Who We Are

The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and safety of farmers, their families and workers.  CASA works collaboratively with agricultural safety and health specialists and producers in all provinces and territories to promote health and safety on Canadian farms and ranches.

CASA provides national leadership and direction for agricultural health and safety, to reduce injuries and lessen their negative impact on farmers, their families and workers.  CASA’s long term objective is to ensure that no one is hurt farming.

CASA operates as a national health and safety initiator and service provider, led by a seven-person Board of Directors and a 32-person Council drawn from a membership base of approximately 100 individuals, organizations, governments and corporations. In 2011-12, RANA International Inc is providing complimentary governance facilitation services for CASA.

There’s much to do...

Canada’s agricultural industry is one of the top three most hazardous industries in which to work.  And yet, farmers themselves believe their safety habits are better than fair.

Farm Credit Canada recently conducted a national survey to determine farmers’ attitudes toward safety.  The final report is a self-assessment of how farmers visualize their safety performance.  They gave themselves a "B".

There’s an obvious gap between how safe farmers believe they behave and what is actually occurring.  CASA is ready to close this gap.

In tandem with the federal Government’s national policy framework of Growing Forward, CASA: 

            1. Facilitates evaluative research and safety resource development

  • Manages Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting (CAIR) with collection and analysis by the Alberta Centre for Injury Control and Research in Edmonton
  • Updates standards working with the Canadian Standards Association
  • Transfers knowledge  - CAIR research, tractor campaign, narrative simulations
  • Develops ag safety professional designation for an agricultural safety professional

Every year, Canada mourns the loss of about 100 adults and 12 children due to agricultural fatalities.  This is not acceptable. CASA will continue to manage and collect agricultural injury and fatality data with provinces.  This data can be used by researchers and decision makers to prioritize safety activities. To help target messages, we will monitor media reports and farmer attitudes toward safety.  We will also promote sharing and knowledge building across jurisdictions and disciplines.

         2. Promotes safe farm operations and management

  • Explores the development of a process that would identify and collate safety concerns that occur with agricultural machinery and equipment and that it explore options to collaborate with manufacturers to correct the hazards through improved design and engineering standards.
  • Distributes safety resources – web-based distribution of resources such as fire simulators, chemical-look-alike kits and PTO demonstrations at www.planfarmsafety.ca.  
  • Organizes and markets farm safety conferences - check CASA’s website for past presentations and mark your calendar for CASA’s conference PLAN.FARM.SAFETY. checking the plan November 16 – 18 in Vancouver
  • Works with Canadian Farmers with Disabilities
  • Develops and delivers Sécuriferme Canada FarmSafe plan across Canada
  • Develops and delivers training modules for trainers and farmers  eg ATV and tractor safety

A safe farm has potential to be a successful farm. Farmers with safety plans and procedures in place will be able to compete with other industries for labour.  Financial risks should be reduced by minimizing the costs related to agricultural illnesses, injury, death and disabilities.  The advancement in farm safety can also lead to innovations in the workplace that can improve efficiencies at the farm level.

         3. Builds sector capacity to implement safety on farms

  • Supports Progressive Agriculture Safety Days® in Canada.  In 2010, 52 Safety Days were held in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick, involving more than 9,000 rural kids and almost 2,000 adult volunteers.
  • Supports capacity to implement safety initiatives – develop safety leads in each province eg through CASA’s funding program CASHP, assisted development of the Farm Safety Society of Nova Scotia
  • Introduces a national communications plan – establishes partnerships, co-ordinates national ag safety week messaging.  PLAN.FARM.SAFETY. is the three year theme of Canadian Agricultural Safety Week set this year for March 13 – 19, 2011.  Canadian Agricultural Safety Week will be officially launched this year in Alberta and Nova Scotia on March 11, 2011.

CASA is supporting safety education for young and old in the agricultural sector.  We are looking forward to establishing more partnerships with organizations and agri-businesses committed to minimizing safety risks on the farm.  We wish to encourage all generations - everyone in the agricultural sector - to PLAN. FARM. SAFETY.!   

         4. Manages CASA operations and service delivery

  • Provides national stewardship
  • Operates and delivers superior service
  • Ensures accessibility – translates Board and public material into French
  • Facilitates audit and accounting

CASA will increase the ability for farmers to access safety information and training resources to improve their management skills related to: health and safety training; the implementation of health and safety practices; and practising due diligence. CASA will also work to build: capacity across producer groups, stakeholders and commodity groups; and across regions in order to increase the outreach impact of ag safety initiatives.

 

For any additional information, please contact us.

AttachmentSize
11CASA2499 2011 Annual Report_english_r11_LRFINAL.pdf1.1 MB