Fruit Growing
Home Orchards | Apple Cultivars | Apple
Rootstocks | Pollination | Integrated Pest Management & Integrated Fruit
Production | Orchard Pest Management Fact Sheets |
Photo ID Sheets | Forms |
Harvesting | Picker
Contract | Farm Safety | On Farm Food Safety | Additional
Reading Material| Best
Management Practices for NS Apple Production
Farming can be a very satisfying
way of life. As a part of this, a broad cross section of skills are required,
skills that in other industries would be done by a variety of skilled trades
people such as mechanic, carpenter, problem solver, etc. It also involves work
that could be dangerous, such as working with tools, machinery, heavy equipment
or chemicals. As a result of this a farmer is subjected to many situations
where safety is important. They must be aware of aware of any danger or
hazards, and practice safe working procedures.
Everyone plays a role in farm
safety. Everyone on the farm should participate in managing health and safety
issues. A safe farm is an efficient farm. Injuries and accidents cause
downtime, are costly and are stressful to all those involved.
Make
the Farm a Safe Workplace
• spot hazards - use sense of sight, smell,
touch, and hearing along with common sense, knowledge, and experience
•
carefully read manuals and safety sheets to identify hazards and
precautions
• pay special attention to areas and activities that may expose
children and visitors to hazardous situations
• stay up-to-date with safety
information and procedures
• become familiar with the Nova Scotia
Occupational Health and Safety Act and General Safety Regulations
The following are some tips with respect to particular aspects of farm safety:
Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE)
• appropriate protective equipment must be worn by farm workers
based on hazards that they are exposed to - e.g. safety footwear, skin and body
protection from sun or chemicals, hearing protection, lung protection, etc.
•
employers must ensure that employees are trained in the proper use and care of
PPE and that employees wear them properly
• wearing the appropriate PPE is
required under Nova Scotia Occupational Health and Safety Act
First Aid
• workers
trained in first aid are less likely to have accidents and suffer injuries
•
knowledge of basic first aid and rescue procedures important to rural residents
in part due to distance to emergency services
• employers are required by
Occupational Health and Safety Act First Aid Regulations to ensure that such
things as first aid certification and first aid supplies are available at every
work site
Machinery Guarding
•
ensure dangerous parts of machinery and equipment are safely guarded from human
contact
• use shield, cover, or casing to prevent contact between hazardous
machine part and any part of a person or clothing
• Occupational Health and
Safety Act requires that all moving parts of machinery be guarded
Working Around Machinery
• farm injures occur most frequently in workshops or while repairing and
maintaining machinery
• training for safe procedures of workshop tasks is
important for inexperienced workers
• ensure adequate working space,
sufficient lighting and ventilation
• store tools safely and use correct
tools for the job
• have immediate access to fire fighting and first aid
equipment
• keep bystanders and children at safe distance
Tractor Operation and
Maintenance
• read and follow all manuals, safety procedures and warning
decals
• beware of moving mechanical parts, raised hydraulic cylinders,
climatic conditions, uneven terrain, bystanders
• use seat belt in
conjunction with approved cab or roll-over protection
• regular maintenance
helps prevent accidents in field
• be aware of dangers when repairing and
maintaining tractors
• ensure brakes, clutches, drives, steering, exhaust
system in top condition
• stop motor before refueling, servicing,
greasing
• never remove belts while pulleys under power
• keep children
away
Farm Chemicals
•
includes pesticides, sanitation products, workshop solvents
• store in
locked, well lit, well ventilated area, with warning signs and emergency phone
numbers posted
• read label for directions on use, storage, and disposal
•
separate chemicals that may react dangerously
• ensure all chemicals clearly
labeled
• WHMIS training for workers
• pesticide applicators must be
certified with Nova Scotia regulations
• utilize empty pesticide container
recycling program
• triple rinse containers when emptying
Harvesting
• this is a
busy time, but take time to follow safe procedures
• ensuring that equipment
is in good order prior will reduce potentially hazardous situations
Fall Prevention
• before
climbing ladder, check tree for stability, safest path of ascent, and safest
position of ladder
• climb down and reposition ladder instead of leaning for
fruit that is not easily in reach
Fire Prevention
• don't overload
electrical circuits, beware of faulty electrical wiring
• store flammable
materials properly
• do not smoke around flammable materials or vapours
•
watch for and repair leaks in fuel lines, carburetors, pumps, filters
• use
flammable materials in well ventilated area and away from sparks
• do not use
flammable liquids as cleaning agents
• keep machinery properly lubricated and
tuned to minimize friction and prevent overheating
5 Principles to Remember for
Farm Safety
• farm safety is everyone's responsibility
• risk is part
of life, simply because people and technology are not perfect
• risk can be
reduced by paying attention to the cause of accidents and changing work
habits
• there is usually more than one way to prevent an accident
• an
individual's perception of risk is not always accurate
The Nova Scotia
Occupational Health and Safety Act identifies processes and procedures that must
be put in place on farm to create a safe workplace. More information on farm
safety can be found by visiting this link: http://www.gov.ns.ca/agri/farmsafety/