SPECIAL ANNOUNCMENT!
New FREE Course for
Farm Employers, Supervisors, and Workers
Understanding how occupational health and safety applies to Alberta farms, along with the roles, responsibilities, and requirements that come with it, can feel complicated, especially when you are trying to explain it all to workers.
AgSafe Alberta’s Roles, Responsibilities & OHS Essentials: A General Safety Introduction is a free online course with a downloadable guide that makes it easier. Through clear explanations, practical farm examples, and interactive learning activities, the course helps farm employers, supervisors, and workers better understand workplace safety and put that knowledge into practice.
Designed specifically for Alberta farms and ranches, this course explains how occupational health and safety laws apply in agricultural workplaces. Learners will explore worker rights, competence, dangerous work refusals, harassment and violence, incident reporting, OHS officer visits, and the responsibilities everyone shares for keeping the farm safe.
Whether you are new to farm safety or simply refreshing your knowledge, this course will help you understand what is expected of you, make informed decisions, and contribute to a safer, more respectful workplace. Upon completion, you will receive a personalized certificate of completion.
Start learning today and build practical safety knowledge
that can make a difference on your farm.
Are you a farm employer? Consider making this course a part of your farm orientation!
Fall Is Great. Falls Are Not.
November may be Fall Prevention Month, but falls remain a serious issue in Alberta well into spring—especially once snow arrives and chinooks cause changing conditions.
The key word is prevention. Use these resources to help prevent slips, trips, and falls on your farm:
GOA Slips, trips and falls – Housekeeping
GOA Slips, trips and falls – Slips and trips
GOA Slips, trips and falls – Falls
GOA How do I support workers who report a slip, trip or fall?
GOA Slips, trips and falls – Boots and traction aids
GOA Fall protection systems and weather
Check Out Our NEW Contractor Management Resources!
Hiring contractors brings responsibilities, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. Visit the Contractor Management section of the Resources page at agsafeab.ca for free templates, tools and guidance to help you plan the work, communicate expectations and support safe contractor work on your farm.
Not Having a Safety Program is Risky Business!
Health and safety programs reduce the risk to you, your family, your employees, and your farm business. Think about it. How can you protect anyone from a hazard you have not recognized or done something about? A farm-specific safety program addresses that and more.
What are you risking by not having a health and safety program or having one that collects dust on a shelf somewhere? Not having a farm-specific safety program puts your farm at an increased risk of:
Fatalities and serious injuries to the people on your farm
Civil and criminal liabilities, fines, legal fees, and possibly even jail time
Lost-time costs from incidents, investigations, OHS visits, etc.
Higher private insurance rates and/or WCB costs
Fines and penalties under Alberta OHS legislation
Damage to your reputation and difficulty finding or keeping employees
Non-productive time due to being short-staffed, equipment downtime, etc.
Costly equipment repair and replacement
A health and safety program helps you manage these risks in a simple, step-by-step way that fits your operation. Getting started is easier than you think. Here are some FREE resources to help you get started:
Alberta FarmSafe Plan Manual
(guides you through the creation of a health and safety program)
AgSafe Alberta FarmSafe Plan Program
(online, self-paced program that provides you with a personalized certificate of completion)
AgSafe Alberta Resources Page
(contains helpful information and customizable templates)
If progress has stalled on your current health and safety program, reach out to us today for help getting it back on track. For answers to your questions or support, email us at info@agsafeab.ca today!
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!
Safety Myth of the Month
MYTH
“I know this farm like the back of my hand.
I don’t need to worry about slips, trips, and falls.”
Knowing your farm well does not remove the hazards. Snow, ice, mud, poor lighting, hidden objects, and changing conditions can make a familiar farmyard dangerous. Slips, trips, and falls often happen during everyday tasks when people underestimate the risk or become less alert. Winter raises the risk of falls on stairs, ladders, equipment, walkways, and around barns and bins.
The best time to prevent a fall is before you take the first step. Clear snow and ice, improve lighting, wear appropriate footwear, and use handrails and three points of contact when climbing.
Government of Alberta Resources:
GOA Don’t slip into winter 1: Hazards and controls
GOA Don’t slip into winter 2: Wear your winter feet
GOA Don’t trip into winter 1: Hazards and controls
Safety Toolbox
This Safety Toolbox is your go-to for quick, easy access to safety tips, tools and training.
When was the last time you visited the AgSafe Alberta Store? Check it out today and see if there is anything you can use on your farm!
Check out some of these FREE courses from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety:
Explore these Safer Farms New Zealand resources for practical ideas that may help you keep people safe on your farm. Remember that New Zealand legislation may differ from Alberta legislation: Keeping People Safe | Safer Farms