Excerpt from the OH&S Canada magazine (March 2017)
An internal report by the previous Alberta government has revealed that the Progressive Conservatives were fully aware that the province’s agriculture sector needed mandatory workers’ compensation coverage.
The 2015 report states that every year, between 18 to 20 Albertan farm workers were killed in occupational accidents, more than 4,000 were injured on the job and in excess of 400 of the injured were out of commission for at least two months, according to a February 21st, 2017, statement from the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL), which obtained the report through a freedom-of-information request.
“I have worked on a feed lot, and I have always known that agricultural work is dangerous work. But the magnitude of these numbers is eye-opening,” AFL president Gil McGowan says.
After Rachel Notley’s NDP government came into power, Bill 6, or the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act, went into effect on December 10, 2015. The new legislation made workers’ compensation coverage compulsory for injured agricultural workers, giving farm employees the same basic protections that other Alberta sectors already had.
Prior to Notley’s election, Alberta’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner revealed that there were 25 farming fatalities in the province in 2014. Twenty of the victims were owners, operators, owners’ family members or employees of their respective farms.
The government report also indicates that agricultural workers in Alberta were losing more than $10,000,000 in pay from lost-time injuries per year. In addition, standards workers’ compensation coverage would cost less for farm employers than the private insurance that workers were relying on did.
“This document shows that the problem existed, that the research showed that reforms were necessary and that this was ignored by successive Conservative governments who did nothing,” McGowan charges.
The AFL statement also notes that since passing of Bill 6, the province’s Workers’ Board has processed 763 injury claims from farm workers, 407 of which involved disabling injuries.
My opinion
It is unfathomable to me that in a progressive country like Canada and, in particular, a province as modern as Alberta, would deliberately target a working sector and offer no protection, but here it is!
The AFL has been working hard to enlighten the current government(s) and attempts to make legislative change there.
Keep up the great fight!
I guess the large ranchers and the many farm owners have too much clout!
To play devil’s advocate, I would like to say that, other occupational sectors such as construction and industrial, the Alberta government seems to be making great strides in worker protection.
HRS Group Inc. has a great team that can help you with all your health and safety needs. Contact Deborah toll free at 1-877-907-7744 or locally at 705-749-1259.
Ensure your workplace is a safe place.
Remember – In Canada, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”
‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.
Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Advanced Level
CEO & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.