Over the last 15 years, there has been an average of 70 fatalities on Canadian farms each year. With the vast majority of Canadian farms operated by farm families, the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) and BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions (BASF) have partnered to launch the first annual Kids FarmSafe Week from May 13 to 19.
“CASA plays an essential role in our industry, providing Canadian farmers and their families with the information and resources needed to make farms safer places to live, work and play,” said Leta LaRush, VP, business management at BASF, in a statement.
“Fostering a safety-first mindset is incredibly important to all of us at BASF and we know this is a shared value within the agricultural community,” LaRush added.
In February 2023, CASA and Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting (CAIR) published a report detailing Agriculture-related Fatalities in Canada. The report found that between 1990 and 2020, 435 children were lost to agriculture-related incidents. Seeding and harvest are particularly demanding times on the farm and have been shown to have heightened risk for children, however the demand for safety awareness and advocacy is needed year-round.
BASF subsequently developed the BASF Safety Scouts program in 2021, intended to engage children in farm safety.
In support of the inaugural Kids FarmSafe Week, CASA’s FarmSafe Kids site will offer to the public a BASF Safety Scouts “Journey Through FarmLand” teaching kit and game that will teach children about safety and farm hazards as they play.
Additionally, BASF is pleased to host a forum on the Experiences of Farm Mothers: Safety, Work and Children on the Farm on May 15, moderated by Tabetha Boot, Head of Communications & Industry Relations at BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions. CASA will also provide themed safety tips throughout Kids FarmSafe Week between May 13 to 19. Find more information on Kids FarmSafe Week and the week’s events through CASA.
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