Week focuses on farm safety for kids

The first annual Kids FarmSafe week is a new initiative by the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) to raise awareness of farm safety and provide access to child-specific resources.  

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Kids FarmSafe week takes place May 13 to 19 and is supported by BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions (BASF).

According to CASA, there has been an average of 70 fatalities on Canadian farms each year for the past 15 years.

“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,” Leta LaRush, vice president, business management at BASF, said in a release.  

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.

Children are at heightened risk during demanding times on the farm, such as planting and harvest. However , CASA and BASF said in a release the demand for safety awareness and advocacy is needed year-round.

BASF said these child-specific farm safety statistics, coupled with the need for continuous safety awareness motivated the company to advocate for farm safety for children by developing the BASF Safety Scouts program in 2021. The program fosters a safety-first mindset on the farm from a young age, providing kits to farm families to make learning about farm safety engaging and fun.

The kits include adjustable child-sized safety vests, activity sheets, and more, and are provided to North American farm families free of charge. Available through CASA’s FarmSafe Kids site and the BASF website, two kits are offered: the BASF Safety Scout kits, designed for children aged three to six, and the BASF Safety Captain kits, designed for ages seven and up.

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.

BASF is also hosting 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 and 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.