Do you have a few moments to talk about safety? Or are you going to wait until you lose a hand, or maybe your life?
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It's farm safety week and you've likely heard farm organizations, including safety organizations, and the even Minister of Agriculture adding to the message.
Jeff Leal stated farm injuries in Ontario cost an estimated $116-million dollars every year.
That includes health care costs and loss of productivity, as if that statistic means anything when it's your brother or your spouse.
It is a good message and right now is a good time to talk about it. Planting hasn't started yet, equipment preparation is underway for many.
And while planning and preparation are important, planning and prep can be done on keeping safety equipment up to standards.
Making sure guards and lock-outs are working properly. Breathing equipment as needed, fire extinquishers, brakes, lights, turn-signals, you probably know what needs to be done it's a matter of doing it.
While we are at it, thanks to the first responders and the inventors who are there when needed.
Like the group in South Lambton, who a few years ago invented a shield to protect people trapped in grain bins while the first responders work to get them out.
Thanks to the fire-fighters, many of them volunteer who are usually the first to get there when the worst happens.
So don't just think about safety, do something about it.
If you think it is too expensive or too time consuming, think about how you're going to feel at the funeral, and then the inquest of an employee you told to skip a few steps to save a few bucks or to speed up things a little.
Think how your kid will feel growing up without you. Think how you will feel growing old without your kid.
Because that's what safety is. All those things. The time and expense of making sure.
Doing the maintenance can a lot of time. But compare it to how the wait will seem, when you are standing in the drive-way, waiting to point the ambulance in the right direction when it gets to your farm.
Every year you are asked to reflect on it, and that's a good message.
Every week should be farm safety week.
But most of the people who skip the right procedures or take short cuts on equipment know they are skipping the right procedures and do it anyway. This year when you are asked to reflect on farm safety, please think about that.
Those who died in farm accidents don't need to reflect on it any more. But you can bet their families won't be able to forget it.
