[TITLE: Ontario Farm Worker Safety and Biosecurity Protocols When Visiting a Farm]
[A tractor rolls by in a field. Bob van Wyk stands in front of an antique-looking fence. He speaks to the camera and introduces the topic of the video.]
BOB VAN WYK >> My name is Bob van Wyk. I'm an Occupational Health and Safety Inspector with the Industrial Program of the Ministry of Labour in the western region of Ontario.
[Footage of cows inside a dairy barn]
BOB VAN WYK >> Today, I'm at Clovermead Farms, a dairy farm in southwestern Ontario. I'm going to show you what a Ministry of Labour inspector typically does on an inspection on a farming operation.
Before we start a farm inspection, we always ask the farmer what kind of biosecurity protocols are in place on the day that we're visiting.
[Bob sits in his van and speaks on the phone]
BOB VAN WYK >> It's Bob van Wyk calling from the Ministry of Labour. I'll be doing a proactive inspection at your farm this morning and I want to know about all your biosecurity protocols that I have to follow when I visit the farm.
[Interview with Van Wyk continues]
BOB VAN WYK >> When I arrive, I want to speak first to the employer of the workers on the farm and that's usually the farm-owner.
[Van Wyk meets farm owner]
BOB VAN WYK >> Hi, I'm Bob van Wyk from the Ministry of Labour. How are you today?
FARM OWNER >> I'm good thanks. Nice to meet you.
[Interview with Van Wyk continues]
BOB VAN WYK >> The Ontario government has biosecurity protocols in place to prevent the transfer of diseases or biological hazards between farms. These protocols are followed by all government workers including those at the Ministry of Labour.
[Van Wyk is seen scrubbing his boots as he enters a farm building]
BOB VAN WYK >> Biosecurity protocols vary from farm to farm. Swine and poultry have very high levels of biosecurity protocols in place compared to other types of farming operations like cattle - dairy or beef - greenhouses and crops.
[Bob van Wyk removes biosecurity equipment from van]
BOB VAN WYK >> I carry a biosecurity kit in my vehicle at all times. Our biosecurity kit contains such things as disinfectants, clean coveralls, gloves, boots and respirator masks.
For today's visit, before I park, I will be signing in onto the farm property and then I will be parking my vehicle in a designated parking area.
[Tractor drives by]
BOB VAN WYK >> When a Ministry of Labour inspector visits a farming operation, he or she is looking throughout the operation to ensure that the minimum safety procedures and requirements in the Occupational Health and Safety Act are being followed.
One of the things I look for is appropriate worker training.
[Van Wyk speaks with with farm worker and farm owner]
BOB VAN WYK >> So how long have you been operating this harvester and tractor combo?
FARM WORKER >> About 15 years now.
BOB VAN WYK >> Okay, and who trained you to operate the equipment?
FARM WORKER >> Both the dealer who sold us the equipment and my father, and my grandfather, actually, all three of those trained me.
FARM OWNER >> Is it important for me to document each time I have trained somebody on a procedure?
BOB VAN WYK >> …by keeping your training documented, everybody that's authorized to use equipment gets the same message. Now you've got something to supervise on...
FARM OWNER >> Right.
BOB VAN WYK >> …because everybody knows what the rules are."
[Interview with Van Wyk continues]
BOB VAN WYK >> I want to ensure that the workers on the farm use safe handling practices for the animals at all times and farmers are storing and handling all of their chemicals on the farm safely.
I also want to see that the farm employer is doing their very best to prevent slips, trips and falls on the farm. During my visit, I take notes of the things I learn and any hazards that I might have seen.
I use those notes to produce a field visit report that captures my findings during the visit. A copy of the report is then left at the farm.
[Van Wyk is seen removing his coveralls and cleaning his boots]
BOB VAN WYK >> Before I leave the farm, I clean my boots and remove my coveralls and put the coveralls in a plastic bag to be laundered before my next farm visit.
[Van Wyk’s visit finishes up, and he speaks to the farm owner.]
BOB VAN WYK >> So if you have any other questions at all, you've got my contact information. Feel free to use any of the resources in my field visit report that you have now.
[Interview with Van Wyk continues. Additional footage of the farm is shown]
BOB VAN WYK >> When farming operations in Ontario have paid workers, those workers are protected by the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the farming regulation. For more information, visit these websites.
[TITLE: ontario.ca/farmworkersafety ; healthandsafetyontario.ca/resources/topiclist/agriculture-industry-sector ; ontario.ca/farmsafety]
[TITLE: Special Thanks: Clovermead Farms, Alma, Ontario]