Winnipeg, MB (Rural Roots Canada) – According to the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA), approximately 60 Canadian adults and children die in agricultural incidents each year. 

“So many people in rural communities have been touched in some way by an agricultural accident,” says Abbigail Fehr, communication contractor for CASA.

This week is Canadian Agricultural Safety Week, and one of this year’s themes is road and rail safety, which emphasizes safety practices at railway crossings. 

With about 40,000 railway crossings across Canada, trains are a common sight in rural communities, according to the Canadian Agricultural Safety Week resources page. Fehr says that statistic underscores the importance of safety protocols and resources at railway crossings. 

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“It’s a lack of attention and awareness of surroundings and the danger that these tracks and railways present,” says Fehr.

According to Fehr, one of the biggest dangers comes from ATVs and other farming equipment travelling across uncontrolled and unprotected railroad crossings. ATVs and snowmobiles are often used for daily farm tasks, which is why CASA encourages safety practices such as Stop, Look and Listen, and leaving stalled vehicles immediately. 

“You will never regret being safer on the farm,” Fehr says, adding that even small changes in the way farms do things can help create a safer space for children, workers, farmers and farm families. 

Canadian Agricultural Safety Week is an annual campaign held during the third week of March. For more information on safety week, visit the CASA website.