New producers are the future of safe and productive dairy farms: 5 tips to set them up for success

Originally published in Milk Producer.

With more than 3,000 dairy farms operating across Ontario, new farmers are joining the industry each year as veteran farmers move closer to retirement. “It’s an exciting time when new farmers enter the industry and, in some cases, take over operations. But let’s not forget that some are still considered new workers, which means they are at a higher risk of injury,” says Ryan Dick, Health and Safety Consultant with Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS).

According to the Institute for Work and Health, workers who are new in some way (e.g., first job, job change or promotion, or new to Canada) are at a higher risk of experiencing an injury during their first few months on the job. “Even though someone may have worked on a dairy farm, when they take over an operation or start up a new farm, they are new to the role of employer,” explains Ryan.

As an employer, there will be many new aspects of the job and new responsibilities, including health and safety. “When new producers enter the industry, they need to be aware that they will have more responsibilities and more liabilities than they had in the past. They need to understand the administrative and legislative role of the employer when it comes to health and safety,” says Ryan.

However, Ryan is quick to point out that although new producers have increased responsibility, they also have valuable information and resources available at their fingertips to help guide them. “Organizations such as Workplace Safety & Prevention Services, the Canadian Agriculture Safety Association, and the Dairy Farmers of Ontario are great examples of what’s out there to support new producers and provide them with the information they need to be successful,” says Ryan. “We have videos, podcasts, articles, and entire channels devoted to agriculture now. Information is available online whenever you need it.”

5 things new producers can do to become health and safety leaders

From new technology to labour shortages, farming is evolving, and new producers will need to evolve with it. Ryan offers these tips to help new producers become health and safety leaders.

1. Understand your role as an employer. Whether you are running a factory or a farm, employers have a legal responsibility to protect the health and safety of their employees. “And on the farm, that often includes our spouses, children, and other family members if they are paid workers,” says Ryan. New producers need to understand their legislative requirements regarding training, documentation, and due diligence (meaning that the employer and supervisor took 'every reasonable precaution' to prevent an incident). “They also need to be aware of the potential repercussions, fines, and charges,” says Ryan.  

2. Address hazards related to robotics and new technology. Automation, such as automatic milking machines, is becoming increasingly common in farming. While it brings new levels of efficiency and precision, it also brings new hazards. “New producers need to be aware of the hazards related to robotics and how to mitigate these hazards with controls such as lock out/tagout and machine guarding,” says Ryan.

“We’re also starting to see automated, self-driving tractors on farms. These can provide an immense advantage, but they introduce new hazards that need to be controlled,” says Ryan, explaining that emergency procedures need to be in place to protect people if malfunctions occur.

3. Establish an emergency plan for times when regular communications fail.  We control so much through apps on our phones that when systems go down, it can wreak havoc. We have all experienced periods of having no internet connection or cell service, so we should plan ahead for when it happens. “Establish a procedure for when you and your workers are unable to communicate via cell phones (e.g., establish a time and place to meet),” suggests Ryan. “If you use an app to control automated equipment, have a plan in place to override manually or cut power.”

4. Seek guidance before hiring temporary foreign workers. 
With persistent labour shortages, many operators are turning to temporary foreign workers to meet their needs. “There is a lot to consider when you are training temporary foreign workers and you are dealing with a language barrier,” says Ryan. He suggests reaching out to Workplace Safety & Prevention Services when developing your training and orientation program to ensure you are meeting all your legal obligations and providing effective training.

5. Cultivate a sustainable work-life balance. When you live at work, it can be very difficult to end your workday. “There are always alerts or something to monitor, but it’s important to set some boundaries,” says Ryan. If they are not managed, psychological hazards such as stress and anxiety can lead to depression and burnout. Be proactive in creating a psychologically safe workplace for you, your family, and your employees. Free resources such as the Farmer’s Wellness Initiative (agriculturewellnessontario.ca) are available to help develop a roadmap to positive mental health for your farm operation.

Stay informed

As Ryan mentioned, new producers have a wealth of information available to support them. Here are some resources to help you build a safe, healthy, and productive operation.

• First Job, Safe Job is a blog aimed at providing parents and young workers advice on staying safe at work.
•  Stay informed on what’s happening in agriculture with the Farm Safety Roundup podcast.
•  The Health and Safety Handbook Generator (wsps.news/3M8nMYk) is an effective and efficient tool to help you build customized documentation for your health and safety orientation training.
•  Canadian Agriculture Safety Association has many resources to help you keep everyone safe and healthy.
• The Farmer’s Wellness Initiative - provides support, education, and community for farmers as they work to maintain positive mental health.
• The Mental Harm Prevention Roadmap provides you with the tools you need to create a psychologically safe workplace.

The information in this article is accurate as of its publication date.