From defective wiring and ornery animals to faulty machinery and deadly fumes, farming has always been a risky business. The Oxford dictionary defines risk as the "chance or possibility of danger, loss, injury, or other adverse consequence." In agriculture, we define risk as an uncertain outcome with potentially undesirable results.

Back to Top

Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

1. A large debt load combined with a heavy dependence on income from crops means that you should seriously consider crop insurance.
2. Farmers eligible for a Net Income Stabilization Account (NISA) should establish a NISA account and annually contribute a minimum of their eligible net sales that are matched by federal and provincial governments.
3. An accurate understanding of production costs is important for good risk management. Knowing your break-even price is important.
4. Succession planning for bringing children into the farm business should be done using life insurance products such as a Second to Die policy. This will help ensure an orderly transfer of assets.
5. Taking on debt to finance expansion or upgrading? Credit insurance is highly recommended.
6. If you have a life insurance policy, make sure you have a Waiver of Premium for Disability rider. This way, your premium will be paid for you in the event of short or long-term disability.
7. Disability insurance is more important than you think. A 30-year old operator has an overwhelming 54 per cent chance of being disabled for at least three months before reaching the age 65. It is crucial that your disability coverage is based on Actual Farm Income and not T‑4 income tax information.
8. Make sure you understand your property insurance policy and its definitions. If you only have minimum coverage for the Rebuilding Clause that most likely means you don't have sufficient coverage to rebuild to the standards of today's agricultural industry.
9. Dairy, hog, and poultry businesses should consider Power Disruption coverage. Within seconds of the 2003 blackout 10 million Ontarians were without power. This is important coverage for livestock operators.
10. The end result of the Manitoba's 1997 flood and the Eastern Canada ice storm of 1998, is that many operators now consider Loss of Income insurance as a regular part of their total insurance package. This is especially important where the business is carrying a heavy debt load.
11. Pollution Liability Insurance is advisable for most farm businesses including a rider that provides for On-Site Clean-Up Coverage.
12. Research and choose your risk management consultant carefully. Use reference checks and word-of-mouth recommendations. Supervise their work and be demanding, but fair, about the final product you accept.

Back to Top

1. Farm machinery 
   The deadliest injuries are caused by machinery.

• Starting equipment and fueling up (bystander/operator run over /explosion)
• Transportation of family and workers  (rollover, run over)
• Using Power Take-Off (PTO) driven implements (entanglement)
• Using farm equipment on public roadways (rollover, collision)
• Machinery around power lines (electrocution)
• Loaders (electrocution, entanglement, crushing, falls)

1. Noise
   Protect your hearing from prolonged exposure to high decibel noise produced by farm machinery and animals. Otherwise, the noise could lead to loss or impairment of hearing.
2. Confined Spaces and Water Storage
   Manure pits, grain bins, septic tanks and other confined spaces are commonplace in agriculture and are prime sites for accidental asphyxia and poisoning.  Dugouts, wells and cisterns can also be hazardous.
3. Working at Heights
   Falling, electrocution.
4. Working With Irritable, Protective or Hungry Animals
   Crushing, striking.
5. Lifting, Moving, Repositioning Loads
   Inappropriate lifting and moving of heavy objects cause back injuries. Poor posture, positioning and repetitive motion cause ergonomic injuries.
6. Working Alone or in Isolated Places; Extreme Conditions of Weather and Terrain: 
   Certain working conditions may increase the risk of harm. Identify risks in these situations and do what is possible to eliminate or reduce risk.

Back to Top

Assess how each of these factors affect the safety of your family, workers, and property.

Tractor

• Rollover protection and seat belts installed
• Shields and guards (e.g. PTO) in place
• Proper hitching attachments (e.g. draw bar and safety chain) used
• Hearing protection available (tractor cab or ear protection)
• Vehicles, Tools, Machinery, etc.
• Tools, machinery, equipment, vehicles maintained
• Hydraulic hoses in good repair
• All warning decals and engine shut-off instructions visible
• Lights and wipers working
• "Slow Moving" sign attached
• Brakes in good working order
• Battery in good condition
• Operator's platform clear of debris
• Visibility clear
• Fire extinguishers on machine
• Hot/friction areas clear of debris

Orientation and Training

• Workers trained in safe work procedures
• Workers receive adequate supervision
• Workers trained and practicing proper lifting, moving and repositioning techniques

Work Environment

• Adequate lighting and ventilation for the work task
• Protection from extremes of temperature
• Appropriate safety equipment provided, maintained and usage

Farm Buildings

• All exits clear
• Hallways, stairs, ladders and floors uncluttered and in good repair
• Light and ventilation adequate
• Buildings free of hazardous materials
• Potential hazardous areas such as ladders, openings, protrusions guarded
• Adequate toilet/waste disposal facilities
• Electrical fixtures suitable and in proper condition

Farmyard

• Assigned play area for children (away from work areas)
• Protection from enclosed spaces such as cisterns, wells, manure pits, feed silos
• Protection from dugouts (fences)
• Grain bins located away from electrical hazards
• Identify and post all overhead power lines where high equipment is used (e.g. grain augurs)
• Adequate visibility provided when exiting your property
• Chemical Hazard and Biohazard Protection
• Chemicals stored and labeled properly
• Biohazards identified and dealt with safely
• Warning signs posted
• Proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) available (e.g. eyewear and protective clothing) in good condition
• Emergency numbers posted (legal land location and directions included)
• First aid supplies available (including eyewash in hazardous locations)

Fire Protection

• Identify, control or isolate all sources of ignition (furnaces, boilers, hot water tanks)
• Portable fire extinguishers (serviced) in hazardous areas
• No smoking signs in hazardous areas
• Exits clearly marked in hazardous areas
• Proper electrical installation for the environment
• Flammable materials stored safely
• Fire emergency numbers listed near telephone
• Emergency fire plan developed and posted
• Evacuation procedures in place (where applicable)
• Be aware of "hot spots" on machinery - clear chaff and debris frequently.
• Carry a multi-purpose dry chemical fire extinguisher securely mounted on tractors and self propelled swathers, combines, etc.

Back to Top

Never underestimate the significance of common everyday health and safety hazards. Hazards are anything that can harm workers, owners, family and visitors. Hazard identification and control is key to preventing injuries on the farm. 

Health hazards include any agent, situation or condition that can cause an injury or illness:

• Chemical (battery acid, solvents and pesticides)
• Biological  (bacteria, viruses, dusts and moulds)
• Physical agents strong enough to cause harm (electricity, heat, light, vibration, noise and radiation)
• Work design (ergonomics - lifting, moving, repositioning of heavy loads)
• Workplace stress (associated with work shifts, workload, and harassment)

Safety hazards are anything that can cause a physical injury, such as a cut or a fracture. These occur when safety controls are not adequate.

Create your own hazard control system

1. Spot the hazard - Using the above list, focus on all farm tasks, equipment, substances.
    Use information from past or near accidents, and other experiences.
2. Assess the risk - determine the chance that the hazard will actually harm someone
    (likelihood of accident happening and potential severity of injury).
3. Make necessary changes.

Back to Top

Biosecurity is taking precautions to prevent the transmission of disease in order to protect the health of livestock.

Most specialized farm operations, such as integrated poultry and hog barns, have a well-developed biosecurity plan designed to protect the good health status of the herd or flock.

Common practices include:

• Maintaining a 48 to 72 hour waiting period between farm visits, especially for hogs and poultry, so that contaminants are not tracked from one farm to another.
• A shower in/out facility, with change of clothing is commonly in place for hog farms and is now under consideration for poultry farms.

The Co-operators takes every precaution to prevent transmission of diseases to your property. We are cautious and aware of smaller farm operations that lack good biosecurity and housekeeping procedures inside the barns.
Disease risk exposure from farm visitors can range from low to high and is directly related to where we live and what work we do.

Moderate risk visitors
They live in urban areas and visit two to three farms per week with 2-3 days between farm visits but have no direct contact with livestock. They include salesmen, feed distributors, farm equipment mechanics, and insurance staff - all of whom pose a moderate risk for disease transmission.

Back to Top

• Awareness of the farm biosecurity procedures as per the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
• Arrive at the farm with clean clothing and footwear.
• Ensure the vehicle has been through an automatic carwash prior to your arrival so you can park near the farm dwelling.
• Equipped with and will use disposable coveralls and boot covers.
• If a shower in/out facility, clean barn clothing are usually provided, with a choice to provide a clean set of coveralls with boots or disposable boot covers.
• Use footbaths or change boot covers where required, between poultry and livestock barns.
• Do not touch the animals. As the degree of contact with livestock increases, so does the risk of transmission of diseases to both the animals and to the visitor. Therefore; a breathing mask is optional.
• Remove all soiled coveralls and boot covers before leaving the farm property and entering our vehicle.
• Farmers should maintain a log of all visitors to the property, entering the barns or coming into contact with poultry and livestock.

How to prevent diseases

• Keep wild birds and their feces away from poultry and poultry feed, and incinerate dead poultry.
• Seal all barn attics and cover ventilation openings with screens.
• Thoroughly and routinely clean all equipment, vehicles, including service vehicles, clothing and footwear before and after entry onto the property.
• Ensure proper hygiene practices for all persons coming into contact with poultry or livestock
• Maintain high sanitation standards in and around poultry and livestock barns.
• Isolate or avoid introducing new birds or livestock into existing operation if their health status is unknown.
• Limit access to the barns, including farm workers, feed suppliers, veterinarians, contract/casual labor crews, agricultural service personnel and casual visitors.
• Use filtered and chlorinated water when necessary in barns; avoid using open water reservoirs.
• Ensure thorough cleaning and disinfection for all equipment transporting birds/livestock.

Back to Top