FARM SAFETY WEEK PROCLAIMED

Deputy Premier and Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization Minister Clay Serby and Labour Minister Deb Higgins have proclaimed the week of March 12th-19th as Agricultural Safety Week in Saskatchewan.

"I urge producers and their families to practice safety in all that they do on their farms," Serby said. "With your personal commitment to safe farming practices, and with awareness campaigns such as Agricultural Safety Week, it is my hope that we can prevent the tragedy of farm accidents in our province."

The 2003 campaign emphasizes the reduction of accidents involving farm machinery on public roads. Higgins and Serby are encouraging Saskatchewan farm families to put safety first at all times, whether working with machinery, livestock or pesticides.

"Safe farming is smart farming," Higgins said.

Saskatchewan Safety Council Farm Safety Administrator Patrick Kurtz said that, on average, about 118 Canadians are killed each year in farm accidents, with about 20 fatalities in Saskatchewan.

Kurtz said the 2003 theme "Farm Safety and Street Smarts" relates to accidents involving farm implements, especially tractors, on public roads.

"In Canada, one in 14 farm-related fatalities is attributed to a collision with motor vehicles, often because motorists underestimate the width and slow speed of farm equipment," he said.

Serby said Agricultural Safety Week provides an opportunity to salute the many organizations that promote farm safety in Saskatchewan throughout the year.

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For More Information, Contact:

Scott Brown SAFRR Regina Phone: (306)787-4031 Email: sbrown@agr.gov.sk.ca	Allan Reine Labour Regina Phone: (306)787-0920 Email: areine@lab.gov.sk.ca
Patrick Kurtz SK Safety Council Regina Phone: (306)757-3197