FARMING OPERATIONS UNDER THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT - AN OVERVIEW
Welcome to another health and safety podcast from the Ministry of Labour.
In this segment, we're going to give you an overview of how the Occupational Health and Safety Act applies to farming operations.
On June 30, 2006, a new regulation extended coverage under the act to farming operations with paid workers.
This regulation came as a result of advice received from farms, labour and other groups.
Their goal was to establish safer working conditions and better protection for farm workers.
Lengthy consultations with a number of groups representing the interests of farmers, workers and others led to the new regulation.
These stakeholders recognized the high risks farm workers are faced with on a daily basis.
They understood that these workers deserve the same protections offered to workers in other industries.
Now, it is important to note that the Occupational Health and Safety Act coverage applies only to farms with paid workers.
It does not apply to self-employed farmers who do not have any paid workers.
If, for instance, a farmer's children work on the farm during their vacations, and are not paid a salary for their work, that operation would not be covered.
However, a farming operation that hires a part-time worker to help out at peak times once or twice a year would be covered by the act whenever the worker is employed.
Coverage under the Occupational Heath and Safety Act imposes a number of duties on employers.
There is a general duty to take all reasonable precautions to protect the health and safety of workers.
There are also specific duties relating to providing information and instruction to workers to protect their health and safety.
There are also specific duties to ensure that equipment is maintained in good condition, and notifying the Ministry of Labour of workplace fatalities and critical injuries.
Workers on farms covered by the act have the same rights that their counterparts in other industries enjoy.
The have the right to participate and be part of the process of identifying and resolving workplace health and safety concerns.
Workers have the right to know about any potential hazards to which they may be exposed.
This means the right to be trained and to have information on machinery, equipment, processes, working conditions and hazardous substances.
And, they have the right to refuse work that they believe is dangerous to either their own health and safety or that of another worker.
A number of regulations apply to farming operations. This includes:
The regulation defining a critical injury.
The regulation on training programs.
And the regulation outlining training requirements for certain skills and trades.
The Ministry of Labour's website has extensive information on how the Occupational Health and Safety Act affects farming operations with paid workers.
Go to our website at Ontario.ca - forward slash - labour - that's l-a-b-o-u-r.
Once again, Ontario.ca - forward slash - labour.
Go to the health and safety section and select "Topics and Publications".
There click on the farming operations link.
This will take you to a page with topics such as:
• a guide to the act as it applies to farming operations,
• the need for a joint heath and safety committee or a health and safety rep,
• reporting of incidents,
• a number of health and safety alerts for specific hazards,
• and various health and safety guidelines - all aimed at the farming community.
You will also find links to other ministries and organizations that impact on farming operations.
All of this information will help farmers and their paid workers understand their rights and responsibilities.
The ultimate goal is to reduce injuries and fatalities on farms.
Remember, in Ontario, healthy and safe working conditions are not a privilege … they are your rights, no matter where you work.
That's it for this health and safety segment.
Thank you for listening.