Minister Recognizes Agricultural Safety Week

Newfoundland and Labrador’s farmers and producers make occupational health and safety a priority each and every day. This important aspect of agricultural work will be highlighted during Canadian Agricultural Safety Week, March 11 to 17.

“Safety is an extremely important aspect of working on and around a farm, and it is in everyone’s interest to safeguard farm workers, and for those involved with agricultural work to become aware of ways and means to protect themselves from potential harm,” said the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister Responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency. “The agriculture industry is an important economic generator, employing up to 2,800 people in our province annually.”

To commemorate the theme of Canadian Agricultural Safety Week 2012, a year-long safety campaign will focus on the assessment, improvement and further development of safety systems. The campaign will be delivered through the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association in partnership with Farm Credit Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through Growing Forward, a federal, provincial, territorial initiative.

Canadian Agricultural Safety Week is sponsored annually by the Canadian Federation of Agriculture to build awareness around farm safety issues throughout Canada. Additional information on Canadian Agricultural Safety Week can be found at www.casa-acsa.ca .

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Media contact:
Heather Maclean
Director of Communications
Department of Natural Resources
709-729-5282, 697-4137
heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca 

2012 03 13             9:55 a.m.