CANADIAN SAFETY REPORTER
Calls for improved farm safety growing
Farm workers in Alberta not covered by health and safety
legislation, something 1 MLA wants to change
| BY ZACHARY PEDERSEN |
WHEN CALGARY Liberal MLA David
Swann called on the Alberta government to make changes to its agriculture laws last November, he didn't
think he was being unreasonable.
"Nothing has changed," Swann
says.
He and his fellow advocates had
hoped the Alberta government would
outline changes to the Occupational
Health and Safety Act (OHSA) when
it released a report from the Alberta
Farm Safety Advisory Council report
in early March.
"It kind of glossed over the many
different options the minister had,
ADA'S
FEST
E
but didn't advocate anything but
more education, awareness and training programs," Swann says.
Unlike other provinces, farm
workers in Alberta are exempt from
the OHSA and, as a result, do not
have the right to refuse unsafe work.
There is also no legislation requiring
employers to maintain Workers'
Compensation Board coverage or
child labour standards on farms and
ranches.
"It's a matter of basic, ethical
employment. It's a matter of human
rights. It's a matter of reducing
injuries and deaths," he says. "It's a
matter of protecting our children."
The safety of children is truly
Swann's priority.
"I think it's important to ensure
that there are laws that restrict paid
child workers to certain types of
activities that do not expose them to
risks that are beyond their ability to
manage," he says. "That doesn't exist
at the present time and this blanket
exemption from labour and health
and safety standards applies to
everyone — including paid child farm
workers."
Enforced labour laws would not
apply to family-owned farms and
restrictions would be put on large
commercial producers, Swann claricontinued on page 8
DO YOU WORK FOR ONE OF
CANADA'S SAFEST EMPLOYERS?
THE SEARCH IS ON FOR CANADA'S SAFEST EMPLOYERS 2013!
Nominate a deserving employer for one of these award categories:
Building and Construction • Health Care • Hospitality • Manufacturing
Mining and Natural Resources • Oil and Gas • Public Sector/ Non-profit
Retail • Transportation • Utilities and Electrical
Plus, a special award category for Wellness | Visit www.safestemployers.com for details.
National Founding Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: JUNE 21, 2013
Canadian HR Reporter, a Thomson Reuters business 2013
3
