety and Health Program (CASHP)

Under the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Framework Agreement on Agricultural and Agri-Food Policy, [11] the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) has been recognized as the association to provide a forum for directing and coordinating activities with a national, multi-provincial or provincial scope specifically related to farm safety and rural health issues.

In 2008-09, CASA approved $283,642.50 for 16 projects under CASHP. [12]

In 2008-09, 13 groups or individuals qualified to receive CASHP funding. Applicants may be:
- Individuals
- Producer organizations
- Not-for profit organizations
- Agricultural service/supply industry
- Academia and research
- Provincial and municipal governments

Progressive Agriculture Safety Days

CASA supports the Progressive Agriculture Safety Days [13] in Canada. This educational program has helped children across Canada learn about dangers and potential deadly outcomes of unsafe behaviour on the farm.

"When an individual or community partners with the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day program, they are provided planning resources to help each Safety Day become a success" says Susan Reynolds, Executive Director-Programs of the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day. "Through our program, each lead coordinator is provided training on how to organize a Safety Day and is offered year-round support."

Each safety day is organized locally, allowing communities to meet local priorities in their area. Children rotate among different safety stations, allowing each child the opportunity to participate in interactive and engaging activities."

In 2009, 72 Safety Days are planned for Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick involving more than 13,000 youth and over 3000 adult volunteers!

Founded by The Progressive Farmer magazine in the U.S. in 1995, the program trains and provides the resources that local communities need to conduct one-day safety programs that are age-appropriate, hands-on, fun, and safe for children. While the basic program reaches children ages of 8 to 13, safety days may also be conducted for 4- to 7-year-olds or even entire families.

The mission of the Progressive Agriculture Safety Days is to make farm and ranch life safer and healthier for all children through education and training.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agritourism</span> Tourism involving agriculture

Agritourism or agrotourism involves any agriculturally based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or ranch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seat belt</span> Vehicle safety device to protect against injury during collisions and sudden stop

A seat belt, also known as a safety belt or spelled seatbelt, is a vehicle safety device designed to secure the driver or a passenger of a vehicle against harmful movement that may result during a collision or a sudden stop. A seat belt reduces the likelihood of death or serious injury in a traffic collision by reducing the force of secondary impacts with interior strike hazards, by keeping occupants positioned correctly for maximum effectiveness of the airbag, and by preventing occupants being ejected from the vehicle in a crash or if the vehicle rolls over.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in the United States</span> Major industry in the United States

Agriculture is a major industry in the United States, which is a net exporter of food. As of the 2017 census of agriculture, there were 2.04 million farms, covering an area of 900 million acres (1,400,000 sq mi), an average of 441 acres per farm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupational injury</span> Bodily damage resulting from working

An occupational injury is bodily damage resulting from working. The most common organs involved are the spine, hands, the head, lungs, eyes, skeleton, and skin. Occupational injuries can result from exposure to occupational hazards, such as temperature, noise, insect or animal bites, blood-borne pathogens, aerosols, hazardous chemicals, radiation, and occupational burnout.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is the department of the Government of Canada responsible for the federal regulation of agriculture, including policies governing the production, processing, and marketing of all farm, food, and agri-based products. Agriculture in Canada is a shared jurisdiction and the department works with the provinces and territories in the development and delivery of policies and programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vehicle rollover</span> Car accident in which the vehicle tips or rolls over

A rollover or overturn is a type of vehicle crash in which a vehicle tips over onto its side or roof. Rollovers have a higher fatality rate than other types of vehicle collisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marshfield Clinic</span> Healthcare system in Wisconsin

Marshfield Clinic Health System is an integrated health system serving Wisconsin founded in 1916. The system contains several hospitals and many clinics throughout Wisconsin, as well as a medical research institute and an education division, and employs more than 1,200 doctors and other clinicians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Food safety in China</span>

Food safety in China is a widespread concern for the country's agricultural industry. China's principal crops are rice, corn, wheat, soybeans, and cotton in addition to apples and other fruits and vegetables. China's principal livestock products include pork, beef, dairy, and eggs. The Chinese government oversees agricultural production as well as the manufacture of food packaging, containers, chemical additives, drug production, and business regulation. In recent years, the Chinese government attempted to consolidate food safety regulation with the creation of the State Food and Drug Administration of China in 2003; officials have also been under increasing public and international pressure to solve food safety problems. Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang said, "Food is essential, and safety should be a top priority. Food safety is closely related to people's lives and health and economic development and social harmony," at a State Council meeting in Beijing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Farmworker</span> Performs agricultural labor

A farmworker, farmhand or agricultural worker is someone employed for labor in agriculture. In labor law, the term "farmworker" is sometimes used more narrowly, applying only to a hired worker involved in agricultural production, including harvesting, but not to a worker in other on-farm jobs, such as picking fruit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Saskatchewan</span> Agriculture of the Province Saskatchewan in Canada

Agriculture in Saskatchewan is the production of various food, feed, or fiber commodities to fulfill domestic and international human and animal sustenance needs. The newest agricultural economy to be developed in renewable biofuel production or agricultural biomass which is marketed as ethanol or biodiesel. Plant cultivation and livestock production have abandoned subsistence agricultural practices in favor of intensive technological farming resulting in cash crops which contribute to the economy of Saskatchewan. The particular commodity produced is dependent upon its particular biogeography or ecozone of Geography of Saskatchewan. Agricultural techniques and activities have evolved over the years. The first nation nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle and the early immigrant ox and plow farmer proving up on his quarter section of land in no way resemble the present farmer operating huge amounts of land or livestock with their attendant technological mechanization. Challenges to the future of Saskatchewan agriculture include developing sustainable water management strategies for a cyclical drought prone climate in south western Saskatchewan, updating dryland farming techniques, stabilizing organic definitions or protocols and the decision to grow, or not to grow genetically modified foods. Domestically and internationally, some commodities have faced increased scrutiny from disease and the ensuing marketing issues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rollover protection structure</span> Structure intended to protect equipment operators and motorists

A rollover protection structure or rollover protection system (ROPS) is a system or structure intended to protect equipment operators and motorists from injuries caused by vehicle overturns or rollovers. Like rollcages and rollbars in cars and trucks, cabs, frames or rollbars on agricultural and construction equipments, a ROPS involves mechanical components attached to the frame of the vehicle that maintain a clearance zone large enough to protect the operator's body in the event of rollover.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Young worker safety and health</span>

Around the world, nearly 250 million children, about one in every six children, ages 5 through 17, are involved in child labor. Children can be found in almost any economic sector. However, at a global level, most of them work in agriculture (70%). Approximately 2.4 million adolescents aged 16 to 17 years worked in the U.S. in 2006. Official employment statistics are not available for younger adolescents who are also known to work, especially in agricultural settings.

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is the Canadian government agency responsible for the regulation of pest control products in Canada under the federal authority of the Pest Control Products Act and Regulations. The agency is a branch that reports to Parliament through Health Canada. The PMRA is responsible for providing access to pest management tools while minimizing the risks to human health and the environment by “using modern evidence-based scientific approaches to pesticide regulation, in an open and transparent manner”. Their main activity areas include: new product evaluation, post market review and compliance and enforcement.

An occupational fatality is a death that occurs while a person is at work or performing work related tasks. Occupational fatalities are also commonly called "occupational deaths" or "work-related deaths/fatalities" and can occur in any industry or occupation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Physical hazard</span> Hazard due to a physical agent

A physical hazard is an agent, factor or circumstance that can cause harm with contact. They can be classified as type of occupational hazard or environmental hazard. Physical hazards include ergonomic hazards, radiation, heat and cold stress, vibration hazards, and noise hazards. Engineering controls are often used to mitigate physical hazards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupational safety and health</span> Field concerned with the safety, health and welfare of people at work

Occupational safety and health (OSH) or occupational health and safety (OHS), also known simply as occupational health or occupational safety, is a multidisciplinary field concerned with the safety, health, and welfare of people at work. These terms also refer to the goals of this field, so their use in the sense of this article was originally an abbreviation of occupational safety and health program/department etc. OSH is related to the fields of occupational medicine and occupational hygiene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grain entrapment</span> Being submerged in grain, with possibly fatal consequences

Grain entrapment, or grain engulfment, occurs when a person becomes submerged in grain and cannot get out without assistance. It most frequently occurs in grain bins and other storage facilities such as silos or grain elevators, or in grain transportation vehicles, but has also been known to occur around any large quantity of grain, even freestanding piles outdoors. Usually, unstable grain collapses suddenly, wholly or partially burying workers who may be within it. Entrapment occurs when victims are partially submerged but cannot remove themselves; engulfment occurs when they are completely buried within the grain. Engulfment has a very high fatality rate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Farm Medicine Center</span> Non-profit agricultural health center

The National Farm Medicine Center (NFMC), established in 1981, is a non-profit program in Marshfield, Wisconsin dedicated to agricultural health and safety research, and service. The center is a component of the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, which is part of Marshfield Clinic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agricultural safety and health</span>

Agricultural safety and health is an aspect of occupational safety and health in the agricultural workplace. It specifically addresses the health and safety of farmers, farm workers, and their families.

National Farm Safety & Health Week is a week of commemoration, recognized annually on the third week of September in the United States.

References

  1. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Access date 2009-04-06
  2. Growing Forward Access date 2009-04-06
  3. Pickett W, Hartling L, Brison RJ, Guernsey J (1999). Fatal farm injuries in Canada. Can. Med Assoc. J. 160:1843–1848
  4. Farm Credit Canada Access date 2009-04-06
  5. national survey Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine Access date 2009-04-06
  6. Farm Safety Report Card(2008). Farm Credit Canada Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine Access date 2009-04-06
  7. Progressive Agricultural Foundation Safety Days Access date 2009-04-06
  8. Canadian Agricultural Safety and Health Program Archived 2010-03-13 at the Wayback Machine Access date 2009-04-06
  9. Public Health Agency of Canada Access date 2009-04-06
  10. Canadian Standards Association Archived 2009-04-04 at the Wayback Machine Access date 2009-04-06
  11. Under the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Framework Agreement on Agricultural and Agri-Food Policy Access date 2009-04-06
  12. CASHP projects 2008-09 Archived 2010-03-13 at the Wayback Machine Access date 2009-04-06
  13. Progressive Agriculture Safety Days Access date 2009-04-06