FREDERICTON (GNB) – Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries Minister Rick Doucet issued the following message today on the upcoming Canadian Agricultural Safety Week, March 15-21:
The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association works to promote healthy and safe farming practices through this annual campaign. This year the theme, Be the Difference, is encouraging farmers to take action and work towards improving agricultural safety.
New Brunswick’s agricultural industry is an important economic driver. It creates thousands of jobs in both primary and value-added operations. Safety is paramount in any job, but farming presents particular risks.
The agricultural industry ranks as one the most hazardous working environments in Canada. Farm accidents and injuries can have a devastating effect both emotionally and economically. Most injuries can be prevented, so it is important for farmers and their families to adopt safe farming practices and reduce the incidence of injury.
The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture work together to organize annual activities. They work with Farm Credit Canada as well as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick, Safety Services New Brunswick and New Brunswick 4-H Council Ltd. also support the campaign. WorkSafeNB provides resources and training opportunities for farm operators and their workers.
I encourage farmers to take the time to assess and improve their safety systems, participate in training, and get their formal written safety plans in place. It will “be the difference.”
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