Keep farmers safe

By Casandra Turnbull

Did you know that farmers/ranchers are among the top 10 most dangerous jobs in Canada?

According to the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, farm workers are five times more likely to be killed on the job than any other industry workers. One of the leading causes of fatalities for farmers are traffic accidents involving motor vehicles and farm equipment; it’s proven there are two deaths a week in Canada involving collisions, and 74% of accidents take place between summer and late harvest

Statistics show that 7% of accidents on Ontario roadways involve farm equipment. It doesn’t seem like an alarming number, but when you live in a community that is surrounded by agricultural land, it should be a statistic you think about often when you approach a slow-moving tractor on your way home from work. “Slow moving vehicles are 3 8 to 4 8 times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision per kilometre on the road than other motor vehicles. These occur while entering, existing or crossing roadways, veering off the shoulder and accidents involving a motor vehicle passing while large machinery is making a turn,” said Will Stoneman, Member Service Representative with Ontario Federation of Agriculture

So, in short, take your time Taking a few minutes off your arrival time is not worth altering yourself or a family’s life forever