Farm safety: A prerequisite for sustainable food production in Newfoundland and Labrador
A sustainable approach to food production must address both environmental sustainability and the wellbeing of food producers. Farming is one of the most dangerous occupations globally with high rates of injury, fatality, and occupational disease. However, occupational hazards and the practices that...
Published in: | Canadian Food Studies / La Revue canadienne des études sur l'alimentation |
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University of Waterloo
2019
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.15353/cfs-rcea.v6i2.317 https://doaj.org/article/c8236453cfe245d281b6f1cd1fc41dcc |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:c8236453cfe245d281b6f1cd1fc41dcc 2023-10-09T21:53:40+02:00 Farm safety: A prerequisite for sustainable food production in Newfoundland and Labrador Lesley Butler Ewa M. Dabrowska Barbara Neis 2019-05-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.15353/cfs-rcea.v6i2.317 https://doaj.org/article/c8236453cfe245d281b6f1cd1fc41dcc EN FR eng fre University of Waterloo https://129.97.193.45/index.php/cfs/article/view/317 https://doaj.org/toc/2292-3071 doi:10.15353/cfs-rcea.v6i2.317 2292-3071 https://doaj.org/article/c8236453cfe245d281b6f1cd1fc41dcc Canadian Food Studies, Vol 6, Iss 2 (2019) sustainable food systems agriculture occupational health and safety Nutrition. Foods and food supply TX341-641 Social Sciences H article 2019 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.15353/cfs-rcea.v6i2.317 2023-09-24T00:34:37Z A sustainable approach to food production must address both environmental sustainability and the wellbeing of food producers. Farming is one of the most dangerous occupations globally with high rates of injury, fatality, and occupational disease. However, occupational hazards and the practices that lead to unsafe working environments are often overlooked in sustainable food system research. Poor management of occupational health and safety (OHS) can potentially threaten the survival of individual agricultural operations through injury and illness of the operator, family members, and employees. Gaps in agricultural safety knowledge, prevention, and compensation have been unevenly addressed in Canada. This paper presents findings from the first study of agricultural OHS in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). Findings from a 2015-2016 survey of 31 food-producing operators representing 34 large and small operations in three NL regions show: 1) that hazards present within these operations are similar to those found in other contexts; 2) accidents are relatively common and most are not reported to workers’ compensation; 3) some participating operators were unsure whether their farms are subject to the regulations in the NL OHS Act; and, 4) there are gaps in workers’ compensation coverage. Some reliance on local and international volunteers and limited safety training point to other potential vulnerabilities. Study findings highlight the need to incorporate a focused strategy for injury prevention and compensation into efforts to develop a stronger and more sustainable food system in NL. We outline an agenda for future action relevant for NL and other places facing similar gaps and challenges. Article in Journal/Newspaper Newfoundland Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Canada Newfoundland Canadian Food Studies / La Revue canadienne des études sur l'alimentation 6 2 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English French |
topic |
sustainable food systems agriculture occupational health and safety Nutrition. Foods and food supply TX341-641 Social Sciences H |
spellingShingle |
sustainable food systems agriculture occupational health and safety Nutrition. Foods and food supply TX341-641 Social Sciences H Lesley Butler Ewa M. Dabrowska Barbara Neis Farm safety: A prerequisite for sustainable food production in Newfoundland and Labrador |
topic_facet |
sustainable food systems agriculture occupational health and safety Nutrition. Foods and food supply TX341-641 Social Sciences H |
description |
A sustainable approach to food production must address both environmental sustainability and the wellbeing of food producers. Farming is one of the most dangerous occupations globally with high rates of injury, fatality, and occupational disease. However, occupational hazards and the practices that lead to unsafe working environments are often overlooked in sustainable food system research. Poor management of occupational health and safety (OHS) can potentially threaten the survival of individual agricultural operations through injury and illness of the operator, family members, and employees. Gaps in agricultural safety knowledge, prevention, and compensation have been unevenly addressed in Canada. This paper presents findings from the first study of agricultural OHS in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). Findings from a 2015-2016 survey of 31 food-producing operators representing 34 large and small operations in three NL regions show: 1) that hazards present within these operations are similar to those found in other contexts; 2) accidents are relatively common and most are not reported to workers’ compensation; 3) some participating operators were unsure whether their farms are subject to the regulations in the NL OHS Act; and, 4) there are gaps in workers’ compensation coverage. Some reliance on local and international volunteers and limited safety training point to other potential vulnerabilities. Study findings highlight the need to incorporate a focused strategy for injury prevention and compensation into efforts to develop a stronger and more sustainable food system in NL. We outline an agenda for future action relevant for NL and other places facing similar gaps and challenges. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lesley Butler Ewa M. Dabrowska Barbara Neis |
author_facet |
Lesley Butler Ewa M. Dabrowska Barbara Neis |
author_sort |
Lesley Butler |
title |
Farm safety: A prerequisite for sustainable food production in Newfoundland and Labrador |
title_short |
Farm safety: A prerequisite for sustainable food production in Newfoundland and Labrador |
title_full |
Farm safety: A prerequisite for sustainable food production in Newfoundland and Labrador |
title_fullStr |
Farm safety: A prerequisite for sustainable food production in Newfoundland and Labrador |
title_full_unstemmed |
Farm safety: A prerequisite for sustainable food production in Newfoundland and Labrador |
title_sort |
farm safety: a prerequisite for sustainable food production in newfoundland and labrador |
publisher |
University of Waterloo |
publishDate |
2019 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.15353/cfs-rcea.v6i2.317 https://doaj.org/article/c8236453cfe245d281b6f1cd1fc41dcc |
geographic |
Canada Newfoundland |
geographic_facet |
Canada Newfoundland |
genre |
Newfoundland |
genre_facet |
Newfoundland |
op_source |
Canadian Food Studies, Vol 6, Iss 2 (2019) |
op_relation |
https://129.97.193.45/index.php/cfs/article/view/317 https://doaj.org/toc/2292-3071 doi:10.15353/cfs-rcea.v6i2.317 2292-3071 https://doaj.org/article/c8236453cfe245d281b6f1cd1fc41dcc |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.15353/cfs-rcea.v6i2.317 |
container_title |
Canadian Food Studies / La Revue canadienne des études sur l'alimentation |
container_volume |
6 |
container_issue |
2 |
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