Beyond the Minimum:
Lessons from an Almost Fatal Incident
This incident on a family farm has been covered numerous times by media over the years and continues to serve as a valuable point of learning for all operations.
What Happened
In 1992, an 18-year-old was working alone on the farm when his shirt became caught in the tractor’s unguarded PTO shaft. Within moments, both arms were torn off just below the shoulders and his body was thrown back.
Despite his serious injuries and blood loss, and realizing that he did not have arms, he managed to travel at least 100 yards to his home, using his mouth to turn the doorknob and then a pencil to dial the phone and call for help. He then sat in the bathtub, waiting for help to arrive.
He was flown for treatment, where surgeons were able to successfully reattach both arms. However, his ordeal was far from over. He spent weeks in a coma, suffered a blood infection, had more surgery, significant rehabilitation, and years of learning to live with all of this.
Sources:
Prevention Highlights
Before going off to perform a task, think about what could go wrong and how bad the outcomes could be, then take steps to make the work safer!
Identify all existing and potential hazards.
Identify the measures needed to eliminate or control all identified hazards following the hierarchy of controls.
Put the hazard control measures in place and check that they are working.
If the chance of something going wrong is high and/or the consequences could be severe, those tasks should not be performed while the person is working alone.
Check the equipment before using it; is it in good condition? Are all of the guards in place and in good condition (e.g., PTO guards)? If something is wrong, don’t use it, take it out of service, and find a qualified person to fix it.
AgSafe Alberta Resources
To learn more about hazards and how to control them, as well as how to create a farm-specific safety program, refer to the Alberta FarmSafe Plan Manual and the free, online FarmSafe Plan Learning Program.
Download and customize this Inspection Policy and Procedure to suit your farm: Inspection Policy and Procedure
Download and use these Working Alone resources:
Working Alone Plan
Toolbox Talk: Working Alone
Alberta Rural Crime Watch Association
Access tools, resources and community connections to prevent crime in your area.
Need Safety Help on Your Farm?
AgSafe Alberta Advisors understand agriculture and will use their experience and knowledge to support you in making your farm safer. Qualifying farms can get up to 10 hours of FREE advisor support!
FREE Training Available!
AgSafe Alberta’s new and improved Health and Safety Committee Awareness Training and Health and Safety Representative Awareness Training are FREE until June 30, 2026 using promo code HSRHSC26.
Safety Myth of the Month
“Wearing a cloth mask, dust mask, or surgical mask will protect me from viruses, moulds, dusts, and small particles.”
With hantavirus making the news and many farmers cleaning out dusty areas where feed has been stored, it is important to revisit the facts about how to adequately protect yourself against breathing in these airborne hazards.
#1. Personal protective equipment (PPE) should never be your first line of defense. It should be used along with other control measures, such as avoiding dry sweeping, using a vacuum with a HEPA filter, improving ventilation, using appropriate disinfection measures, etc.
#2. When it comes to tight fitting respirators, only a properly fitted and sealed NIOSH-approved respirator can provide adequate protection against these types of airborne hazards. A proper seal can only be achieved when nothing interferes with the tight seal against the face – no stubble, piercings, scars, etc. Despite what some people believe, both the CDC and NIOSH recognize this.
#3. Even a NIOSH-approved respirator won’t provide adequate protection if it is not used or handled properly. It must be worn by a trained person who has been fit tested (remember, not everyone should be wearing a respirator either!) and has achieved a proper seal.#4. Cloth masks and surgical masks are loose fitting devices and do not reliably filter out or seal against airborne contaminants. These devices can allow contaminants thought the gaps around the face and even through the “filter” material itself.
Learn more about respiratory protection with these resources:
Safety Brief: Surgical Masks vs N95 Respirators
Safety Aid: Air Purifying Respirators Found on Farms
Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) Awareness Manual
Strychnine Spotlight
With emergency use approvals now in place to control Richardson’s ground squirrels in select areas, many Albertans are asking important safety questions. If strychnine bait will be used on your operation, or near it, it’s important to understand the risks, safe storage, handling and use as well as the signs and symptoms of exposure.
Highlights:
Strychnine is highly toxic; small amounts can be fatal.
There is no antidote.
Strychnine is a very stable compound. There is little to no breakdown when exposed to light. Microbial degradation in the soil is very slow, and in some cases, may not occur. If you will be burying carcasses, there are many additional considerations you will need to take into account.
Producers authorized to use toxic strychnine bait have responsibilities for the health and safety not only of their own workers, but also others (including the public) who may be affected by the farm’s operations. Enforcement actions are possible under Alberta OHS legislation, the Criminal Code of Canada (e.g., negligence), or through civil actions.
Explore these resources to learn more:
Safety Toolbox
This Safety Toolbox is your go-to for quick, easy access to safety tips, tools and training.
Hantavirus on the mind? Check out these resources from WorkSafe BC:
Controlling Exposure: Protecting Workers from Infectious Disease
A Hantavirus Exposure Control Program for Employers and WorkersCheck out this article from Farmer’s Weekly: Long hours and stress fuel farm safety crisis, survey shows
Now would be a great time to watch Do More Agriculture’s talk on Navigating Stress, Sleep and Burnout