12 | Advancing Seed in Alberta to have some conversations about how to handle things like that on the farm.” Wacowich admits there is still some learning to do, but people are having more conversations and are more open than they were a few years ago. “This is partly because the legislation came in and the farms with employees had to look at putting those pieces in place,” she says. “The media, too, has helped in the sense that they’ve reported on more information about incidents on the farm that are happening … we’re hearing more about it and people are thinking a little bit more about it.” AgSafe Alberta recently received funding from Alberta Labour to assist in building resources to continue their programming work. Some of this work includes an online training portal which may include WHMIS training tools, orientation pieces, tractor safety materials, etc. Future work includes integrating follow-up with farmers and ranchers. So, circling back to those who’ve taken some AgSafe Alberta training and revisiting to determine if more training and/ or explanations are needed. And to provide reminders to family farms and ranches that safety is a number one priority. To assist farmers and ranchers, the Alberta government launched a grant program in October 2018 to help producers with the cost of improving safety on their farms. The program provides up to $10,000 per recipient to help Alberta farmers and ranchers with waged non-family workers implement health and safety practices and procedures that make their work sites safe for their workers, their families and themselves. The grant covers up to 50 per cent of eligible safety expenses to a maximum of $5,000 per year or $10,000 over the life of the program per eligible applicant. Expenses going back to Jan. 1, 2018, are eligible under the program. Eligible expenses (with receipts) include things such as first-aid kits, fire extinguishers and warning signage; respirators, eye and hearing protection; health and safety programs, courses, education and training; and seatbelt installation, warning lights and auger guards to improve equipment safety. The program runs until March 2021. Janet Kanters Photo courtesy of AgSafe Alberta. AgSafe works with commodity groups, agriculture societies and agriculture service boards to assist them in getting the ag safety message out to farms and ranches across the province. Donna Trottier, program director with AgSafe Alberta, is set up at a field day, ready to speak with producers. “Currently in agriculture we lose an average of 18 people per year in Alberta to fatalities. There aren’t any other industries that have numbers that high. We’d like to see everybody get home safely at the end of the day.” — Jody Wacowich