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52 WC DAIRY NEWS  CHRISTMAS 2024
Get Your Docs in a Row Now
Chad Stewart, Assistant Superintendent of Field Operations
Regional Safety Consultant for the North Okanagan
Temporary Foreign Worker Specialist
chad@agsafebc.ca
Like it or loath it, today is not yesterday:
Documentation is here to stay.
Crops are in, manure has been spread, lines have been
blown out and the season is coming to an end. What
does the off-season look like for you? Will you attend an
agriculture conference? What about that safety booth
you often pass at an industry trade show, or the AgSafe
swag lying around the farm – that gentle reminder that
there’s something you said you would look at… during the
winter when you weren’t so busy…
Convincing you that you will experience a joyous evening
whilst sitting down with a few binders and a safety program
may be unreasonable, BUT I do hope I can dispel the notion
that documentation must be unwieldly and unnecessary.
With rising safety standards, changes to federal foreign
worker programs and a much different labour force – your
safety program has become a valuable and essential tool
in running your business.
First, let’s talk about increasing safety standards. A visit
from a WorkSafe prevention officer is very different
from five years ago. New regulations on Return to Work,
asbestos abatement licensing, first aid, and combustible
dust (upcoming in 2025) are also in place. The longer you
go between visits, the more challenging it will be to meet
compliance.
Regardless of where your workers call home, foreign labour
has increasingly become the norm in milk production and
processing. In 2025, the federal government will introduce
a new foreign worker program that is meant to replace
the existing programs by 2027. As expected, the new
program will focus more on worker safety.
Lastly, the changing labour force has flipped the script –
it is no longer what workers can do for your farm; it has
become what you can do for your workers. Handshake
employment contracts and barking at your workers to
“smarten up and use your head” won’t do it these days.
I’ve seen a substantial increase in the number of bullying
and harassment employment standards and human rights
claims made against employers recently, and each claim
is met with the same questions from each regulatory
agency – did you orientate and train your worker? Did you
make them aware of the rules on site? Did you allow them
to improve when they were found to be doing something
wrong?
Despite what Dad may have said back in the day, “Get
your head out of your backside” isn’t found in many safety
programs now. While it may elicit a remembrance of
“better” days, it isn’t indicative of where the world is today.
Attempts to manage workers without acceptance of what
the labour standards are today will result in many hours
spent dealing with various regulatory agencies later.
I’ve unfortunately and repeatedly bore witness to the
fallout from a lack of employer knowledge to these
increasing labour standards. Bullying and harassment
and prohibited action orders from WorkSafeBC, Integrity
Service Branch audits from Service Canada and wrongful
dismissal suits from Employment Standards are common.
“The ways things used to be” is a dangerous hill to defend
with few (if any) resources willing to back you up.
Groaning, eye rolling and/or colourful language quickly
turn to sighs of relief when basic records are present,
and something happens. Remember – the application of
labour, safety and human rights laws is 100% independent
of your personal thoughts, feelings or beliefs. A few
hours now will save you weeks of paperwork, potential
administrative penalties and lawyer bills down the road.
The best part is that AgSafe has the resources and time
to ensure you get the safety aspect right.
Merry Christmas & Seasons Greetings
from AgSafe.
a Prosperous
New Year!
AgSafe Safety Representatives are available throughout British
Columbia to help your business when and where you need them.
OWNER: CURTIS DE DOOD
SALES: Curtis – 250-833-2108
Wilf – 604-316-1242
PARTS & SERVICE: 250-546-0600
info@northvalleyequipment.ca
curt@northvalleyequipment.ca
4135 Hwy 97A, Armstrong 4135 Hwy 97A, Armstrong
Open: 8 - 4:30 Mon to Fri, On-call Weekends Open: 8 - 4:30 Mon to Fri, On-call Weekends
1 (877) 533-1789 | AgSafeBC.ca
250-546-0600 250-546-0600
Northvalleyequipment.ca Northvalleyequipment.ca