1.      CASA moves to CAIR from CAISP

CASA has moved the collection and analysis of ag fatality statistics to the Alberta Centre for Injury Control and Research at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.  The title of the service has changed to Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting (CAIR) from the Canadian Agricultural Injury Surveillance Program (CAISP). CAIR will distribute reports and analysis through CASA as quickly and efficiently as possible. The information provided by CAIR is used by all ag safety groups and business to plan education and social marketing campaigns across the country. CAIR provides much of the science behind all CASA undertakes.

2.      CASA renews funding agreement with CFWDR

CASA has renewed its funding agreement with the Canadian Farmers with Disabilities Registry (CFWDR).  CFWDR has reassessed and refocused its goals and tactics.  CASA is looking forward to collaborative and cooperative activities to accomplish the mutually held goal of decreasing farm fatalities and injuries in Canada.

3.      CASA invests in ag safety

CASA’s Board of Directors has set a new direction to move toward the role of project investor from project funder.  The new focus is on establishing partnerships to leverage funding including federal core funds.  Training modules, a ROPS modification campaign and the planned Canada FarmSafe program will be the lead projects in this new initiative.

4.      CASA investigates education standard for ag safety professionals

CASA is currently investigating the establishment of criteria for national accreditation of an agricultural occupational health and safety competency.  There is nothing of the sort in Canada now.  Agricultural business, including farm operations, is asking for a recognized standard education of safety professionals who would advise on safety risk assessment and mitigation. 

CASA Develops, Promotes, Builds and Manages

 Here’s a quick overview of CASA’s major initiatives in 2009-10:

 CASA develops evaluative research and safety resources

•  Six  Canadian Standards Association (CSA) ag machinery standards  were published in 2009-10.  CASA annually convenes the meeting of Canadian ag engineers to review selected standards. In total, 45 CSA ag machinery standards are now available.  These machinery standards are used by all Canadian ag machinery manufacturers and affect all farmers who buy Canadian-made ag equipment.  Federal regulations are based on the standards set through collaboration of CASA with the Canadian Standards Association.
•  Agricultural injury and fatality reports are now available through the Alberta Centre for Injury Control and Research’s (CAIR’s) new website.   In 2009-10, an average of 3,500 visits were logged on the CAIR website with approx. half resulting in information downloads.  CAIR reports form the basis of most media stories re ag safety in Canada and help focus the development of ag safety programs and policies.

 CASA promotes safe farm operations and management  

•  CASA is working to launch a re-designed website in 2010.  There are now 10,000 visits per month logged on CASA’s bilingual website and 87% downloading agricultural safety information.
•  Seven new interactive farm safety teaching tools were developed and made available to borrow or purchase.  New teaching tools include fire simulators, first-aid kits, brain moulds, mass force demos, and hand wash kits to add to chemical look alike kits, gravity wagons and PTO demonstrations. These resources were lent to 39 safety days and training events across Canada. In 2009 – 10, 7,800 youth and approx. 2500 adults gained knowledge and skills from CASA’s teaching tools.
•  The US Farmedic Workbook was revised for use in Canada to accommodate Canadian legislation and technologies.  Two one-week courses were given to 23 fire-fighters and RCMP first responders in Nova Scotia. Topics included emergency plans, scenario training, first responder training, ROPS. 
•  CASA’s annual conference was held in Fredericton, New Brunswick in November 2009.  The theme was Farm Safety – growing the plan forward.  More than 70 safety professionals, farmers, researchers and ag business reps attended the 2010 annual conference.  Four media attended.
•   Several stories, especially of the AAFC funding announcement, appeared across the country in all      major ag media. Topics included emergency plans, scenario training, first responder training, ROPS.

 CASA builds sector capacity to implement safety on farms

•  CASA provided logistical support to train co-ordinators across Canada to organize Progressive Agriculture Safety Days® - a hands-on, fun, and educational program that has helped children across Canada learn about the dangers and potential deadly outcomes of unsafe behaviour on the farm.
•   Through CASA’s Canadian Agricultural Safety and Health Program (CASHP), CASA approved $317,000 for 13 agricultural groups to conduct 15 ag safety projects targeted at farm owner/operators and youth.  
•   Canadian Agricultural Safety Week was delivered via print and broadcast media and in cooperation with more than 700+ co-delivering agencies. CASA’s flagship for media - Canadian Agricultural Safety Week - increases awareness of farm safety risks by informing industry stakeholders of various risks and preventative measures that can be taken. Media increasingly rely on its messages.  It is the first of many tactics used nationally to promote the use and effectiveness of safety plans over the next three years. The 524 collected media clips pegged total audience reach at 10,550,786 for a cost per contact of 0.007¢ - well below the industry standard of .05¢ per contact. 
•  CASA convened a face to face meeting in May 2009 of Canada’s ag safety communicators, resulting in a three-year ag safety theme - PLAN.FARM.SAFETY. to guide ag safety messaging across the country.  The twenty-five communicators who attended from safety organizations, agri-business, provincial governments and producer groups agreed to the national focus on promoting the planning (yr. 1), implementation (yr. 2) and assessment (yr. 3) of farm safety plans on Canadian farms.

 CASA manages CASA operations and service delivery

•   CASA facilitated networking for associations, organizations, businesses, individuals and researchers in the field of ag safety throughout Canada.  CASA contacted its 90 members plus 1000 safety contacts through weekly and quarterly electronic communication vehicles.  More than 2500 media across the country received CASA releases.
•  In 2009-10, CASA leveraged the $1.3 million AAFC contribution to gain another $3.2 million in funding from CASA members and supporters. Further collaboration is being explored with agribusiness.