Nova Scotia Agricultural College

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2 A Status Report On Safety: How Safe Are They Down on the Farm? March 26, 2010 Lauranne Sanderson Steven Dukeshire

3 Outline Facts about Farming Safety Survey of Farmers Compliance with the OHS Act Nova Scotia Farm Safety Association Status Safety Education at NSAC Farmedic Program Health and Wellness Activities Research related to youth and farming

4 Facts about Farming Third most dangerous occupation in Canada/per capita fatalities Farmers - 2-8x more likely to be killed compared to other occupations fatality rate/100,000 full time equivalent workers (US Labor Bureau Statistics) On average, 110 people are killed and another 1,500 are seriously injured

5 Machinery-related injuries and deaths, falls, respiratory disorders, certain cancers, neuralgic disorders, skin problems, hearing loss, burns, eye injuries, and stress Prone to musculoskeletal l l disorders: d back pain, repetitive motion injuries, sprains, and strains

6 Average cost of injury- $275,000, $143,000 for disability and $10,000 for hospitalization For every $1 of insured costs - $5 uninsured costs of injury Costs between $200 and $300 million annually (Canadian Injury Reporting program) Common injuries occur because of unsafe use of equipment and materials, and miscommunication among workers

7 Farm children continue to experience high rates of premature mortality, morbidity and disability due to injury. 100 children per year in the United States die from agricultural l injuries i and nearly 23,000 children require medical treatment or restrict their activity Similar trends for farm children internationally : Canada, Australia, Finland, and India

8 Canada between (CAISP*) 99 children under age of 4 died 14.3/100,000/year 911 older adults ( 50+) died 91 percent males average 13.6/100,000/year fatalities * Canadian Injury Surveillance Program

9 Legislative Requirements Occupational Health and Safety Act all farms in Nova Scotia Inspections of farms more of a priority 1 conviction in last year and charges pending in at least one other WCB not required About 200 farms have WCB Required for farms with migrant workers Rates rising 10 to 20% per year

10 Survey of Nova Scotia s Farmers Project funded by Canadian Safety Association and the Women s Health in Rural Communities Project (CIHR net grant) Part of a pilot project designed d to assess the feasibility of a farm safety association for the province Initiated at the request of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture

11 Objectives of Survey To assess level of knowledge of and compliance with the Act To determine what safety management activities/practices are in place To assess their safety management and compare this to their beliefs around safety on the farm

12 Methodology Mail Survey Winter of 2009 Initial mailout with Federation newsletter Reminder card two weeks later Another mailing two weeks later 575 farmers responded (2300 surveys sent out)

13 Questions Do farmers understand their obligations under the Act? To what degree can they demonstrate t compliance? Are safety considerations part of the management decision making process? How safety conscious do they believe they are? Can farms be categorized by their safety culture and can this be used to target interventions?

14 60% had not undertaken any activities to comply pywith the OHS act in the last year 40% felt lack of info. about workplace obligations regarding health and safety was a challenge Expressed interest in safety training, access to first aid and WHMIS courses

15 Safety Equipment or Precautions First aid kits 77% Machinery guards 93% ROP s 77% MSD sheets 43% Secured storage for pesticides 75% PPE 70% Informed fire department of chemicals 23%

16 Certification or Training Someone* on the farm had: If Applicable n Pesticide applicators license 100% 521 Emergency first aid 75% 452 Standard first aid 78% 434 WHMIS training 63% 447 Confined Space 23% 391 OHS 51% 368 *Primarily the respondent had the training

17 Safety Plans/Activities Did the farm have: Percent Not Yes applicable A remote location plan 10% 34% Maintenance or safety checklist 34% 3% SOP for confined space 3% 61% Lockout procedures 35% 15% OHS Act posted 14% 15% Emergency Preparedness Plan 17% 15%

18 Management Activities Managing Safety Some to All the Time Funds allocated 23% Meetings regarding safety and health 37% Formal communication 59% Audits and Inspections 46% Formal training 56% Documentation system 24% Emergency preparedness 47%

19 In the last year How often did you: Never Mix pesticides/chemicals without PPE 61% Drove tractor without a ROP 64% Drove tractor t without t using seatbelt 9% Drove with passenger 44% Repaired equipment without turning it off 74% Stepped over rotating PTO 84% Worked outside in sun without hat 45%

20 Compliance with OHSA In the past year, has your farm undertaken any activities to comply with the OHS Act? 14% said yes 28% said that the OHS act does not apply to their farm. Types of activities included: first aid training or kits, using PPE, providing training

21 Strong agreement with the following: 63% - Planning for health and safety is one of the most important roles for farm owner/manager. 63% - Spending money to reduce farm hazards is a good long-term way to save money 75% - Formal training of workers about health and safety is a good use of time and money. 54% - Inexperienced, inattentive workers lead to injuries or illness. 14% - Hard to find time to eliminate hazards on the farm. 14% - Don t need others to tell me how to operate a safe farm.

22 Conclusions of study Most farmers felt farm health and safety was important and recognized the need to manage it. A small percentage were inclined to To blame the workers Have a fatalistic attitude towards accidents Not believe safety should be regulated or planned for. Murphy s Farm Safety Paradox awareness of risks but choose to ignore or downplay risks Difference between attitudes and actual practice Significant risk for injury and inability to demonstrate due diligence

23 Follow Up Interviews Twenty five follow-up interviews Key ideas Don t believe OHS act applies to farm (because most don t have employees) Lack of communication Most did not seem worried about health implications, but were more likely to be concerned about injuries More concerns about safety of employees (who tended not to be safety conscious) Generally complacent about dangers of job

24 Safety Association - Status Canadian Safety Association provides funding to establish safety champions in each province seed money for business case development, organizational materials, etc Applied for funding last spring to pilot a farm safety consultant, conduct a survey and to determine the feasibility of a safety association

25 Progress Establishing a farm safety association in Nova Scotia - Society of Farm Safety Nova Scotia Farmer owned and managed Provide access to safety training and audit services Assist in compliance issues with the OHS act

26 Safety Education at NSAC One 3000 level online degree course entitled: Issues in Health and Safety Two online certificate courses for two year business students entitled: Farm Health and Safety Management Health and Safety Management for Equine Related Businesses Also PEI Farm Apprenticeship Program

27 Diploma Program Options: dairy farming, farming, equine Workplace readiness component: first aid, WHMIS, OHS, Safety

28 Outlines for Certificate Courses Safety Audits A Risk Management Tool Occupational Health Safe Livestock Handling Tractor and Equipment Safety Safety Management

29 Objectives of Certificate To be able to implement an audit To understand role of manager with respect to OHS and safety Develop protocols for risk management Recognize health hazards on operations Identify strategies for changing g health and safety climate on farm or equine business

30 Degree Program - Online course Module 1: Issues in Health & Safety the state of health and safety on Canadian Module 2: Models of Health Behaviour Change Public Health Module 3: Managing Farm Health and Safety role of farm manager Module 4: Machinery major cause of injuries Module 5: l Chemicals health h risks

31 Module 6: Safe Livestock Handling Module 7: Occupational Health other health hazards Module 8: Family Dynamics role of culture and family Module 9: Risks risk management Module 10: Improving Health and Safety the future

32 Farmedic Course In 2006, Atlantic Provinces Safety and Health Council (APASH) identified the need for specialist training program in agricultural emergency preparedness The National Farmedic Program in US - Cornell University Three Farmedic programs: Instructor, t Provider, First on the Scene (Farm Families)

33 APASH Council sponsored Kim Murdock and Kendall Dunham, two Level 4 Firefighter Instructors to go to North Carolina Judy Guernsey, Rural Centre, applied for funding to pilot the program in Nova Scotia Modified curriculum to suit Canadian conditions Brought instructors from the United States to teach course in August 2009

34 Instructor Qualifier and Provider courses August Instructor Course August Provider Course NSAC was a partner in the delivery of the courses 23 Participants included voluntary firefighters, Nova Scotia Emergency Health Services (NS EHS) personnel, RCMP, Fire / Rescue Instructors, t

35 Classroom instruction in hazards in agriculture, injury statistics Demonstration of silo types, manure pits, confined space entry, grain bins at NSAC farm Equipment observations Practiced extrications

36 What happens next? The pilot instructor and provider courses need be offered again and on an ongoing basis NSAC and NS Department of Agriculture working to offer training. i Canadian Safety Association working to develop national program standardized training packages and instructor courses

37 Health and Wellness Activities Nova Scotia Farm Women s Health and Wellness Forum Held on March 2009 Topics: stress management, healthy eating, child safety on the farm Health assessment clinic: blood pressure, skin test, hearing, cholesterol Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture Meeting Health assessment clinic

38 Research Interests Farm youths knowledge of farm safety Study of 26 NSAC farm students questionnaire and interview conducted in March 2006 To understand what factors impact safety behaviour including parental influence and gender

39 Highlights Half of women had learned to drive tractorages of 8 and 13 Two thirds of men had learned to drive tractor ages 5-13 Earliest age to start working around animals: 5 7 years Little formal training in safety equipment handling, electrical safety, chemical handling

40 Perceptions of Value of Farm Life Farm children learn good work habits, have greater self esteem, are more respectful of animals and nature, are more responsible and resilient, and are important to the financial viability of the farm

41 Safety Knowledge Transfer Fathers were the main conveyers of knowledge and skill training Mothers were perceived to be safety conscious, but.. She would always just say be careful because she doesn t really drive tractors herself so she doesn t really know much about them.

42 What do you worry about specifically? My dad, he had we haven t had a lot of accidents or injuries on our farm some of his fingers cut off, but.. So we kind of always had that to see and he gets along find with out them, but.. So safety has always kind of been an issue with us. And my uncle, he cut himself pretty bad with a chainsaw there one time so, but they re fine, they are back at it now.

43 Safety Precautions Were you told to follow any safety precautions when you were first learning to drive a tractor?: Probably not, not really. I guess he showed me like how to stop and stuff. Did your tractor have seatbelts I ve never seen anybody use one, I don t know if they are there or not, but Yeah, we don t use them.

44 Injury Statistics for Participants 24% had been injured in the past year Nearly all had been injured on the farm. Most had parents or relatives injured on the farm needing medical attention If parents were permanently injured, family was more safety conscious Most had experienced back pain

45 Conclusions of Study Parental influence had impact on attitude toward safety practice, particularly if injured. Indicated fathers were more important influence and did the training: training basically minimal i Experiential and observational learning Limited use of protective measures Farm acknowledged as dangerous place but not reflected in safe practice

46 The Farm Apprentice Some of the earliest work that I remember doing was feeding the calves on our dairy farm. My parents got me started doing this when I was big enough to carry a bucket. I would have to measure out the milk and then carry the bucket out to the calves so they could drink and if the calf was a newborn that it had to be fed with the bottle. This was an important job because if it didn t get done then calves would be hungry and it was important t for their overall health. I was trusted with this job, without any supervision. I think when I was that young that I didn t really understand the importance of the task, but I did it anyway because my parents wanted me to. They were proud of me for doing this task and that made me feel good about the job I was doing. That gave me motivation to keep doing the chore.

47 Conclusions High level of injury and chronic health issues Compliance with the OHSA, extremely limited Use of safety precautions and practices limited: complacency and high risk tolerance Positive initiatives: safety association, health clinic initiatives, Farmedic training Impacting the future farmers to promote a safety culture

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