Published on: October 18, 2016

Richmond, B.C. – WorkSafeBC, 4-H British Columbia, and AgSafe have teamed up to create two new agriculture safety videos that reinforce farm safety information for thousands of young people on B.C. farms. The videos, which will be shown at 4-H club meetings and events province-wide, promote safe work practices on and around tractors and other farm machinery.

In the last five years, there were more than 2700 injuries in the agriculture sector across the province. Farm vehicles or machinery were involved in 16 percent of the injuries.

"The more than 2,200 4-H youth members in B.C. represent the farmers and ranchers of tomorrow,” says Doug Pasco, WorkSafeBC agriculture industry specialist. “The farm safety videos are a great resource for 4-H clubs to use in raising awareness about injury prevention with future agricultural workers and hobby farmers."

The videos, 4-H Working Safely on Tractors and 4-H Working Safely Around Tractors, were produced by WorkSafeBC and filmed on location at the farm of Albert and Dena Finlay in Armstrong, B.C.

Farm owner Dena Finlay has been an active member of the 4-H community since 1957.

"I'm a big supporter of the work 4-H does," says Finlay. "4-H has been a part of my life for more than 50 years and I hope the new videos will help keep everyone focused on safety at home and on the farm."

Key safety points highlighted in the videos:

• Read and follow the user's manual for all farm equipment
• Ensure the tractor’s roll-over protection structures (ROPS) are up and always wear your seatbelt
• Always keep three points of contact when getting on and off equipment
• Wear high visibility apparel when working around farm equipment
• Ensure all power take off (PTO) shields and guards are maintained and in place

For more information, visit the WorkSafeBC agriculture webpage and industry association, AgSafe.

WorkSafeBC is an independent provincial statutory agency governed by a Board of Directors that serves 2.3 million workers and more than 225,000 employers. WorkSafeBC was born from the historic compromise between B.C.’s workers and employers in 1917 where workers gave up the right to sue their employers and fellow workers for injuries on the job in return for a no-fault insurance program fully paid for by employers. WorkSafeBC is committed to safe and healthy workplaces and to providing return-to-work rehabilitation and legislated compensation benefits.

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Contact:

Erica Simpson
WorkSafeBC Government & Media Relations Officer
Tel: 604.214.6934
Cell: 778.874.0281
Email: Erica.simpson@worksafebc.com