AB OH&S... WCB... NDP new rules

[TOM4CWB]

Farmers in Alberta are not safe. We must be regulated.

Sadly NO ONE can legislate against stupid mistakes. They happen every day in every industry.

I think about safety every minute of every day on the farm... yes even at 1am in the morning... when I should be sleeping.

SK is under OH&S... but has no regs passed.

AB is headed on a path... to become much more regulated than SK.

So be it. Safety is a state of mind... mitigation requires people to be flexible and communicate in a manner that is clear and forward minded in outlook.

I have watched many accidents happen. People want to do their own thing... and not have someone breathing down their neck all day. And the vast majority of incidents occur... with someone watching... who laughs if it is not too serious.

When it is serious... they say "you stupid fool... why did you do that!"

Large equipment with limited sight lines... are an accident waiting to happen.

Please be safe. Think ahead. No regulation or law brings people back to life after an accident. Nor do people have time to think about breaking a certain regulation or law... in the split second decision... that often is the cause of fatal incidents.

Our farm has WCB now. We read accident reports.

I hope the people installing these NEW rules... if truly safety mitigation of fatal accidents is to be achieved; this means removing children from farms.

Farm children will not die... if they are not allowed near farm equipment, buildings and livestock.

Please think before you regulate. People die every day. This is a fact of life. It is not If we die... but WHEN we will die.

Farm families are special people... and need special consideration. From strictly a risk safety perspective I would never allow a person under 18 near my farm operation.

To make a farm bullet proof safe... without incidents... is about PERSONAL responsibility of those working on the farm... thinking safety minded projecting ahead 2 seconds...to 5mins... 1hr...1Day...Our friends lives and families... not about OH&S regulations and gov. laws. A state of mind...

[malleefarmer]

so farm kids are not allowed on the farm your grandchildren not allowed to ride on combine?

We all have kids driving chaser bins rounding up sheep and cattle on 4 wheeler learning correct use of firearms etc etc

[sumdumguy]

I heard on the radio yesterday that a 60 year old and a 14 year old were killed at Burstall unloading a semi of grain. No other details.

Accidents happen and legislation can't prevent all of them as the Saskatchewan government found out with the 60 km. orange zones.

Please everyone, slow down and be careful.

[farming101]

Another question I am grappling with--
How old would a person have to be before they should stay away from farm machinery?

16 year old cuts barley with 30 foot head all day long, grandpa, not a chance.

[Braveheart]

When our son was 13 we were confident letting him straight cut with 30' header. My 87 year old father is still sulking we won't let him run the combine or harrow.

Safety is the number one priority. Regulation would not be the answer as accidents could still occur. No amount of regulation creates good sense.

[bucket]

When dad was alive, he would get on a piece of machinery and **** something up.

His favorite line was .." it was working when I used it..."

Yeah well it ain't working now so go to town and have a coffee. We will phone you to pick up the parts.

He gladly picked them up and paid for them as well.

It's funny now but I don't know how he didn't hurt himself.

[SASKFARMER3]

Dads 86 coming 87 soon and still runs one of the combines. No problem. my youngest has started a few years back riding with him and this year finally runs one. My 16 year old is better than any hired man. That saying accidents happen that's why its called a accident. No one plans to have a issue.
Be safe out their.

[sk_wheatking]

if labour laws and regulations were ever mandated by government and enforced in the same way as other occupations such as oilfield or construction it would be the end of agriculture as we know I today. Climbing on bins with no fall assist, working on combines or inside grain bins that are confined spaces,dust,chemical,oil and chemical spills, the list goes on and on. THen there are wages for employees. What is a hired person worth that can run any piece of heavy equipment on your farm and maintain that equipment also? $40.00 an hour? I you run a cat on road construction and are good you will make close to that and you just run equipment. It is serviced for you and maintained. Then there is overtime. Don't worry no government will ever implement this because they know that this is the last industry that they can have where regulation is not wanted and if implemented would amount to destruction. Canola would have to be 30 dollars a bushel and you would need unlimited time for seeding and harvest to make any regulations possible. One more, just imagine a near miss or a small accident, never mind a major one, at seeding or harvest. The paperwork and investigation would shut your operation down for weeks.

[biglentil]

We dont need more bs regulations Tom. Its called common sense it used to be common,it can not be regulated into existance. A hard hat, steel toe boots, safety goggles, a vest, and hearing protection will not keep the pto from tearing your arms off or the tow chain from taking your head off.

[furrowtickler]

agree OH&S will ruin farms and the NDP will demand it to create union jobs ... its coming, and they will drown us in paper work to the point most guys will say f it and walk away. Safety is simply common sense.

[mcfarms]

First govt person that drives into my yard with a clipboard.........

[sk_wheatking]

and you would do what. They would be calling you mcfinished after they were done with you,sorry to say. Maybe ou haven't worked in other industries to see the power occupational health and safety have or the labour unions.

[FarmRanger]

The end of the family farm. Only giant corps will be able to hire the extra staff to deal with the mountain of regulations and paperwork.
No kids riding with Dad on the combine??
Come on Tom, you're kidding right?

The competitive advantage of a lot of smaller farms is being able to take advantage of the abilities of the next generation. I'd rather work with a well trained 14 year old farm kid than some 18 year old from the city any day.

[mcfarms]

Maybe I was goin to say .... gets a warm hug and a big hot steaming mug of cocoa.

[fjlip]

Anyone hear what happened at Burstall?