Spring is just on the horizon, and that means there is a small window of time for farmers to get seed in the ground. Being prepared before you begin is critical to avoiding risk and potential fines. The Farm Safety Program has identified ways you can ensure a successful, safe season:

1. Train your help
Most farms are required by law to provide, and keep records of safety orientation for all workers — paid or unpaid, casual or otherwise. In the event of Workplace Safety and Health carrying out a general inspection or investigating a serious injury or fatality on your farm, it can ask to see these training records.

2. Know when escort vehicles and permits are required on provincial highways
Permits: Overwidth permits are not required for any implements or farm tractors being operated or towed on a highway for agricultural purposes. However, height and length permits are required if exceeding the following:

Height: 4.6 metres;
Length: 35.0 metres.

Implements and farm tractors loaded on standard trailers must obtain overwidth permits if the load exceeds 6.1 metres in width. However, specialized trailers designed specifically to haul that particular implement do not require overwidth permits. Height and length permit restrictions still apply.

Escort vehicles: Escort vehicles are not required for any implements or farm tractors being operated or towed on a highway for agricultural purposes.

If loaded on a trailer, an escort vehicle is required for loads up to 6.1 metres in width that protrude over the centre line of the highway and are subject to the following:

One front escort vehicle on a two- or four-lane non-divided highway;

One rear escort vehicle on a four-lane divided highway.

All trailer loads exceeding 6.1 metres in width require one front and one rear escort on all highways.

This is a partial summary of regulations. More info is available at your local Permits Services offices.

3. Create or update descriptions of your farmland

Keep descriptions of, and directions to all farmland in the house, in the shop, in your equipment and in farm vehicles.

4. Restock and buy personal first aid kits

As per your local safety and health legislation, you are responsible for ensuring that anyone working alone on your farm has immediate access to a personal first aid kit. It may be helpful to keep kits and farmland descriptions in the same spot in your farm equipment. Personal first aid kits must contain the following items:

a) 10 sterile adhesive dressings, assorted sizes, individually packaged;
b) 5 10 cm x 10 cm sterile gauze pads, individually packaged;
c) A 10 cm x 10 cm sterile compress dressing, with ties;
d) 5 antiseptic cleansing towelettes, individually packaged;
e) A cotton triangular bandage;
f) A waterproof waste bag;
g) A pair of impervious disposable gloves;
h) A roll of 2.5-cm adhesive bandage tape.

5. Let other motorists decide when it is safe to pass you on roadways

While you may want to be polite and pull over to let cars pass you, it is not always a good idea to wave them around. By allowing motorists to decide for themselves when it is safe to pass, it takes the responsibility off you.

6. Inspect and replace fire extinguishers

The following is a guideline for the type of fire extinguisher needed for each location on your farm:

Shops

• 10-pound dry chemical, multi-purpose ABC extinguisher;
• 5-pound dry chemical ABC extinguisher.

Barns

• 10-pound dry chemical, multi-purpose ABC extinguisher;
• 2.5-gallon pressurized water extinguisher.

Farm vehicles

• 5-pound dry chemical, multi-purpose ABC extinguisher.

Combines

• 10-pound dry chemical, multi-purpose ABC extinguisher;
• 2.5-gallon pressurized water extinguisher.

Balers

• 2.5-gallon pressurized water extinguisher.

Tractors

• 10-pound dry chemical, multi-purpose ABC extinguisher.

Silos/Bins

• 20-pound dry chemical, multi-purpose ABC extinguisher;
• 2.5-gallon pressurized water extinguisher.

Remember, fight small fires only. Water extinguishers can only be used on crop, straw and grass-type fires. For any fire involving oil, grease or electrical a dry chemical extinguisher must be used.

On machinery fire extinguishers should be mounted on the outside if possible.

7. Inspect personal protective equipment

Replace any faulty or worn-out personal protective equipment. Damaged safety harnesses and lanyards must be cut up prior to being disposed of, so if found, they cannot be used. Things to check for are distorted or broken D-rings, frayed or cut edges in the webbing, bent or rusty buckles and missing rivets.

8. Polish up reflective signs and lights on your equipment

Inspect and clean off all lights and signage. Make sure turn signals and flashers work properly and that your safety reflective tape and slow-moving vehicle emblems are fully visible to other motorists.

9. Support hydraulics during maintenance

Ensure you are using a second support system on machines that use hydraulics while performing maintenance. Two safety measures should be standard practice.

10. Don’t skip meals

Along with sleep, proper meals and getting plenty of water is key to reducing accidents by maintaining energy levels and alertness. Sleep deprivation and malnutrition slows response time, and that is when things can go wrong.